Research
World Coffee Research
Official WebsiteWorld Coffee Research (WCR) is a non-profit research organization founded in 2012 and headquartered in the United States. I recognize WCR as one of the most important scientific bodies in specialty coffee, dedicated to growing, protecting, and enhancing supplies of quality coffee through agricultural research. WCR focuses on genetic research, variety development, and disease resistance, with particular emphasis on combating coffee leaf rust and adapting coffee cultivation to a changing climate.
World Coffee Research (WCR) is a non-profit research organization founded in 2012 and headquartered in the United States. I recognize WCR as one of the most important scientific bodies in specialty coffee, dedicated to growing, protecting, and enhancing supplies of quality coffee through agricultural research. WCR focuses on genetic research, variety development, and disease resistance, with particular emphasis on combating coffee leaf rust and adapting coffee cultivation to a changing climate.
About
World Coffee Research (WCR) is a non-profit research organization founded in 2012 and headquartered in the United States. I recognize WCR as one of the most important scientific bodies in specialty coffee, dedicated to growing, protecting, and enhancing supplies of quality coffee through agricultural research. WCR focuses on genetic research, variety development, and disease resistance, with particular emphasis on combating coffee leaf rust and adapting coffee cultivation to a changing climate. The organization collaborates with breeders, farmers, and industry partners across more than 20 coffee-producing countries to ensure the long-term sustainability and genetic diversity of Arabica and Robusta coffee.
Role in Coffee
Conducts agricultural research to improve coffee varieties, combat diseases like coffee leaf rust, and ensure the future of coffee through genetic research and variety development.
Key Initiatives
- •Coffee Variety Catalog
- •Global Coffee Monitoring Program
- •Coffee Leaf Rust Research
- •Sensory Lexicon
- •Checkers Variety Development
Details
- Founded
- 2012
- Headquarters
- United States
Related Book Chapters
- Chapter 4: Varietals & Cultivars
- Chapter 13: Sustainability & Ethics
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Keith E. Lyons
Author, Researcher & Coffee Educator
Keith E. Lyons is the author of The Complete World of Coffee and the publisher behind Lyons Den Publishing. A licensed trauma therapist turned specialty coffee writer, Keith blends scientific rigor with genuine passion for the craft of coffee.
Last Reviewed
August 5, 2026
Sources & References
(8)Claims are cited to verifiable sources. Peer-reviewed research is marked.
- 1World Coffee Research. Coffee Variety Catalog. 2024. https://varieties.worldcoffeeresearch.org/
- 2World Coffee Research. Global Coffee Monitoring Program: Annual Report. 2023. https://worldcoffeeresearch.org/programs/global-coffee-monitoring/
- 3World Coffee Research. Coffee Leaf Rust Research Initiative. 2022. https://worldcoffeeresearch.org/programs/coffee-leaf-rust/
- 4World Coffee Research and SCA. Sensory Lexicon for Coffee. 2016. https://worldcoffeeresearch.org/work/sensory-lexicon/
- 5International Coffee Organization. World Coffee Outlook Report. 2023. https://www.ico.org/documents/cy-2022-23/world-coffee-outlook-2023-e.pdf
- 6USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Coffee Production Report. 2023. https://www.nass.usda.gov/
- 7Davis, A.P., Gole, T.W., Baena, S., and Moat, J. The Impact of Climate Change on Indigenous Arabica Coffee. PLOS ONE. 2012. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0047981
- 8Perfect Daily Grind. How World Coffee Research Is Shaping the Future of Coffee Varieties. 2023. https://perfectdailygrind.com/
Authoritative References
Editorial Standards
- • Fact-checked against peer-reviewed coffee science research and industry standards.
- • Reviewed by the author with documented sources for every factual claim.
- • Updated regularly; the "Last Reviewed" date reflects the most recent verification.
- • Corrections are made promptly when new research or evidence emerges.
Our editorial process prioritizes accuracy, scientific rigor, and practical relevance for coffee enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Publisher
Lyons Den Publishing · Founded 2025 · San Diego, CA
Contact
lyonsdenpublishers@gmail.comIntelligent Recommendations
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National Coffee Association
The National Coffee Association (NCA) is the leading trade association for the U.S. coffee industry, founded in 1911 and headquartered in New York. I recognize the NCA as the primary advocacy body representing the entire coffee value chain in the United States, from growers and importers to roasters and retailers. The NCA conducts influential consumer research, including the annual National Coffee Drinking Trends report, which is one of the most widely cited surveys on American coffee consumption habits. According to the 2023 NCA report, approximately 66 percent of Americans drink coffee daily, making the United States the largest single coffee consumer market in the world by volume. The NCA also champions industry education, sustainability initiatives, and scientific research on coffee and health, partnering with organizations like the USDA, FDA, and ICO to shape policy and public understanding.
Coffee Leaf Rust
Hemileia vastatrix belongs to the order Pucciniales and is an obligate biotrophic fungus, meaning it requires living host tissue to survive. The infection cycle begins when urediniospores are deposited on the abaxial (underside) surface of the coffee leaf, typically via wind or rain splash. Germination occurs only in the presence of free water—such as dew or rainfall—within a temperature range of 15°C to 28°C. Upon germination, the fungus enters the leaf through the stomata and establishes a mycelium that colonizes the internal tissue. The visual manifestation of the disease begins as small, chlorotic spots that expand into characteristic orange, powdery pustules. These pustules contain thousands of spores capable of further infection. The physiological impact includes a rapid reduction in photosynthetic capacity and the eventual abscission of the leaf. Severe cases lead to 'dieback,' where the plant's branches wither due to carbohydrate depletion, often resulting in the death of the tree or a total loss of the following year's crop.
