Tarrazú

Caturra

A compact Bourbon mutation discovered in Brazil.

Lineage

A single-gene mutation subsequently selected by IAC from 1937.

Growing conditions

Short internodes and closely spaced branches suit dense planting; susceptible to leaf rust.

Traits

Widely cultivated in Central America and used as a benchmark in variety trials.

Catuai

A productive compact variety released by Brazil's IAC in 1972.

Lineage

Selected from a cross of Mundo Novo and Caturra.

Growing conditions

Its compact stature supports dense planting; susceptible to leaf rust.

Traits

Separate selections produce red or yellow fruit.

Villa Sarchi

A compact variety discovered in Costa Rica's Alajuela province.

Lineage

Selected from a natural mutation in a Bourbon population.

Growing conditions

Adapted to high elevations and tolerant of strong winds.

Traits

A parent used in developing the Sarchimor group.

Gesha

A name used for several genetically distinct coffee lineages originating in Ethiopia.

Lineage

Descendants of accession T2722 distributed in Panama form a distinct lineage.

Typica

A foundational Arabica variety distributed worldwide via Java.

Lineage

Seeds transferred from India to Java in the late seventeenth century founded the modern Typica variety.

Growing conditions

Tall, low-yielding trees susceptible to major coffee diseases.

Traits

Adapted to cool growing conditions and valued for cup quality in Central America.

Bourbon

A traditional variety central to the ancestry of cultivated Arabica.

Lineage

Belongs to the Bourbon genetic group and underlies several compact varieties.

Growing conditions

Tall plants susceptible to leaf rust and coffee berry disease.

Traits

Strong high-altitude cup potential; fruit ripens relatively early.

SL28

A drought-tolerant selection made by Kenya's Scott Laboratories in 1935.

Lineage

Selected from Tanganyika Drought Resistant, with Bourbon-related genetics.

Growing conditions

Suited to middle and high elevations; drought tolerant but susceptible to major diseases.

Traits

Long-lived trees can remain productive, with strong high-altitude cup potential.

Pacamara

A large-bean variety developed by El Salvador's ISIC with high cup potential.

Lineage

Selected from Pacas × Maragogipe.

Growing conditions

Generally compact and susceptible to rust and Ojo de Gallo disease.

Traits

Very large seeds; traits continue to segregate between generations.

Sudan Rume

An Arabica lineage used as a breeding parent of F1 cultivars including Milenio.

Growing conditions

Also grown as separate lots by Café Granja La Esperanza in Colombia.

Traits

PT's Granja La Esperanza natural lot shows grape, molasses and grapefruit-zest notes.

Centroamericano

An F1 variety released in 2010 through a Central American breeding collaboration.

Lineage

A cross of T5296 and Rume Sudan.

Growing conditions

Establishment depends on early root development and nutrition; propagated clonally.

Traits

Combines strong yield potential with high-altitude cup quality.

Catigua

A name shared by distinct EPAMIG selections including Catiguá MG2 and MGS Catiguá 3.

Red Catuai

A group of red-fruited Catuaí cultivars released by Brazil's IAC in 1972.

Lineage

Derived from Caturra Amarelo crossed with Mundo Novo.

Traits

Compact stature.