tags: [] - coffee/varieties - coffee/varieties/hybrid aliases: - Catimor coffee variety - Catimor hybrid

Catimor¶

Tags: #coffee/varieties #coffee/varieties/hybrid Aliases: Catimor coffee variety, Catimor hybrid Related: Coffee Variety Families MOC | Timor Hybrid | Caturra | Coffee Leaf Rust | Arabica Status: ✅ Complete

Overview¶

Catimor is a family of Coffea arabica hybrid varieties produced by crossing Caturra (a compact Bourbon mutation) with the Timor Hybrid (a naturally occurring interspecific hybrid of C. arabica and C. canephora). Because the Timor Hybrid carries C. canephora genetics — including the SH3 rust-resistance gene — Catimor varieties inherit strong resistance to Hemileia vastatrix (coffee leaf rust), making them among the most widely planted disease-resistant varieties in the world. Catimor plants are compact, high-yielding, and rust-resistant, but have historically been criticised in the specialty coffee sector for inferior cup quality compared to traditional Arabica varieties when grown at lower altitudes or processed without care.

Origins¶

Catimor was first developed by the Centro de Investigação das Ferrugens do Cafeeiro (CIFC) in Portugal in 1959, crossing Caturra with the Timor Hybrid (also known as Híbrido de Timor or HDT). The cross was initially designated HW2667; derivatives and further selections from this cross carried into national breeding programmes worldwide became known collectively as "Catimor."

The Timor Hybrid arose naturally in Timor (now Timor-Leste) around 1927 as a spontaneous interspecific hybrid between C. arabica and C. canephora; it is tetraploid and fertile, with Arabica compatibility but with Robusta-derived rust resistance genes. CIFC recognised its disease resistance potential and used it as a resistance donor in breeding programmes from the 1950s onward.

Agronomic Characteristics¶

Disease resistance: Strong resistance to most races of Hemileia vastatrix (coffee leaf rust), derived from the SH3 and other resistance genes from C. canephora via the Timor Hybrid
Plant size: Compact — similar to Caturra, shorter internodes than Typica
Yield: High; comparable to Caturra and other compact varieties
Altitude: Performs best at higher altitudes (above 1,200–1,400 m); at lower altitudes, cup quality is typically poor
Early bearing: Enters production earlier than many traditional varieties
Susceptibility: Some Catimor lines are susceptible to Colletotrichum kahawae (coffee berry disease) and to certain physiological races of rust not covered by the original resistance genes; resistance can erode over time

Cup Quality¶

Cup quality is Catimor's most contested characteristic in the specialty coffee sector. The original Catimor crosses carried Robusta-derived off-notes — described variously as earthy, rubbery, astringent, or phenolic — particularly at lower altitudes or when grown under sub-optimal conditions. These characteristics led to Catimor's poor reputation in specialty markets.

However, cup quality varies significantly with: - Altitude: Catimor grown at high altitude (above 1,400–1,500 m) consistently produces cleaner, more complex cup profiles than lowland-grown material - Selection: Many national breeding programmes have spent decades selecting improved Catimor lines for better cup quality; not all Catimor is identical in cup profile - Processing: High-quality post-harvest processing (clean washed processing in particular) significantly improves cup quality - Fertilisation and shade: Well-managed agronomic conditions improve bean development and cup quality

In international competitions such as the Cup of Excellence, Catimor-derived varieties have placed highly, demonstrating that well-grown and well-processed Catimor can produce specialty-quality cups.

Global Distribution and Derivatives¶

Catimor is one of the most widely planted coffee varieties in the world by hectarage, deployed across Central America, South America, Asia, and Africa, primarily in contexts where leaf rust pressure is high. Key national Catimor derivatives include:

Country	Variety	Notes
Colombia	Colombia variety	Colombia × Caturra/Catimor-type cross; later superseded by Castillo
Brazil	Catucaí, Tupi	Further crosses with Catuaí and Mundo Novo incorporating Catimor resistance
Honduras	Lempira	Catimor selection for Central American conditions
Vietnam	TR4, TR9 (Robusta-context)	Separate; Vietnam's Catimor selection for Arabica
India	Selection 795, Chandragiri	Derived from Catimor-type crosses
Indonesia	Ateng, Bor Bor	Catimor derivatives widely grown in Aceh and other Sumatran regions

Key Facts¶

Catimor is a Caturra × Timor Hybrid cross first produced in Portugal (CIFC) in 1959; widely planted for its leaf rust resistance derived from C. canephora genetics via the Timor Hybrid
Compact, high-yielding, disease-resistant; performs best above 1,400 m altitude for cup quality
Historically criticised for Robusta-derived off-notes at low altitude; well-grown high-altitude Catimor can achieve specialty cup quality
One of the most widely distributed variety families in the world; national derivative varieties include Colombia (Colombia), Lempira (Honduras), Ateng (Indonesia), and many others
Resistance to leaf rust may erode over time as new rust races evolve; ongoing breeding programmes continue to develop improved Catimor-type selections

References¶

Changelog¶

Date	Change
2026-04-27	Note created

This article is part of All-About-Coffee.com - The comprehensive coffee knowledgebase.