The discovery reveals how Arabica coffee got its sweet flavour and may help future-proof the drink.
Scientists have unravelled the genetic secrets of coffee in a discovery they say paves the way for more flavoursome brews.
"This tool may give us ways to provide coffee growers with better plants that appeal more to the consumers, and cope better with changing climatic conditions."The study used the latest DNA sequencing technology to examine the genetic make-up of the Arabica coffee plant in unprecedented detail. Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall are altering the conditions under which coffee plants are grown, leading to decreased yields and increased attack from pests and diseases.Dr Aaron Davis of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said it was an "important step forward in our understanding of the genetic diversity of coffee which may help to guide the future development of this economically important and much-loved crop species.