Types of Coffee Beans

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

The AA grade is given to coffee beans that meet all of the above criteria, but they cannot contain more than three deficient quality (quakers). Typically these are Kenya AA beans.

Arabica

Arabica coffee beans are also known as Coffea Arabicica and are the most sought-after coffee bean in the world. According to legend, coffee was discovered by a goatherder in Ethiopia after he noticed that his livestock had more energy when they ate the fruits of the plant. This inspired him to explore roasting and brewing the seeds, creating the drink we know and love today.

While a myriad of coffee plants are available There are only two major species used as the foundation for Arabica coffee beans all our favourite beverages: robusta and arabica. The flavor of the final beverage is typically better when you drink the former.

There are a variety of arabica cultivars. Each one has distinct flavor profiles. Two of the most famous varieties are Typica and Bourbon, from which all other arabica varieties have been created, either by natural mutation or through deliberate crossbreeding. Scott Labs developed the SL28 cultivar in Kenya that is renowned for its distinctive chocolate taste.

The taste of an arabica variety depends on the environment in which it was grown, and also the way it was handled and roasted. The kind of shade a tree gets can have a significant impact on the final product.

Robusta

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

The Coffea Canephora plant originated in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it has since been cultivated around the world. It can grow at lower elevations and is able to withstand higher temperatures than the Arabica coffee plant, making it a more convenient crop for farmers. Vietnam is currently the largest producer of robusta coffee, followed by Brazil and Indonesia.

While the robusta coffee plant has its advantages, it's not as well-loved by cupping enthusiasts for its bitter taste and smoky rubber notes. It is often considered to be a lower quality coffee and a majority of the major coffee companies employ arabica beans for their top-quality products.

However the demand for premium coffee is growing and small roasters are exploring robusta varieties that are high-end to benefit from its superior qualities. Our Valhalla Java and Death With Coffee are two excellent robusta coffees, which are mixed with arabica for the perfect balance of flavor Arabica coffee beans and strength. These are carefully procured from Uganda where robusta was grown for many centuries. Find out more about these coffees.

Liberica

Liberica coffee beans are scarce and aren't used much around the world. They account for less than 2% of global coffee consumption and are often overlooked due to the fact that they don't contain the same amount of caffeine that Arabica and Robusta do. They have a distinctive taste that a majority of coffee drinkers find appealing.

Liberica coffee beans, despite being extremely rare, are still quite well-loved in a few parts of Asia. The most common place for these beans is in Malaysia and Indonesia where there is a huge Muslim community. In these countries, the coffee industry has been very strong for many years. A cup of coffee following a prayer is a part of their customs.

The history of Liberica coffee began in the 1890s, when an epidemic of rusty coffee leaves killed the majority of the world's arabica crop. This incident prompted coffee farmers to look for a resilient plant that could thrive in tropical climates. They soon found the Liberica.

Liberica plants are resistant to disease and pests which makes them an ideal alternative to the ruined arabica crop. Liberica also has the ability to flourish in hot temperatures and lower altitudes, which allowed it to thrive in the climate of Southeast Asia. Liberica beans are used to produce most 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 the reputation of having a distinctive flavor. According to Komal Sable, a fifth generation coffee farmer at South India Coffee Co. The beans are "a variant of the liberica species with similar teardrop-like shapes but a smaller size." It's important to keep in mind that despite the close resemblance between excelsa and liberica but this is not distinct from either.

So, it's bit hazy as to the best way to classify excelsa beans. classified, and it's this confusion that has been the cause of this beans' minimal presence in the world of coffee. Many roasters, growers and brewers don't know how to properly cultivate and utilize these beans.

It is ultimately the individual's responsibility to decide if they prefer the flavor of excelsa. it might take some time to find the perfect blend. It is important to be open and try every kind of coffee until you've found the one you like. When you do this, you'll be able to enjoy the full range of possibilities that these unique beans have to offer. It's a trip worth taking.