Wood Species Guide
Kentucky Coffeetree
Gymnocladus dioicus
Also called: Coffeetree, Kentucky Coffee Tree, Coffeebean Tree, Coffeenut
What Kentucky Coffeetree looks like
Heartwood is light reddish brown to a deeper orange brown, and it darkens with age. The narrow sapwood is pale yellow and clearly set off from the heartwood.
Grain and texture
Ring-porous with coarse, open grain much like ash or honey locust. Flatsawn boards show a bold cathedral pattern.
Working Kentucky Coffeetree: planing, cutting and gluing
Machines and sands without much trouble and is softer to work than its weight suggests. Expect some tearout around knots and figure. It glues, nails and screws well.
Finishing Kentucky Coffeetree: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes oil, stain and film finishes well, and oil makes the orange tones glow. The open pores will push bubbles into epoxy, so seal coat or grain fill before a pour or flood coat.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Heartwood has a reputation for holding up in ground contact, but reports vary, so treat it as moderately durable. It is fairly stable once dry. In Florida, acclimate it indoors and finish both faces before it goes in the house.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Coffeetree is an uncommon urban and farm tree, and the occasional slab that comes out of the Midwest makes a striking table with ash-like grain and warmer color. It flattens easily on the CNC and holds a live edge well. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Kentucky Coffeetree
Furniture, cabinetry, tabletops, interior trim, fence posts and general utility lumber.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List. The tree is not common anywhere in its range, so supply is limited.
Safety and toxicity
- No common reactions reported
Few reports. The wood dust has no documented reactions beyond ordinary irritation. The seeds and pods are toxic if eaten, which is a separate issue from the dust.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
No reactions beyond ordinary wood dust irritation have been reported for the wood. The raw seeds and pods are poisonous if eaten, so don't leave them where kids or pets can get them. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Kentucky Coffeetree in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Kentucky Coffeetree listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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