How do you grow your own coffee at home?

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world.

Growing your own coffee beans is a surprisingly easy process and can be done at home.

The quality of the final product will vary depending on how well you follow these instructions, but there are many benefits to growing your own beans including saving money, knowing where your food comes from, and being able to grow varieties not found in stores.

Let’s take a look at how you can start turning those green beans into delicious cups of joe! 

You can grow your own coffee at home from either young plants or seeds. Of the two options buying young plant is probably the best as seeds can be difficult to find unless you know of a reliable supplier.

What do you need to grow your own coffee?

The basics:

1. Something to grow, either coffee beans or a young plant. The plant is definitely the recommended route – they are easy to find and much more reliable.
2. A good sized pot. Coffee plants can grow to 6 feet tall, so make sure that you have a pot that gives your plant enough room to grow.
3. Good quality compost that is neutral to acidic is best for coffee plants. Make sure that is it well drained by mixing in some fine gravel to prevent water logging.
4. Somewhere warm – coffee is a native of the tropics and needs warmth, lots of water and not too much direct sunshine.

Where can I get a coffee plant for growing?

I’ve looked around to locate coffee plants and they are not widely available at garden centers or the other usual outlets.

I have found several specialist suppliers of young coffee plants on Amazon and there is a wide selection of different varieties of coffee plants for sale.

Prices are reasonable and you can see some of the latest offers here.

Coffee from coffee growing kits

To make life as easy as possible you can purchase coffee growing kits that contain everything that you need to be successful.

Growing coffee from seeds

Coffee beans are difficult to get hold and many of the offers that you see online provide seeds that are unreliable and are difficult to germinate.

If you are successful in finding some seed then there are a few steps to take:

1. You need to soak the beans in warm water for 24 hours. This helps to soften the exterior and enables the bean to absorb as much water as possible to aid growth.
2. After 24 hours the beans will need to be planted in wet sand or vermiculite, making sure that they are not waterlogged.
3. Keep them in a warm place and water them daily.
4. When you see signs of growth the seeds are ready to be planted into pots of good quality compost.

How long does it take to grow coffee beans?

It often depends on the variety of coffee that you are growing, however typically a new coffee plant will produce coffee ‘cherries’ after 3 to 4 years.

Most coffee varieties produce one major harvest every year.

Does a coffee plant bloom?

Yes. Coffee plants bloom in response to warm weather, usually when the temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees.

The plant blooms for around a week producing white flowers that produce green ‘cherries’ which are actually small coffee beans

Each cherry is full of seeds although you only need one seed from each cherry to grow new coffee plants.

How often should I water my coffee plant?

Watering your coffee plant is critical to the success of growing the coffee beans that you want.

Coffee plants need lots of water, especially when they are young and growing well.

The best way to check whether or not your plant needs watering is by probing the soil with your finger – if it feels damp then don’t add any more.

During the summer months when the plant is growing strongly then you’ll need to water at least once a week.

When the plant is less active, during the winter, then your plant will need less water.

The key rule is to never let the soil dry out.

What is the best fertilizer for coffee plants?

Coffee plants are fast growing plants that require a lot of food to help them grow well.

For best results your coffee plant needs a high nitrogen fertilizer such as that used for roses.

Can I put my coffee plant outside?

Outdoors, A coffee plant grows well during summer months in the garden or a patio.

However, if temperatures drop below 64 degrees Fahrenheit during their flower season don’t expect any fruit.

It is best to keep your plant indoors in a warm sunny spot.

Can I grow coffee outside during the winter?

Coffee plants naturally grow in tropical and sub-tropical regions so they do not like cold weather.

In milder climates, the plants are grown outdoors year round and it is possible to grow coffee outdoors during the winter in colder climates where the temperatures don’t drop to below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Final Words

Coffee is a popular beverage consumed worldwide. It’s no wonder that so many people want to grow their own coffee beans at home.

With the right information and guidance, you can provide yourself with fresh coffee year-round.

Growing your own coffee beans does take some work but when you taste the difference between homegrown and store bought, we think it will be worth every minute.