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Tracing the Roots | The Miraculous Formation of Coffea Arabica

  • Coffea Arabica, a beloved coffee variety worldwide, is renowned not only for its refined and unique flavor but also for its extraordinary evolutionary origins. However, few people know that Arabica is not a naturally occurring species but the result of a miraculous hybridization between two different coffee species: Coffea canephora (Robusta) and Coffea eugenioides.

1. A Journey of Natural Hybridization

  • Arabica is believed to have originated from a natural hybridization event in the highland forests of southwestern Ethiopia. Thousands of years ago, two different coffee species, Robusta and Eugenioides, met and combined in an unexpected evolutionary journey. This combination created an entirely new coffee species with superior characteristics, known as Arabica.

2. Unique Genetic Contributions

  • Coffea canephora, or Robusta, endowed Arabica with remarkable traits such as strong disease resistance and high caffeine content. These traits help Arabica withstand harsh conditions and common diseases. On the other hand, Coffea eugenioides contributed unique flavors and lower caffeine content, creating a perfect balance for Arabica.

3. The Unique Combination of Chromosomes

  • One of the distinctive features of Arabica is its chromosome complement. While both Robusta and Eugenioides are diploid species with 22 chromosomes each, Arabica is tetraploid with 44 chromosomes. This means Arabica inherits two sets of chromosomes from each parent species, creating genetic diversity and superior traits.

4. Evolutionary and Agricultural Significance

  • This hybridization is significant not only in terms of evolution but also brings substantial agricultural benefits. Arabica combines the disease resistance traits of Robusta with the refined flavors of Eugenioides, creating a coffee variety that is both easy to grow and of high quality. Understanding the origins of Arabica also aids breeding programs aimed at improving disease resistance, increasing yield, and enhancing coffee quality.

  • The formation of Coffea Arabica is a miraculous story of the combination of two different coffee species. This hybridization has created a coffee variety that excels in both flavor and disease resistance, captivating millions of coffee lovers worldwide. Understanding its origins not only helps us appreciate our cups of Arabica coffee more but also opens up new opportunities for the coffee industry in the future.

- Source: Britta Folmer, ed., “The Craft and Science of Coffee”, (San Diego: Elsevier Inc. as Academic Press, 2017). Image of Eugenioides Coffee from SPRUDGE


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Specialty Coffee

"COVID initiated an unexpected crisis, causing the world to stall and shut down. Thus, we must live slower and capture the best moments in the darkest of times. I wondered whether my love for coffee has ripened over this period. I began devoting my time and passion towards researching the field of specialty coffee. I realized the value of coffee is more than just caffeine. It embodies a culture, a taste of different countries that diversify itself in every nation with a history of development dated back to the 19th century."

 

Slowly, the “sophisticated knowledge” I once pride myself on shattered. I had been so shortsighted and so assumptious. I never cared about where the products of my passion came from, knew nothing about growing to preliminary processing, roasting, preserving, and brewing a great cup of coffee. And I know, there are many presumptuous people all around us, just like me a few years back. They never knew what a great experience coffee could be despite it being indispensable in our lives. ​ As my appreciation for coffee reaches its peak, I feel delighted and satisfied sipping every cup of high-quality espresso extracted from Vietnam Fine Robusta beans. If you could experience every stage of the coffee value chain, from the early plantations to a cup of coffee, you will feel the same way as i do. This is the biggest motivation for us to pursue our dream of bringing high-quality Robusta beans to coffee lovers around the world. Trust me! The nature-gifted Fine Robusta that Vietnam has proudly developed shall be a great addition to your collection of specialty coffee. ​ iO Coffee looks forward to the companionship of all partners and the coffee-loving community on this wonderful journey. ​

 

Sincerely,

Ngo Huan Trung

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