This study was initiated to characterize the interaction between Colletotrichum kahawae and two coffee varieties at fruit level. Detached berries of Coffea arabica varieties, SL 28 (susceptible) and Ruim 11 (resistant) were artificially inoculated and kept under controlled conditions of 100% RH and a temperature of 17°C to 20°C. In a first experiment, the berries were inoculated with single spore culture of C. kahawae at various concentrations ranging from 2 * 106 sp/ml to 2 * 103 sp/ml. In a second experiment, berries of various sizes were inoculated with a single spore concentration. Statistical analysis (° 2, General Linear Model) of binary data (infected/healthy) and quantitative data (% of necrosis) revealed the existence of 2 resistance components operating against pathogen penetration and colonization of the berry tissue. The reaction was found to be controlled by at least 3 parameters: the inoculum concentration, the berry physiological stage and the host genotype.