Types of Coffee Beans

Behind every cup of coffee we drink, there are carefully graded beans. These beans are graded on the size, color and shape.

The AA classification is given to coffee beans that satisfy all of the above criteria, but they shouldn't have more than three defective quality (quakers). Most often, these are Kenya AA beans.

Arabica

Arabica coffee beans, also referred to as Coffea arabica are the most coveted kind of bean in the world. Legend has it that coffee was discovered in Ethiopia when goat herders noticed their herd's energy levels increased after eating the fruits of the coffee plant. This inspired him to explore roasting and brewing the seeds, types of coffee beans creating the drink we all know and love to this day.

There are many different types of coffee plants, however only two are used to create our favourite brews - robusta and arabica. The flavor of the final beverage is usually better with the former.

There are a number of different cultivars of arabica, with each having its own unique flavour profile. Two of the most famous varieties are Typica and Bourbon which are the basis for all other arabica varieties have been developed, either through natural mutation or deliberate crossbreeding. The SL28 cultivar, for instance was created in Kenya by Scott Labs and is known for its distinctive chocolate taste.

The flavour of a given arabica variety will vary based on the environmental conditions in which it is cultivated, as well as how it is processed and roasted. The type of shade a tree receives will have a major impact on the final product.

Robusta

Robusta coffee beans, also referred to as coffee canephora, are the second most widely used kind of coffee beans. They are the beans that are used in the majority of instant drinks and have twice the amount of caffeine as Arabica Coffee Beans. They are also used in a variety of espresso blends, specifically for caffe latte and cappuccino.

The Coffea Canephora plant was initially discovered in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it has since been cultivated all over the world. It can grow at lower elevations and can tolerate higher temperatures than the Arabica coffee plant, which makes it a much more practical crop for farmers. Vietnam is the largest producer of robusta followed by Brazil and Indonesia.

The robusta plant is a good coffee, but it's not a popular choice among cupping enthusiasts because of its bitter taste and burnt-rubber notes. Most major coffee bean shop companies utilize arabica beans for their top-quality products since it's regarded as a lower-quality coffee.

The demand for premium coffees is increasing, and small roasters are also experimenting to take advantage its superior qualities. Our Valhalla Java coffee and Death With Coffee coffee are two examples. Both are excellent robustas that are blended with arabica for the perfect balance of strength and flavour. These coffees originate from Uganda which is a nation where robusta has been grown for a long time. Find out more about these coffees.

Liberica

Liberica coffee beans are rare and are not used in the world. They're less than% the world's consumption of coffee beans, and are often overlooked since they do not contain the same amount of caffeine. These beans have a unique taste that a majority of coffee drinkers find appealing.

Liberica coffee beans, despite being extremely rare, are still quite popular in a few regions of Asia. These beans are most common in Malaysia and Indonesia where there is a significant Muslim community. The coffee industry in these countries has historically been very strong, and drinking an espresso during prayer is a part of the tradition.

Liberica coffee's roots go back to the 1890s which was the time when a global epidemic caused by rust on the coffee leaf devastated the arabica crop. This caused coffee producers to search for a more resilient plant that could thrive in tropical climates. They soon discovered Liberica.

Liberica plants have a high tolerance for diseases and pests, which made them a perfect replacement for the devastation of the arabica crop. Liberica can also thrive in lower elevations and higher temperatures which enables 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

While it isn't common for coffee lovers to find excelsa beans, they are now gaining the reputation of having a unique flavor. According to Komal Sable, a fifth generation coffee farmer at South India Coffee Co., these beans are "a variant of the liberica species, and have similar teardrop shapes, but smaller size." However, despite this family resemblance it's important to understand that excelsa is technically not a separate species.

It's not easy to categorize excelsa beans. This confusion is responsible for the lack of existence of these beans in the current coffee industry. Many roasters, growers and brewers have no idea how to properly cultivate and utilize these beans.

Ultimately, it's up to the individual to determine whether they enjoy the flavor of excelsa coffee and it may take a little bit of time to find a blend that fits your preferences. It's crucial to be flexible, and try each type of coffee until you find the one that you like. By doing so you'll be able to enjoy the full range of possibilities that these unique coffeee beans have to provide. It's a journey that's well worth the effort.