Skip to content
Pocket Botanist
Get the app

Coffee plant · Coffea arabica

What are these spots on my coffee plant leaves?

Spots on coffee plant leaves are often caused by fungal or bacterial issues, usually triggered by too much moisture on the foliage. Check your watering habits and air circulation first.

Not sure it's this? Check a photo of your plant for free

spots on a plant
Photo: Scot Nelson, CC0

Check these first

  1. Look for signs of fungal growth on the undersides of leaves.
  2. Check if the soil is staying wet for more than a week.
  3. Ensure the plant has enough space for air to move around it.

Likely causes

  1. Leaf Spot Disease

    Most likely

    How to tell: Small brown or black spots appear on the leaves, sometimes with a yellow halo around them.

    What to do: Remove the affected leaves immediately to stop the spread. Improve airflow around the plant and avoid getting water on the leaves when you irrigate.

  2. Overwatering

    Possible

    How to tell: Spots appear alongside yellowing leaves and soggy soil that stays wet for too long.

    What to do: Let the soil dry out more between waterings. Ensure the pot has proper drainage holes so water does not pool at the bottom.

Leaf spots on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your coffee plant

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

When to worry

If the spots are spreading rapidly across the entire plant, you need to act quickly to save the healthy foliage.

Stopping it coming back

Water at the base of the plant rather than over the leaves, and keep the plant in a spot with good ventilation.

Coffee plant: spots? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your coffee plant and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Can I use a fungicide?
You can use a copper based fungicide if the infection is severe, but improving cultural conditions is usually more effective.
Will the spots go away?
No, the damaged spots will remain on the leaves. Focus on preventing new spots from forming on new growth.

Guides to these causes

More problems with Coffee plant

Back to the Coffee plant guide

This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.