Coffea liberica

9.4

A small coffee tree from West Africa grown for its large beans

noun

Specialized

: Coffea liberica

The beans of Coffea liberica are larger and have a unique flavor compared to those of Arabica and Robusta.

Examples

Many farmers in West Africa cultivate Coffea liberica.
Farmers in Southeast Asia are increasingly cultivating Coffea liberica because of its resistance to certain diseases.
A botanical garden in Ghana features a rare specimen of Coffea liberica on display for visitors.
The Coffea liberica tree thrives in humid climates.
The beans of Coffea liberica are larger and have a unique flavor compared to those of Arabica and Robusta.
A botanical garden in Ghana features a rare specimen of Coffea liberica on display for visitors.
Farmers in Southeast Asia are increasingly cultivating Coffea liberica because of its resistance to certain diseases.

Synonyms

Liberian coffee

vsCoffea liberica

5.5

A small West African tree grown for the beans used to make coffee

highlights larger beans and production of a distinct drink

Surface Forms

Coffea liberica singular

Coffea libericas plural

Morphology

Coffea + liberica

This is a Latin binomial (taxonomic) name: while 'Coffea' signals the coffee genus so a learner might infer it refers to a coffee plant, the specific species label 'liberica' is a proper-name/Latin epithet (not a transparent English word) and does not allow a B1 learner to derive the detailed meaning (small tree native to West Africa, large beans, distinct coffee). Species names are essentially lexicalized labels rather than compositional phrases, so the full meaning is not predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Coffea liberica comes from Coffea, the word for the coffee plant, and liberica, which points to 'Liberia' in West Africa where the tree was first noticed. So the name helps you remember it is a coffee tree from West Africa with large beans used to make a special type of 'coffee'.