For gardening enthusiasts, growing plants at home is a rewarding experience. From vegetables and fruits to flowering plants, a home garden not only enhances the beauty of your space but can also provide practical benefits. Surprisingly, you can even grow your own coffee plant at home, eliminating the need to buy coffee powder from the market. With the right guidance, growing coffee is as simple as tending to any other plant, although it requires patience, as it can take up to two years for the plant to bear fruit.
To start, you will need coffee seeds, which can be purchased from a nursery. If the seeds are not germinated, soak them in water for 24 hours and plant them in a seedling tray filled with moist soil starting mix. Germination can take one to two months. Once the seedlings sprout, transfer them to a larger pot with proper drainage. Alternatively, you can grow coffee from cuttings by taking an 8- to 10-inch shoot from a nursery plant, removing excess leaves, and planting it in soil enriched with manure and compost. The cutting typically takes root within a few days. The ideal time for planting germinated seeds is February to March, while summer is better for planting cuttings.
Coffee plants are relatively low-maintenance but do require some care. They thrive in moderate sunlight, making a balcony or a window-side location ideal, as direct sunlight can damage the leaves. The optimal temperature for growth is between 18 and 26 degrees Celsius. Water the plant only when the soil feels dry to prevent root rot, and apply a liquid fertilizer during autumn and summer to encourage healthy growth.
Patience is key, as coffee plants usually take up to two years to produce fruit. Harvesting is best done in early summer. To extract the seeds, remove the outer layer of the coffee fruit to reveal the seeds inside, wash them to remove stickiness, and then ferment, dry, roast, and grind them to make your own fresh coffee. With careful attention and time, growing coffee at home can be a satisfying and rewarding addition to your garden.
