Types of Coffee Beans

Behind every cup of coffee we drink, there are carefully graded bean. These beans are evaluated by their size, color, shape and density.

The AA grade is given to coffee beans that meet all of the above criteria, but they shouldn't have more than three deficient qualities (quakers). These are typically Kenya AA beans.

Arabica

Fairtrade Machu Picchu Arabica Coffee Beans 1.36kg coffee beans are also referred to as Coffea Arabicica and are the most popular coffee in the world. According to the legend, coffee was discovered by the goatherder of Ethiopia after he observed that his herd was more full of energy when they consumed the fruit of the plant. This led him to experiment with roasting the seeds and brewing them, which resulted in the beverage that we drink today.

While a myriad of coffee plants exist, there are only two main species that are used to create the basis for all of our favorite beverages: robusta and arabica. The flavor of the final drink is typically better with the robusta variety.

There are a variety of arabica cultivars. Each has their own distinctive taste. Two of the most well-known varieties are Typica and Bourbon, from which all other varieties of arabica have been created, through natural mutation or intentional crossbreeding. The SL28 cultivar, for instance was developed in Kenya by Scott Labs and is known for its distinctive chocolate taste.

The flavor of an arabica variety is based on the conditions under which it was grown, and also on how it was handled and cooked. For example, the type of shade a plant receives in its altitude, its elevation and soil composition will all play a major impact on the final product.

Robusta

Robusta coffee beans (Coffea canephora) are the second most well-known variety of coffee. They are utilized in the majority of instant coffees, and contain twice the amount of caffeine as Arabica Coffee Beans. They also are used in the making of many Buy Gimoka Gran Bar Light Roast Espresso Beans blends including cappuccino, caffe latte, and many other coffee drinks.

The Coffea Canephora plant was originally discovered in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it has since been cultivated around the globe. It is able to grow at lower altitudes and can withstand higher temperatures than the Arabica coffee plant, which makes it a much more practical crop for farmers. Vietnam is currently the biggest producer of robusta coffee followed by Brazil and Indonesia.

The robusta plant is a great coffee, but it's not a favorite among cupping enthusiasts due to its bitter taste and burnt-rubber aroma. It's usually regarded as a poorer quality coffee, and the majority of large coffee companies make use of arabica beans to create premium products.

However the demand for premium coffee is growing and small roasters are testing premium robusta varieties to make the most of its exceptional qualities. Our Valhalla Java coffee and Death With Coffee coffee are two examples. Both are excellent robustas that are blended with arabica to achieve the perfect balance of quality and flavor. These beans are from Uganda, a country where robusta has been cultivated for a long time. Learn more about them.

Liberica

Liberica coffee beans are rare and rarely used throughout the world. They are less than 2 percent of the world's total consumption of coffee beans and are often overlooked as they don't have the same amount of caffeine. However, these beans possess a unique taste that many coffee enthusiasts find appealing.

Liberica coffee beans, though extremely scarce they are still very popular in a few regions of Asia. They are most prevalent in Malaysia and Indonesia where there is a huge Muslim community. The coffee industry in these countries has historically been extremely strong and coffee during prayer is a part of the tradition.

The history of Liberica coffee began in the 1890s when a global outbreak of coffee leaf rust wiped out the majority of the world's arabica crop. This caused coffee producers to discover an alternative species that could thrive in tropical climates, and they soon discovered the Liberica plant.

Liberica plants have a high tolerance for pests and diseases which makes them an ideal substitute for the ruined arabica crop. Liberica also has the ability to flourish in hot temperatures and lower altitudes, which enabled it to thrive in the climate of Southeast Asia. Liberica beans are the basis for the majority of the coffee in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Excelsa

Although it is not common for coffee drinkers to find excelsa beans, they are quickly gaining a reputation for having a distinct flavor. According to Komal Sable, a fifth generation coffee farmer with South India Coffee Co. The beans are "a variation of the liberica species and have similar teardrop shapes, but are smaller in size." But despite this family resemblance, it's important to note that excelsa is technically not a distinct species.

It's a bit confusing how excelsa beans should be classified and it's this confusion that's been the cause of the beans' absence in the world of coffee. Because of this, many roasters, growers and brewers aren't sure how to grow and utilize these beans properly.

In the end, it's up for the individual to decide what they prefer about the taste of excelsa coffee and it might take a time to find a blend that matches your preferences. The most important thing is to remain open-minded and give each type of coffee a go until you discover one you really enjoy. You'll be able to explore the vast array of possibilities the unique beans have to offer. This is a journey worth the effort.