Coffee A coffee bean is a coffee plant seed and the raw material for making coffee. It is the center of the red or purple fruit that is frequently called a cherry. The coffee fruit is categorized as a stone fruit, just like regular cherries. The Arabica and Robusta coffee plant varieties are the two most economically significant types; 60% of the coffee produced worldwide is Arabica, and 40% is Robusta. Robusta beans have 1.7 - 4.0% caffeine, compared to 0.8 - 1.4% in Arabica beans. Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, hence coffee beans are a significant income crop and a significant export good.