Coffee Plant Diseases and Pests

A variety of diseases affect coffee plants.

Fungal Coffee Plant Diseases

Fungal diseases include: algal (red) leaf spot (cephaleuros); bark disease; berry blotch; brown blight; brown eye spot; brown leaf spot; canker; coffee berry disease; die-back; leaf blight; leaf spot; phoma; pink disease; red blister disease (affects Robusta plants); rust (orange rust or leaf rust); rust (powdery or grey rust); South America leaf spot (Omphalia flavida; Mycena citricolor; Stilbum flavidum [anamorph]); thread blight; tip blast; tracheomycosis (wilt) [Gibberella xylarioides; Fusarium xylarioides]; wilt [Ceratocystis fimbriata; Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. coffea]; and warty berry.

Rotting Coffee Plant Diseases

Rotting diseases, which are also fungal diseases, include: armillaria root rot (Armillaria mellea); black (Rosellinia) root rot; black (seedling) root rot; dry root rot (Fusarium solani); collar rot (Gibberella stilboides; telemorph); and red root rot (Ganoderma philippii).

Parasitic and Viral Coffee Plant Diseases

A nematode/parasitic disease is called root knot, and a viral disease is blister spot. Another disease/disorder is hot and cold disease, which is a physiological effect most common at higher altitudes due to exposure to temperature extremes.

Coffee and Espresso Brewing Tips

For detailed definitions of gourmet coffee terms see the Espresso Coffee Guides Coffee Terms. To read comprehensive coffee flavor profiles see gourmet coffee and Espresso Drink Recipes.

For instructions on preparing espresso drinks see Pulling A Perfect Espresso Shot and How to make a Latte.