Types of Coffee Beans

Behind every cup of coffee that we drink, there is a carefully graded bean. The beans are graded based on size, color and shape.

The AA rating is given to coffee beans that fulfill the criteria mentioned above, with the exception that they can't contain more than three defects (quakers). Typically these are Kenya AA beans.

Arabica

Arabica coffee beans are also known as Coffea Arabicica and are the most popular bean in the entire world. The legend says that coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia when a goat herder noticed his herd's dancing more vigorously after eating the fruit of the coffee plant. This led him to experiment with roasting and making the seeds, resulting in the drink we know and love today.

There are a myriad of varieties of coffee plants, but only two are used in the production of our favorite brews - arabica and robusta. The former is generally thought superior to the latter, Best decaf Coffee Beans and this is reflected in the flavor of the finished beverage.

There are a variety of arabica cultivars. Each one has its own unique taste profile. Typica and Bourbon are two of the most well-known arabica cultivars. The other arabica varieties were derived from these two varieties, either through natural mutations or deliberate crossbreeding. The SL28 cultivar, for instance, was developed in Kenya by Scott Labs and is known for its distinctive chocolatey flavour.

The flavor of the arabica variety is contingent on the environment in which it was grown and also the way it was handled and fresh roasted coffee beans. For example, the type of shade a tree gets, its altitude and soil composition can all play a major influence on the final outcome.

Robusta

Robusta coffee beans (Coffea canephora) are the second most well-known variety of coffee. They are the beans that are used in the majority of instant coffees and contain twice the amount of caffeine as Arabica Coffee Beans. They are also used in a variety of espresso blends, especially for cappuccino and caffe latte.

Coffea Canephora is a plant which was discovered in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has been cultivated throughout the world since then. It can grow at lower elevations and withstand higher temperatures than Arabica coffee plants, making it more suited to farmers. Vietnam is the largest producer of robusta, followed by Brazil and Indonesia.

Although the robusta plant has its advantages however, it's not as adored by cupping enthusiasts for its bitter taste and burnt rubber notes. It's often regarded as a poorer quality freshly roasted coffee beans, and the majority of large coffee companies use arabica beans for their top quality products.

The demand for premium coffees is growing, and small roasters are trying to benefit from its superior qualities. Our Valhalla Java and Death With Coffee are two examples of exceptional robusta coffees. They are blended with arabica for the perfect balance of strength and flavour. These coffees are expertly sourced from Uganda where robusta is cultivated for long periods of time. You can learn more about them here.

Liberica

Liberica coffee beans are rare and aren't used much around the world. They comprise less than 2% of the worldwide coffee consumption. They are often overlooked because they don't contain the same amount of caffeine that Arabica and Robusta do. But, they have distinctive flavor that a lot of allpress coffee beans lovers find irresistible.

Despite their rarity, Liberica coffee beans are still popular in a few regions of Asia. These beans coffee are most common in Malaysia and Indonesia where there is a huge Muslim community. The coffee industry in these countries has traditionally been very robust and drinking the cup of coffee after prayer is part of the tradition.

Liberica coffee's history dates back to 1890s which was the time when a global epidemic caused by best decaf coffee beans leaf rust decimated the arabica crop. This triggered coffee producers to discover a more resilient species that could thrive in tropical climates, and they quickly discovered the Liberica plant.

Liberica plants have a high tolerance to diseases and pests which makes them a great alternative to the ruined arabica crop. Liberica can also thrive in lower altitudes and high temperatures which enables it to thrive in the climate of Southeast Asia. This is why, in the present the majority of coffee that is produced in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia originates from Liberica beans.

Excelsa

While it isn't common for coffee enthusiasts to find excelsa beans, they are quickly gaining a reputation for having a unique flavor. According to Komal Sable, a fifth generation coffee farmer at South India coffee bean Co. The beans are "a variant of the liberica species that has similar teardrop shapes, however, they are smaller." It's important to understand that despite the resemblance in family between excelsa and liberica the species isn't a separate one.

It's not clear how to classify excelsa beans. This confusion is largely to blame for the low presence of these beans in the modern world of coffee. Because of this, a lot of roasters, farmers, and brewers don't know how to cultivate and use these beans properly.

In the end, it's up for the individual to decide whether they like the flavor of the coffee excelsa and it could take a time to find a blend that matches their preferences. It's essential to be open and try different kinds of coffee until you find the one you love. You'll discover the wide range of options the unique beans have to offer. It's a journey worth the effort.