Coffee-

"Coffee" in Chavacano or chabacano of Zamboanga: Cafe-

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English to Chavacano By: Franklin H. Maletsky: A Chavacano Zamboangueño

English to Chavacano - Chabacano:
The original online Chavacano Translation Dictionary Since 1997.

El original chavacano diccionario na internet
Email me some chavacano words and phrases: franklin_maletsky@yahoo.com. Gracias.

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• Ta prepara ya bo para el dia de Valentino?
  • Are you preparing for Valentine's day?

Updated: February 5, 2024

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Coffee trees are best grown under the shade of bigger trees. The coffee trees love the filtered sunlight. It takes about 3 to 5 years for a coffee tree to bear flowers. The flowering season is usually after the rainy season. Before climate change, rain usually starts in May in Zamboanga. A few weeks after the rain, the coffee trees will start to bear white flowers. They flower in stages up the stems of the branch.

From bud to flower it takes less than 5 days and once it has bloomed and in splendor for a day or two, then the flowers begin to wilt and fall. Since the flowering of the coffee is in stages, (up the tiny stem) this flowering process can last 3 months into the season. Since it takes approximately 3 months from flower to fruit, and almost another 3 to 4 months to ripen; You can be harvesting when the last flower just fell. Not all coffee beans from a tree mature at the same time. Harvesting can start in late October and continue on till March.

Modern growers in open area plantations use chemicals to induce synchronous flowering, diminishing the natural bearing of flowers in stages. The tree bears its flowers and berries from the stems coming off the branches. After the berries are ripened the section where it flowers never flower again, the bottom section of the stem becomes bare. A coffee tree that does not get trimmed will look lanky and bare at the bottom.

A coffee plantation during its flowering stage creates a sweet smell that can travel for over 1 kilometer depending on the wind and terrain. The coffee flowers are white and small and shaped like a star. The scent of the flower is similar to that of sampaguita or jasmine. Very intoxicating.

There are three types of coffee mostly grown in the Philippines.

1. Arabica : Likes the high altitude and it self pollinates. It is not as bitter as the robusta. It also tastes milder with less caffeine.
   • It can grow to a lanky 30 to 40 feet tall with support. That is why most growers trim them down for easy berry picking heights.
   • The leaves are smaller than that of the robusta. Only about 2.5x5 inches. The root system of the arabica grows much deeper than that of the robusta. It can withstand the drought better than the robusta. However, it is very vulnerable to the root-knot nematode pest.
   • The beans are oblong shaped and a little bigger than that of the robusta. The raw berry is a little sweeter than the robusta too.
2. Robusta : This variety needs cross pollination and prefers the low lands. Packs a punch in caffeine and a bit bitter. It contains at least twice the caffein as the arabica. Of the three varieties, the robusta is the most tolerant towards pests and diseases. However, it has very shallow root systems and will suffer from drought or "el niño". The robusta root system is immune to the root-knot nematode that affects the arabica coffee tree.
   • The robusta is a little smaller than its cousin the arabica. Left alone it can shoot up to 35 feet. Coffee plantations trim them down to a height of no more than 8 feet for easy berry harvesting.
   • Leaves are just a little bit bigger than that of the Arabica (3x6) inches.
   • The beans of the robusta are almost round more like an egg-shape. The Robusta yields more berries per tree per season.
3. Liberica (sometimes called Beria or Exelsa): This variety grows into a big tree. It also needs cross pollination like the robusta.
   • The leaves of the liberica are at least 3 times bigger than that of the robusta or arabica.
   • It bears fruits all year long. The size of the berry is at least twice as big as that of the robusta or arabica. But the beans of the liberica are only about third bigger than the robusta or arabica. The berry of the the liberica is bigger because it has more "meaty" content. Making it a favorite for animals and young kids to suck on. The fruity taste is sweet.
   • The liberica's fruit matures a little longer than the robusta or arabica. While the arabica or robusta matures within 9 months, the liberica can take up to one year. The root system of the Liberica is extensive and grows deep into the ground making it more resistant to drought and "el niño".
   • The tree can grow up to over 60 feet tall. When the tree is too old and is cut down, it's trunk and branches can be used as lumber. Great for furniture. Coffee tables perhaps? However, if the stump is left intact and cared for, new shoots will grow from it and the same tree will prosper again.
   • Liberica has the lowest caffein content of the three varieties. As far as taste is concerned, it is between the arabica and the robusta, making it an excellent choice of coffee aficionados. Many coffee vendors in the Philippines brand this coffee beans as Barako coffee. Chavacanos call this variety BERIA.

Sustainable coffee planting: As nature provided the short coffee trees (popularly the robusta and arabica) are shade loving trees. They produce more and do not require lots of pesticides when they are protected from the sun and wind. Here comes the big brother Liberica which is hardy and can grow very tall. It can grow in the lowlands or in the uplands. In the lowlands the robusta can grow below it and in the uplands the arabica can grow under its canopy.

A plantation can have these 3 varieties growing sustainably.

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  stem of a coffee tree bearing flowers and berries in stages

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  Fruit bearing in stages. Notice the bottom section of the trunk and the bottom sections of the stems. They are bare.

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  Robusta coffee berries and leaves - the leaves are a little bit bigger and more oblong shaped than the arabica

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  Robusta coffee berries and leaves - the leaves are a little bit bigger and more oblong shaped than the arabica

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  Arabica grafted into robusta root stock. Produce arabica berries but keeps the sturdy traits of the robusta and prevents root-knot nematode (worm-like parasites) infestation.

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  Leaves and berries of the Arabica coffee

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  Leaves and berries of the Arabica coffee

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  Arabica affected by root knot nematode

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  Liberica coffee bean (bigger than the robusta or arabica)

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  Liberica berries compared to hand size

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  Leaf of a 2 year old Cafe-Beria tree.

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  1.5 year old Cafe-Beria in Tumaga Zamboanga

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• Malaysia grows more Robusta and Liberica. They have these trees growing in the low land areas.
• Kailua-Kona, Hawaii - in the mountain area they grow arabica coffee (kona coffee)