RATIONALE Flowering is a particularly important trait in coffee (Cofjea arabica L.). It determines the coffee yield, quality and production costs. It defines the critical period of highest demand for nutrients, water and pest and disease control. During this development phase, the plant is most susceptible to extreme climatic conditions. Factors such as temperature, light, soil and air water availability, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, crop load and genotype can affect flowering. Recent advances in understanding the physiological mechanisms of the coffee plant, including the effects of elevated atmospheric [C02], have greatly improved our abilities to predict possible impacts of climate change on coffee's photosynthetic capacity and allocation of photoassimilates. Yet, we know very little regarding the effects of climate change on reproductive processes and hence final crop yield. The question arises thus, whether flowering might constitute the process most affected by increasing temperature and changes in rainfall pattern and intensity, even though the coffee's physiology might be able to partially adapt. This study reviews current knowledge on coffee flowering and its possible response to climate change. We use a simulation model to evaluate the impact of possible changes in climate on flowering success. METHODS We use a process-based coffee model with a detailed flowering module representing different assumptions regarding flowering initiation, intensity, and success, accounting for multiple flowering events. The flowering module was implemented using an age-structured matrix population model that classifies the flowering process into five development stages: Nodes, floral initiation, ready to flower, pinhead stage, and bean maturation. The model is compared to observation data registered in Cajibio, Cauca, Colombia and climate change scenarios are explored using different assumptions. RESULTS We highlight important knowledge gaps related to coffee flowering success.