The coffee bean is the most important agricultural product in international trade; it ranks second behind petroleum in product exports worldwide. An estimated 15 billion coffee trees are being grown to meet this demand, and the work that goes into this directly contributes to the income of 25 million small producers worldwide. Due to the importance of this plant, the appearance of coffee leaf rust (CLR) has led to many social and economic issues that have prompted research. To help combat the fungus, efforts have been made to breed coffee varieties that are resistant to CLR. In addition to gene banks many researchers are looking into wild populations for new varieties. The gene pool among wild species is diverse in comparison to the commonly used cultivars. This led to the discovery of the Timor Hybrid, a naturally occurring cross between C. arabica and C. canephora that was found to be resistant to CLR. In addition, scientists often try to create varieties that are resilient to other diseases such as Coffee Berry Disease along with CLR. Emphasis is placed on CLR because of its impact but it is important to note that many of the cultivars that are created are also resistant to other diseases. Economic and social impacts create the imperative need (and consequential funding) for research. When working to create a variety those factors have to be taken into consideration. If not the scientists would end up with a product that only meets one of the demands put upon it. Additionally the information on the method of infection for the pathogen and how it interacts with its host is important when looking at ways to increase the plant's resilience. In conclusion coffee improvement breeding is an ongoing process that requires knowledge on the full range of issues that are caused by H. vastatrix.