Coffee

Coffea arabica L.

Family: Rubiaceae

Pet & Human Safety

People: Toxic to peoplePets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Human edibility

Edible

Edible parts

fruit (cherry), seeds (beans), after processing and roasting

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

UF/IFAS describes home processing: pick red cherries, rinse and discard floaters, remove the outer pulp, soak the beans to ferment, wash, dry in the sun until the hull rubs off, then roast; it refers gardeners to the county Extension family and consumer sciences agent for roasting advice. No roasting times or temperatures are given here.

Hazard type

caffeine (stimulant)

Hazard route

ingestion

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

No pet verdict was found. NC State says coffee contains caffeine, which is the only hazard-related text read. Do not treat it as safe.

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for Plants that share its name. To tell them apart: 'Coffee' is also used for unrelated plants (UF/IFAS lists 'Wild Coffee' as a separate Florida plant)..

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: USDA 10a to 12b (NC State). UF/IFAS: grows best in zones 10B through 11, possibly further north with the right microclimate; does not tolerate freezing temperatures.
Water needs: Kept consistently moist but not soggy (NC State)
Mature size: Height 6 to 15 ft, width 6 to 15 ft (NC State). UF/IFAS: can reach up to 50 ft but is typically pruned to 4 to 6 ft in a home landscape. Spacing: UF/IFAS (Florida): keep at least 8 ft between the plant and trees, buildings or structures. NC State lists available space 6 to 12 ft and 12 to 24 ft.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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