Coffee Seeds

A coffee bean is a seed from the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit.

Coffee Seeds

Coffee seeds can be planted any time of year indoors or outdoors in zones 9-11. The seeds should be soaked for 24 hours prior to sowing. We recommend discarding any seeds that float after being soaked. This is a sign they may not be viable. *Note: All of the seeds may float right after being placed into water. Allow them time to sink over the 24-hour period. You may want to occasionally stir them. Seeds that float may still be planted as floating is not a sure sign of being unviable. However, we recommend also sowing some that sunk for greater assurance that you are planting a viable seed. Sow the seeds in damp, well-draining sandy soil. Be patient! Coffee seeds can take up to 4 months to germinate. Keep the soil moist until the sprouts appear. Once they have germinated, ensure that the soil is acidic (6.0-6.5pH) and well-draining. Water regularly; the frequency depends on the environment and age of the plant, but the soil should never be allowed to dry out or be waterlogged either.

Coffee plants prefer full, indirect sunlight. For example, a south-facing window that gets 8 or more hours of sun but has a sheer curtain over it to reduce the intensity would be perfect. If your coffee plant leaves begin to brown, this may be a sign that it is getting too much direct sunlight. Coffee plants also thrive in humidity. If the edges of the leaves start to turn brown, increase humidity with a humidifier, a tray of water below, or simply misting the plant regularly. They will benefit from regular fertilization every few weeks during the growing season. Once established, prune the plant back after harvesting to keep it in a desirable form. Yearly pruning will also encourage greater yields in the year to come.