Outside the well-known Arabica and Robusta coffee types, Uganda also has Liberica coffee the third most commercially important coffee species (Coffea liberica). Botanically, Liberica coffee is generally classified into two main varieties: Coffea liberica var. liberica and Coffea liberica var. dewevrei, widely known as Excelsa. The two main cousins(varieties) Liberica Coffee and Excelsa Coffee are many times not differentiated. In Uganda we use a general name “Kisansa” to identify these coffees it’s however important that we understand their differences. Though Excelsa’s is classified as a variety of liberica, there are key differences between the two for example shape of the beans among others. Excelsa was initially thought a separate species of the genus Coffea until 2006 that it was reclassified as the dewevrei genus of the Liberica species.

Liberica coffee is emerging as a strategically important alternative to Arabica and Robusta not just because of the need to diversify premium coffee sources but in the context of climate change. While the robusta plant is very robust, it is shallow-rooted, making it particularly susceptible to extreme weather and root disease. On the other hand, Liberica has a much more extensive root system, where it penetrates much deeper, hence making it a much more drought tolerant coffee type. Liberica's extensive root system makes cultivation possible on almost any soil condition.