Coffee plants are best used as foliage specimen plants indoors or outdoors in a hot sheltered spot as a feature plant in a tropical garden. Coffee plants have glossy green leaves and make an ideal house plant. In summer, the plant will have fragrant white flowers smelling of jasmine.

Coffee beans contain high levels of polyphenolics, which can be an excellent antioxidant. High levels of caffeine in the beans can help clear congestion, help prevent asthma attacks and boost athletic performance. Spent coffee grounds are high in nitrogen and excellent for the garden.

Coffee plants do best in filtered sunlight. They don’t like full sun and are not wind or salt tolerant. A good potting mix will provide the ideal growing media. Provide plenty of moisture and nutrients as coffee plants are heavy feeders. Prune the tips in late winter to maintain the desired size and shape.