Abstract
Coffea arabica (Arabica) and C. canephora (Robusta, Conilon) have satisfied the requirements of the coffee sector for the last 125 years. In the face of myriad challenges, most notably climate change, the coffee species crop portfolio requires diversification to ensure the long-term sustainability of coffee production. In addition, the specialty coffee sector relies on continual diversification and creativity to satisfy the requirements of its adherents, including the enrichment and diversification of the sensory experience. In this contribution, a review is presented on the status of ‘other’ coffee species to supplement C. arabica and C. canephora, based on research and first-hand experience. The aim is to address misinformation (e.g., global production figures, yields, climate tolerances, and cup profiles) concerning wild and ‘other’ species, identify opportunities, and highlight constraints. In the short-term, Libericoid coffee species, including C. liberica (Liberica) and C. dewevrei (Excelsa) coffee, offer substantial opportunities, especially for climate resilience. Over the longer term, other species (such as C. stenophylla) and inter-species hybrids offer considerable promise. Unlike C. arabica and C. canephora, research and development for other Coffea crop species is in its infancy and will require significant development. One of the other major constraints for Coffea crop species development is access to genetic resources. In the face of climate change, the coffee breeding challenge is now more demanding than ever.
Funding
This research was funded by the Darwin Initiative (UK) [Project 27-014], the Amar-Franses and Foster-Jenkins Trust, the Calleva Foundation, the Jean Rose Legacy, and Sucafina.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement
Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement
Not applicable.
Conflicts of Interest
The author declares no conflicts of interest. The funders were not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article or the decision to submit it for publication.
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