Talk:Coffee

Less sections

In an effort to conform to CZ style, I've removed a section header. I'm now a firm believer that entries should be more or less a narrative, forcing the reader to read the entire article than being able to pick and choose their content.

Also, I believe there's a grinding scale that is an actual measurement of grain/particle; I'll find it and add it as I don't believe many people are familiar with "medium".--Robert W King 09:05, 18 June 2007 (CDT)

Are there any references to the statement that there are 6000 coffae species? It seems to me a rather large number. If it is true it should be referenced, because it sounds a bit unbelievable, at least to me Jasper Wubs 10:32, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

Here's the ITIS Report for Genus "Coffea", http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=35189. Note that there are 6 Direct Children Species of the Genus. --Robert W King 10:47, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

Okay, so there is one genus with six species, how do you then arrive at 500 genera with 6000 species? I checked the articles history, you wrote that right? Or do you mean subspecies/varieties? Jasper Wubs 10:58, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

I mean subspecies/varities, but that all falls under "Species" of the "Genus" Coffea. --Robert W King 11:01, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

Yes but they are then not species in the biological sense, to which the article links, right? Perhaps you could say there are six species (linking to biological species there) and than that man has produced some 6000 varieties of these species? I guess that would be more accurate. Jasper Wubs 11:05, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

We're going into theoretical ground here if we start discussing natural versus genetically modified species, and that's not really within the scope of this article.--Robert W King 11:06, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

Let me just say, in advance, I am not a biologist so I'm not really an expert in this field, but if you can word it in such a way that it pertains to the subject of the article (so it doesn't go into GM specific-technicality-land) then by all means ;).--Robert W King 11:09, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

There's a USDA link I think we ought to use, let me see if I can find it.--Robert W King 15:22, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

Found it.--Robert W King 15:26, 9 August 2007 (CDT) Great! Jasper Wubs 15:35, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

I changed it, and I think it is in pretty straightfoward way. There is no need to go in details in this article, but for the sake of the accuracy of the wording I think its for the better. As a biologist I was astonished to read that there were 6,000 species of coffee, it just seemed to be very unlikely to me, and I think that such kinds of, unintentional, errors can cost the project some of its credibility. That is why I asked you for a reference. That there are some 6,000 varieties of coffee is far more likely, given the amount of change selective breeders can induce on a species and the economic importance of the commodity, it just screams for innovation of the breeds. I hope you can agree with the changes I made. Jasper Wubs 15:32, 9 August 2007 (CDT)

I think it's a good, and more clear change. Thanks much! --Robert W King 15:34, 9 August 2007 (CDT)