Starmaya was described as the first F1 hybrid coffee tree that can be propagated by seed, with high rust resistance and high cup acidity.
Starmaya is an F1 hybrid (Marsellesa x a wild Ethiopian/Sudanese natural mutant) bred by CIRAD-ECOM. WCR calls it the only F1 hybrid in the world that professional seed producers can propagate by seed, avoiding the costly tissue culture used for other hybrids. Farmers should still buy from trusted nurseries, since seeds from hybrid plants do not keep the parent's traits, and about 15% of plants will segregate. It is high yielding at medium altitudes with high rust resistance and notably high cup acidity.
Field notes
- i
In 2001 CIRAD researchers noticed a male-sterile Arabica plant among wild Ethiopian and Sudanese coffees on a farm in Nicaragua, the plant that made seed-propagated F1 hybrids possible.
- ii
Unlike other F1 hybrids, which WCR says need clonal propagation, Starmaya can be produced from seed by professional seed producers, with roughly 15% of plants segregating.
Family tree
Starmaya is an F1 hybrid of Marsellesa and Ethiopian Landrace.
In the cup, according to guides
- AcidityMoreWCR's catalog notes notably high acidity in the cup for Starmaya.
Grown in
- Nicaraguaorigin
Sources · 3 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-11.
- Arabica Varieties — A global catalog of Arabica coffee varieties from around the world (PDF, rev. Sept 4, 2025) · World Coffee Research
- World Coffee Research variety page: Starmaya · World Coffee Research
- List of coffee varieties · Wikipedia