How are coffee cherries formed on coffee plants?

Coffee cherries are the fruit of the Coffea plant, a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. These cherries develop from small, fragrant white or pink flowers that typically bloom following a dry period.1

Once the plant reaches maturity—usually three to four years after planting—it begins to produce fruit. The process from blooming to the maturation of the fruit varies by variety and climate; for example, it takes approximately seven months for Arabica and nine months for Robusta.23

Botanically, the coffee cherry is a drupe that can ripen into various colors, including red, purple, yellow, orange, blue, or black, depending on the specific species. Each cherry generally contains two seeds, known as coffee beans, which are positioned flat against one another. In about 5 percent of cases, a cherry contains only a single seed, which is referred to as a peaberry.134