Progenies of the cultivars Catuaí Vermelho and Catuaí Amarelo of Coffea arabica and populations derived from crosses between selected trees of these and plants of other cultivars, were evaluated in relation to plant characteristics and average yield of ripe fruits. After analysis of 64 Catuaí progenies, only two revealed to be heterozygous for the Caturra allele (Ctct); among these, 19 were homozygous for red exocarp (XcXc),. 42 for yellow exocarp (xcxc) and three heterozygous (Xcxc) for this characteristic. Concerning the occurrence of empty locules, 17 progenies were heterozygous and 47 homozygous, without this abnormality. Catuaí plants reached an average tree height of 190 cm and an average tree diameter of 189 cm after nine years in the field, while the Mundo Novo cultivar reached an average height and diameter of 238 and 211 cm, respectively. The Catuaí Vermelho (progenies H 2077-2-5-46, and H 2077-2-28), and the Catuaí Amarelo (progenies H 2077-2-5-32, H 2077-2-5-5, H 2077-2-12-64, H 2077-2-5-66, and H 2077-2-5-39) were the most productive and revealed homozygous for the caturra alleles. In four of the backcross populations of Catuaí x Mundo Novo and in two F2 populations of hybrids between these cultivars, promising coffee trees were selected to be further used in the breeding program. A few promising plants were also detected in the F2 of the hybrid Mundo Novo x São Bernardo. These latter selections nave also a small height and it is expected to be used at higher field densities.