Types of Coffee Beans

Behind every cup of coffee we drink, there are carefully graded beans. The beans are evaluated based on their size as well as color, shape, and density.

The AA grade is given to coffee beans that meet all the above criteria except they shouldn't have more than three defective qualities (quakers). These are usually Kenya AA beans.

Arabica

Arabica coffee beans, also known as Coffea arabica are the most coveted type of coffee beans in the world. According to legend, coffee was discovered by an Ethiopian goatherder Ethiopia after he noticed that his herd was more full of energy when they ate the fruits of the plant. This led him to study roasting and making the seeds into the beverage we know and cherish today.

There are a myriad of varieties of coffee plants, but only two are used to create our favourite brews - arabica and robusta. The flavor of the final beverage is typically more appealing with the first.

There are a number of different cultivars of arabica, with each having its own unique flavor profile. Typica and Bourbon are two of the most expensive coffee beans popular arabica cultivars. All other arabica cultivars were derived from these two varieties either by natural mutations or through deliberate crossbreeding. Scott Labs developed the SL28 cultivar in Kenya and is renowned for its distinct chocolate flavor.

The flavor of an arabica variety depends on the conditions in the conditions it was cultivated, as well as the method by which it was handled and cooked. The type of shade that trees receive can have a significant impact on the final product.

Robusta

Robusta coffee beans (Coffea canephora) are the second most popular variety of coffee beans. They are the beans that are used in the majority of instant drinks and have twice as much caffeine as Arabica Coffee Beans. They also are used to make many blends of espresso particularly for cappuccino, caffe latte, and other beverages made from coffee.

Coffea Canephora is a plant which was discovered in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has been grown all over the world since then. It is able to grow at lower altitudes and can tolerate higher temperatures than the Arabica coffee plant, making it a more suitable crop for farmers. Vietnam is the world's biggest producer of robusta followed by Brazil and Indonesia.

Although the robusta plant has its advantages however, it's not as adored by cupping aficionados for its bitter taste and smoky rubber notes. It is often considered inferior quality coffee and a majority of the major coffee companies employ arabica beans for their premium products.

However, the demand for gourmet coffee is growing and small roasters are testing high-end robusta varieties in order to profit from its superior qualities. Our Valhalla Java coffee and Death With Coffee coffee are two examples. Both are exceptional robustas that are blended with arabica to achieve the perfect balance of quality and flavor. These coffees originate from Uganda in a country where robusta has been grown for a long time. Find out more about these coffees.

Liberica

Liberica coffee beans are rare and aren't used much around the globe. They are less than 2 percent of the world's consumption of coffee beans, and are often overlooked since they don't contain as much caffeine. These beans have a unique flavor that many light roast coffee beans - Mazafakas`s recent blog post, drinkers find appealing.

Liberica coffee beans, although extremely rare, are still quite popular in a few regions of Asia. They are particularly popular in Malaysia and Indonesia as they have an extensive Muslim population. In these countries, the coffee industry has been steady for a number of years. Drinking a cup of coffee after prayers is a part of their customs.

The background of Liberica coffee dates back to the 1890s, when a global outbreak of coffee leaf rust destroyed the majority of the world's arabica crop. This incident prompted coffee farmers to look for a resilient plant that would thrive in tropical climates. They soon found the Liberica.

Liberica plants are resistant to pests and diseases which makes them an ideal replacement for the destroyed arabica crop. Liberica also has the ability to thrive in hot temperatures and lower altitudes. This allowed it to thrive in the climate of Southeast Asia. This is the reason why, today, most of the coffee produced in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia comes from Liberica beans.

Excelsa

While it isn't common for coffee lovers to find excelsa beans, they are quickly gaining the reputation of having a unique flavor. According to Komal Sable of South India Coffee Co. who is a fifth generation farmer of coffee, these beans have a similar teardrop-shaped shape, but are smaller. It's important to understand that despite the resemblance in family between excelsa and liberica, this species is not a separate one.

It's not clear how to categorize excelsa beans. This confusion is largely reason for the insufficient the presence of these beans in the modern coffee world. Many growers, roasters and brewers have no idea how to properly cultivate and utilize these beans.

It's the individual's responsibility to decide if they prefer the taste of excelsa. it could take a while to find the perfect blend. It is important to be open and try different kinds of coffee until you've found the one you like. In this way you'll be able discover the wide variety of possibilities these unique beans can provide. This is a journey worth taking.