Liberica and Excelsa: The Other Coffee Species

Liberica coffee comes from Coffea liberica, a coffee species native to West Africa that grows into tall trees with some of the largest cherries and beans of any coffee plant. Its close relative excelsa (Coffea dewevrei) comes from Central Africa. Together they are sometimes called “the other coffee species,” because almost all the coffee in the world comes from just two: Arabica and Robusta.

Liberica and excelsa are rare outside the regions where they grow, but interest in them is rising because they can cope with hot, low-elevation conditions that challenge the two major species. Here is what makes them different, how liberica tastes and where these coffees are grown.

The Four Coffee Species You Might Hear About

There are well over a hundred species in the genus Coffea, but only a handful are farmed. If you want a refresher on the two big ones, our guide to Arabica vs Robusta covers taste, caffeine and price.

Liberica Coffee: Species Facts

A giant among coffee plants

Liberica trees can grow up to about 20 meters (66 feet) tall if left unpruned, so pickers sometimes need ladders. The leaves, cherries and beans are all large. Beans are noticeably longer than Arabica and often have an irregular, almond-like shape, which makes even roasting a challenge.

A name from West Africa

The species is named after Liberia. A major 2025 genomic study led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and published in Nature Plants redrew its native range, concluding that wild liberica is limited to a small part of West Africa rather than the much wider area once assumed.

Caffeine

Research on green beans shows liberica’s caffeine content is generally lower than Robusta’s and roughly similar to, or overlapping with, Arabica’s. Amounts vary with the plant and growing conditions, so treat any single number with caution.

Excelsa: Species or Variety?

Excelsa has had a confusing botanical history. In 2006, botanists folded excelsa and several related names into liberica as a variety, Coffea liberica var. dewevrei. For years, many sources described excelsa as a type of liberica.

That changed in 2025. The Kew-led genomic study concluded that liberica and excelsa are separate species, recognizing excelsa as Coffea dewevrei and identifying a third related species, Coffea klainei. So if you see older articles calling excelsa a liberica variety, they are not careless; the science simply moved on.

Wild excelsa grows in Central Africa, from southeastern Cameroon toward South Sudan and Uganda, in a very different climate from wild liberica. According to the researchers, excelsa can produce commercially viable crops at higher temperatures and with longer dry spells than Robusta.

What Does Liberica Coffee Taste Like?

Liberica has a distinctive, polarizing flavor. It is often described as:

• Fruity and aromatic, with notes compared to jackfruit.
• Full-bodied, with moderate acidity.
• Roast sensitive: light to medium roasts highlight the fruit, medium roasts bring out caramel and chocolate, and dark roasts can push it toward bitterness.

Because liberica is so different from what most Americans drink, first impressions vary a lot. Some people love its bold, fruity character; others find it unusual. Quality also varies widely, since liberica has received far less agronomic and processing research than Arabica.

Excelsa’s cup profile is less well documented, and with production so small, flavor descriptions vary from source to source.

Where Liberica and Excelsa Are Grown

Liberica spread far beyond Africa in the late 1800s, when coffee leaf rust devastated Arabica farms in Asia. Growers planted liberica as a possible replacement, though Robusta later became the more common replacement in much of the region.

• The Philippines: Liberica has a long history here and is known locally as kapeng barako, grown mainly in Batangas and Cavite for the domestic market.
• Malaysia: Johor is a major center of liberica growing.
• Indonesia: Liberica is grown in parts of Java, Kalimantan and Sumatra, including on lowland peat soils.
• Excelsa: Cultivation is gaining ground in Uganda, South Sudan and Guinea, and rising in India, Vietnam and Indonesia, according to reports on the 2025 study.

Production is tiny. The Kew-led researchers estimated that global liberica and excelsa output is probably under 1,000 metric tons, a very small fraction of world coffee exports. Their potential lies in hot, lowland regions inside the coffee belt where Arabica and Robusta struggle, which is why researchers see them as interesting crops for a warming climate.

Liberica Coffee FAQ

Is liberica coffee stronger than Arabica?

Not necessarily in caffeine. Studies generally find liberica’s caffeine closer to Arabica than to Robusta. It can taste bold and heavy, though, because of its full body and unusual aroma.

Is excelsa a type of liberica?

It used to be classified that way. Since a 2025 genomic study, excelsa is treated as its own species, Coffea dewevrei.

Why is liberica coffee so rare?

The trees are tall and harder to harvest, the large irregular beans are tricky to process and roast, and most of the coffee industry is built around Arabica and Robusta. Most liberica is consumed close to where it is grown.

What is kapeng barako?

It is the local name for liberica coffee in the Philippines, especially associated with Batangas province. It is known for a strong, bold cup.

Conclusion

Liberica and excelsa are fascinating outliers: huge beans, tall trees, distinctive flavor and a botanical story that changed as recently as 2025. Feel Espresso does not sell liberica or excelsa, but if you are curious about bold coffees beyond classic Arabica, try our West Java Robusta, the heavy-bodied Southeast Asian Asian Plateau Blend, or explore the world through our single origin coffees, all roasted 1–5 days before delivery. For a deeper botanical overview, see the encyclopedia entry on Coffea liberica.