**Abstract**

Somatic embryogenesis contributes to coffee breeding programs. This is a process of asexual reproduction which is based on the concept of cellular totipotency. Each haploid or somatic cell of the plant tissue has the genetic information necessary to generate a complete and functional plant. The somatic embryogenesis can occur either indirectly or directly. *Coffea arabica* genotypes may respond to direct, indirect, or both. In this species, the indirect somatic embryogenesis is composed of two phases, the callogenesis and the embryogenesis, while the direct pathway occurs in a single phase, without the callogenesis. In *Coffea*, in general, the indirect pathway is induced by the auxin and cytokinin, and the direct pathway with cytokinin only. *C. arabica* genotypes usually respond easily to the indirect route with high production of somatic embryos. But these are inefficient by the direct route because they present low production of embryos and the process occurs for a long time. In this review, emphasis will be given to different events that are part of the somatic embryogenesis of *C. arabica* occurring indirectly and in the direct pathway as well as factors that may affect its control.

**Keywords:** Callus, leaf explant, plant hormone, embryogenic structures, somatic embryos