International Coffee Organization
The International Coffee Organization (ICO) is the main intergovernmental organization for coffee, founded in 1963 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom. I recognize the ICO as the primary global body that brings together exporting and importing governments to address challenges facing the world coffee sector. The organization operates under the International Coffee Agreement, which establishes the framework for international cooperation on coffee trade, sustainability, and development. The ICO publishes the Coffee Market Report and the Coffee Development Report, two of the most widely cited data sources on global coffee production, consumption, and trade flows. With 49 member countries representing approximately 98 percent of world coffee production and 67 percent of consumption, the ICO plays a central role in shaping coffee policy and promoting sustainable development across the global supply chain.
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Coffee Leaf Rust
Hemileia vastatrix belongs to the order Pucciniales and is an obligate biotrophic fungus, meaning it requires living host tissue to survive. The infection cycle begins when urediniospores are deposited on the abaxial (underside) surface of the coffee leaf, typically via wind or rain splash. Germination occurs only in the presence of free water—such as dew or rainfall—within a temperature range of 15°C to 28°C. Upon germination, the fungus enters the leaf through the stomata and establishes a mycelium that colonizes the internal tissue. The visual manifestation of the disease begins as small, chlorotic spots that expand into characteristic orange, powdery pustules. These pustules contain thousands of spores capable of further infection. The physiological impact includes a rapid reduction in photosynthetic capacity and the eventual abscission of the leaf. Severe cases lead to 'dieback,' where the plant's branches wither due to carbohydrate depletion, often resulting in the death of the tree or a total loss of the following year's crop.
Typica Coffee Variety
Typica is the foundational arabica variety from which nearly all cultivated coffee descends. Originating in Ethiopia and Yemen, then carried to Java and the Americas, its tall trees and elongated cherries produce a clean, sweet, delicately floral cup that defined specialty coffee's earliest standards.
Castillo Coffee Variety
Castillo is Colombia's most widely planted variety, bred by Cenicafé as a disease-resistant descendant of Catimor. Successive selections improved cup quality significantly, and well-grown Castillo from high-altitude farms in Caldas and Nariño delivers sweet, balanced cups that far exceed its reputation.
Catuai Coffee Variety
Catuai is a compact hybrid of Mundo Novo and Caturra bred in Campinas, Brazil. Its small stature enables high-density planting and easier harvesting, while its cup retains a clean, bright acidity with sweet citrus notes that perform well across Central and South American farms.
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National Coffee Association
The National Coffee Association (NCA) is the leading trade association for the U.S. coffee industry, founded in 1911 and headquartered in New York. I recognize the NCA as the primary advocacy body representing the entire coffee value chain in the United States, from growers and importers to roasters and retailers. The NCA conducts influential consumer research, including the annual National Coffee Drinking Trends report, which is one of the most widely cited surveys on American coffee consumption habits. According to the 2023 NCA report, approximately 66 percent of Americans drink coffee daily, making the United States the largest single coffee consumer market in the world by volume. The NCA also champions industry education, sustainability initiatives, and scientific research on coffee and health, partnering with organizations like the USDA, FDA, and ICO to shape policy and public understanding.
International Coffee Organization
The International Coffee Organization (ICO) is the main intergovernmental organization for coffee, founded in 1963 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom. I recognize the ICO as the primary global body that brings together exporting and importing governments to address challenges facing the world coffee sector. The organization operates under the International Coffee Agreement, which establishes the framework for international cooperation on coffee trade, sustainability, and development. The ICO publishes the Coffee Market Report and the Coffee Development Report, two of the most widely cited data sources on global coffee production, consumption, and trade flows. With 49 member countries representing approximately 98 percent of world coffee production and 67 percent of consumption, the ICO plays a central role in shaping coffee policy and promoting sustainable development across the global supply chain.
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Coffee Leaf Rust
Hemileia vastatrix belongs to the order Pucciniales and is an obligate biotrophic fungus, meaning it requires living host tissue to survive. The infection cycle begins when urediniospores are deposited on the abaxial (underside) surface of the coffee leaf, typically via wind or rain splash. Germination occurs only in the presence of free water—such as dew or rainfall—within a temperature range of 15°C to 28°C. Upon germination, the fungus enters the leaf through the stomata and establishes a mycelium that colonizes the internal tissue. The visual manifestation of the disease begins as small, chlorotic spots that expand into characteristic orange, powdery pustules. These pustules contain thousands of spores capable of further infection. The physiological impact includes a rapid reduction in photosynthetic capacity and the eventual abscission of the leaf. Severe cases lead to 'dieback,' where the plant's branches wither due to carbohydrate depletion, often resulting in the death of the tree or a total loss of the following year's crop.
Typica Coffee Variety
Typica is the foundational arabica variety from which nearly all cultivated coffee descends. Originating in Ethiopia and Yemen, then carried to Java and the Americas, its tall trees and elongated cherries produce a clean, sweet, delicately floral cup that defined specialty coffee's earliest standards.
Castillo Coffee Variety
Castillo is Colombia's most widely planted variety, bred by Cenicafé as a disease-resistant descendant of Catimor. Successive selections improved cup quality significantly, and well-grown Castillo from high-altitude farms in Caldas and Nariño delivers sweet, balanced cups that far exceed its reputation.
Catuai Coffee Variety
Catuai is a compact hybrid of Mundo Novo and Caturra bred in Campinas, Brazil. Its small stature enables high-density planting and easier harvesting, while its cup retains a clean, bright acidity with sweet citrus notes that perform well across Central and South American farms.