coffeesterTHE COFFEE ENCYCLOPEDIA

Varietal · Portugal / Timor

Catimor

Coffea arabica × canephora (interspecific hybrid)

Variable; can be heavy or herbaceous, sometimes astringent.

Catimor is a family of crosses between Caturra and the Timor Hybrid (a natural Arabica × Robusta hybrid carrying rust resistance), begun in Portugal in 1959. It introduced robusta-derived disease resistance and high yields into compact Arabica plants, and became enormously important after leaf-rust epidemics — but early Catimors were often criticised for inferior cups. Continued selection has improved quality, and Catimor genetics underpin many modern resistant varieties worldwide.

Parentage

Featured in

Last updated: June 13, 2026