Coffee wood comes from the branches and trunks of coffee trees, which are pruned or removed as part of regular cultivation practices. To sustain high productivity over time, coffee plantations undergo periodic renewal, a necessary step in managing the aging of the plants. One widely adopted and cost-effective method for this is the zoqueo system—also known in scientific terms as the Beaumont-Fukunaga system. This technique involves cutting the tree at about 30 cm above ground level, a process that generates two main by-products: Coffee Cut Stems (CCS) and slanted branches.

Reports from Colombia estimate a timber yield of about 16 tonnes per hectare in high-density plantations with roughly 5,000 trees per hectare. Coffee wood is also harvested from trees that are eradicated for replanting, usually after reaching maturity or when their yield declines, typically around the 7th year. Coffee trunks can be repurposed into furniture and home decor items. Moreover, due to their durability and strength, coffee wood holds significant potential for the construction industry, suitable for flooring, decking, and structural components.

An important environmental advantage of utilizing coffee wood is its capacity to sequester and store carbon, thereby supporting broader sustainability goals. When processed into engineered wood products such as Glued Laminated Timber (GLT), coffee wood not only contributes to carbon storage but also enhances the structural performance and aesthetic value of conventional timber, offering a sustainable and visually appealing alternative.

Source:

Rodríguez-Valencia, N. (2023). Aplicación de la bioeconomía circular en el proceso de beneficio de café con cero residuos. In Cenicafé eBooks. https://doi.org/10.38141/cenbook-0032