What is the difference between a variety and a cultivar?

In the field, the distinction between a variety and a cultivar is not merely academic; it is a matter of economic survival for the producer. A botanical variety, such as Typica or Bourbon, arises through natural mutation and evolution. These plants are generally 'true to type,' meaning if a farmer saves seeds from a healthy tree, the offspring will largely mirror the parent’s characteristics. This allows for a degree of self-reliance in traditional farming systems. Conversely, a cultivar is a product of human intervention—a deliberate selection or hybrid cross designed to solve specific agronomic challenges, such as the leaf rust resistance found in Catimor or Castillo. Because many modern cultivars are hybrids, they often lack the genetic stability of heirloom varieties; if a farmer plants seeds from a hybrid cultivar, the resulting trees may revert to the traits of their ancestors, losing the very disease resistance or yield benefits the farmer sought. This is why the World Coffee Research catalog emphasizes that choosing a variety is a multi-decade investment. The common misconception that these terms are synonymous ignores the reality of plant breeding: varieties are nature’s experiments, while cultivars are human-engineered tools. For the producer, understanding whether a plant is a stable variety or a human-bred cultivar dictates whether they can save their own seeds or must rely on commercial nurseries to maintain the integrity of their harvest.