The future of coffee part 2

In part one of this blog I discussed the rising costs of Arabica and Robusta coffees since the winter of 2024, how climate events in Vietnam and Brazil led to a global supply shock and how traders with insider knowledge created further volatility. In this post, we'll look at an exciting re-discovery of a strain of coffee called Coffea stenophylla.

Arabica coffee is often described as a Goldilocks plant; meaning it's pretty fussy: rain, sun, rich volcanic soils, not too hot, not too cold and a fair amount of altitude. Therefore, it's incredibly vulnerable to sudden climatic changes.

When coffee was first commercialised, Arabica and Robusta were chosen as the strains of coffee to develop due to Arabica's sweet/fruity taste and the more hardy growing power of Robusta. Combined, these two strains quickly captured the global market, and wild species of coffee that grew in various regions of Africa were left undiscovered by the global market. 

As climate change continues to challenge global coffee production, researchers and farmers are increasingly exploring lesser-known coffee species that could secure the future of the industry. One such species gaining attention is Coffea stenophylla, a wild coffee variety originally native to West Africa. Once almost forgotten, stenophylla is now being reconsidered for its resilience to rising temperatures and its unexpectedly high-quality flavour profile.

Climate Resilience and Rediscovery

Unlike Coffea arabica, which thrives in cooler highland regions, stenophylla has shown remarkable tolerance to heat and drought. Farmers across parts of Africa and India have reported that stenophylla plants remain healthy and productive even as arabica yields decline due to erratic rainfall and increasing temperatures.

In Sierra Leone, one of the regions where stenophylla was historically grown, some farms have seen stenophylla trees producing cherries while nearby arabica plants have struggled with leaf scorch and reduced flowering. Similarly, in southern India, coffee growers experimenting with stenophylla on trial plots have observed the plants adapting better to prolonged dry spells compared to their arabica counterparts.

Flavour Profile: Comparable to Arabica

Perhaps most surprisingly for a species overlooked for over a century, stenophylla has demonstrated a flavour profile comparable to high-quality arabica. Professional cuppings have revealed notes of stone fruit, black tea, and chocolate—qualities highly sought after in specialty coffee markets. This combination of climate resilience and desirable flavour makes stenophylla a promising candidate for wider cultivation.

Global Exploration and Conservation

The search for climate-resilient coffee species extends beyond stenophylla. Research institutions and botanical gardens have played a key role in identifying and preserving wild coffee varieties. Notably, Kew Gardens on a recent field trip to Madagascar catalogued around 30 distinct coffee species, many of which show potential for future agricultural use in a changing climate.

While Coffea stenophylla is still in the early stages of commercial exploration, its rediscovery highlights the importance of biodiversity in ensuring the sustainability of coffee production. With continued research and support from both farmers and scientists, stenophylla could play a crucial role in shaping the future of coffee.