Climate Resilient Coffee: Excelsa and Liberica Offer Hope
Executive Summary:
- Mongabay published this story. Arabica and Robusta face growing threats from rising temperatures and erratic rainfall.
- Lesser known coffee species like Excelsa and Liberica are gaining attention for their resilience and adaptability.
- British planter Colonel Benson introduced Excelsa to India in the 1800s, but growers never commercialised it widely.
- In 2025, the South India Coffee Company sold over four tonnes of Excelsa. Demand for saplings is now rising.
- Researchers at Kew Gardens are studying underutilised species. They have proposed a new hybrid called Libex.
- Ugandan farmers have grown hundreds of acres of Excelsa since the early 2000s as a climate adaptation.
- For a sustainable future, the coffee industry must diversify by blending traditional and alternative species.
Mongabay published this story about climate resilient coffee. Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall increasingly threaten the two dominant coffee species, Arabica and Robusta. Pest pressures add to their vulnerability. Consequently, researchers and farmers are turning to lesser known species such as Excelsa and Liberica. These forgotten plants offer new hope for the industry.
Excelsa Gains New Relevance
Excelsa (Coffea dewevrei) grows naturally in parts of Tropical Africa and Southeast Asia. In India, farmers traditionally planted it as a boundary marker or for shade. However, they never commercialised it widely. According to an unpublished paper, a British planter named Colonel Benson introduced Excelsa to India in the late 1800s. He saw it as an alternative to Arabica after pest outbreaks. Nevertheless, its height, which can reach fifteen metres, made estate management impractical.
Today, climate change is prompting a revaluation. Akshay Dashrath, co founder of the South India Coffee Company, maintains 60 year old Excelsa trees on his estate in Karnataka. Interestingly, his grandfather used to drink only Excelsa at home. In 2024 and 2025, the company began revaluating Excelsa across five estates. As a result, they sold over four tonnes of green coffee in 2025. For 2026, they estimate sales will reach five tonnes.
Indian Growers Face Climate Instability
Across India’s coffee growing regions, farmers report increasing climate instability. Kerehaklu Estate in Karnataka has grown Excelsa and Liberica since 1953. Pranoy Thipaiah, the managing partner, told Mongabay that rainfall has become longer and more intense. He also noted that plants’ biological clocks have shifted. Pest pressure has increased as well. Excelsa and Liberica, he explained, handle climate variations better than traditional species. Their long gestation period means harvest occurs after the unseasonal rains pass. Thipaiah is now expanding his trials. He has seven different varieties from Vietnam growing in his nursery. Next year, he plans to transplant them into the main estate.
Global Research on Resilient Species
The search for climate resilient coffee extends far beyond India. Researchers have identified 133 different coffee species worldwide. Aaron Davis of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, told Mongabay that Arabica and Robusta may soon lose their dominance. Arabica requires a cool tropical climate with distinct dry periods. Robusta needs warmth and moisture but cannot tolerate drought. Therefore, neither species can survive the coming changes. Davis advocates for diversification. “We need a portfolio of coffee crop species to adapt to altered climates,” he stated.
Excelsa is already scaling up in Uganda and Vietnam. Farmers there have grown hundreds of acres since the early 2000s. Kiwuka Catherine, a Ugandan research officer, explained that smallholders and large farmers are adopting Excelsa as a climate adaptation. At least 200 farms in Uganda and several in India, Vietnam, and South Sudan now produce Excelsa for export. This trend shows no signs of slowing.
New Hybrids and Future Possibilities
| Species | Climate Resilience | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Arabica | Low, heat sensitive | Dominant but vulnerable |
| Robusta | Moderate, not drought tolerant | Widely grown, under pressure |
| Excelsa | High, heat and drought tolerant | Gaining commercial interest |
| Liberica | High, adaptable | Under research |
| Libex (hybrid) | Very high, disease resistant | Proposed new hybrid |
Researchers have also investigated a hybrid between Liberica and Excelsa. They named it Coffea X libex, or Libex coffee. This hybrid resists heat, excess moisture, and disease effectively. According to Dashrath, this finding could prove crucial for the future of coffee. Hybrids offer a sustainable option for growers facing unpredictable weather. In India, Excelsa is slowly moving from obscurity into the mainstream. SICC has received requests for more than 4,000 saplings for 2026. Davis believes Ugandan Excelsa could appear in supermarkets within a decade. For a sustainable future, the coffee industry must embrace diversification, regenerative agriculture, and multiple alternative species.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Why are Arabica and Robusta vulnerable to climate change?
Temperatures above 30°C reduce yields. Arabica cannot tolerate heat, while Robusta cannot handle drought. Changing rainfall patterns and pests add more stress.
2. What exactly is Excelsa coffee?
Excelsa (Coffea dewevrei) is a lesser known coffee species native to Africa and Southeast Asia. It grows tall and shows strong resistance to heat and drought.
3. Where can farmers grow Excelsa today?
Growers cultivate Excelsa in India, Uganda, and Vietnam. Ugandan farmers have grown hundreds of acres since the early 2000s as a climate adaptation.
4. What is Libex coffee?
Libex (Coffea X libex) is a hybrid between Liberica and Excelsa. It demonstrates strong resistance to heat, moisture stress, and disease.
5. Can consumers buy Excelsa coffee now?
Yes, but only in small quantities. In India, producers sold over four tonnes in 2025. Ugandan Excelsa may soon reach supermarket shelves.
6. What does the future of coffee look like?
Diversification. Growers will need a portfolio of species including Excelsa, Liberica, Stenophylla, and hybrids like Libex alongside improved Arabica and Robusta.
Published: June 1, 2026
