Types of Coffee Beans

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

The AA classification is given to coffee beans that satisfy all the criteria above, with the exception that they shouldn't 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 popular coffee bean in the world. The legend says that coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia when the goat herder saw his herd swaying with more energy after eating the fruit of the coffee plant. This led him to experiment with roasting the seeds and brewing them, which resulted in the beverage that we love today.

While many varieties of coffee plants are available however, there are two main species that are used as the basis for all our favorite drinks: arabica and robusta. The former is generally considered superior to the latter, and this is reflected in the flavor of the finished beverage.

There are a variety of arabica cultivars. Each one has their own distinctive taste. Typica and Bourbon are two of the most sought-after arabica cultivars. All other arabica varieties were derived from these two varieties either through natural mutations or through deliberate crossbreeding. Scott Labs developed the SL28 cultivar in Kenya which is famous for its distinct chocolate flavor.

The flavor of an arabica variety depends on the environment in which it was planted, and also how it was handled and cooked. The type of shade the tree gets will have a major impact on the final product.

Robusta

Robusta coffee beans (Coffea canephora) are the second most popular type of coffee beans to buy (www.coffeee.uk). They are the beans used to make the majority of instant coffees and contain twice as much caffeine as Arabica Coffee Beans. They are also used in many espresso blends, notably for caffe latte and cappuccino.

Coffea Canephora is an African plant that was first discovered in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has been grown all over the world since then. It is able to grow at lower elevations and is able to withstand higher temperatures than the Arabica coffee plant, Coffee Beans to Buy which makes it a much more practical crop for farmers. Vietnam is the world's biggest producer of robusta followed by Brazil and Indonesia.

Although the robusta plant has its benefits however, it's not as adored by cupping aficionados for its bitter taste and smoky rubber notes. It's often regarded as inferior quality coffee and many large coffee producers use arabica beans for their premium products.

However, the demand for gourmet coffee is increasing and small roasters are testing high-end robusta varieties in order to make the most of its exceptional 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 between flavor and strength. These are coffees from Uganda which is a nation where robusta is a staple of the coffee industry for many years. You can read more about them here.

Liberica

Liberica coffee beans are rare and rarely used throughout the world. They make up less than 2% of world's coffee bean consumption and are often overlooked due to the fact that they don't contain the same amount of caffeine as Arabica and Robusta do. However, these beans have a unique flavor that a lot of coffee lovers find appealing.

Liberica coffee beans, despite being extremely rare and extremely scarce, are still quite popular in a few regions of Asia. They are particularly popular in Malaysia and Indonesia as they have large Muslim population. The coffee industry in these countries has always been very robust and an espresso after prayer is part of the tradition.

The history of Liberica coffee dates back to the 1890s, when an outbreak of coffee leaf rust wiped out most of the world's arabica crop. This caused coffee producers to look for a robust plant that could flourish in tropical climates. They soon discovered the Liberica.

Liberica plants are resistant to diseases and pests, making them a perfect alternative to the ruined arabica crop. Liberica also has the capacity to thrive in temperatures that are hot and lower altitudes, allowing it to flourish in the climate of Southeast Asia. Liberica beans are the basis for the majority of the coffee that is produced in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Excelsa

Although it's not typical for coffee drinkers to see excelsa coffee beans in their cups, these rarer beans are starting to gain the reputation of having a distinct flavor. According to Komal Sable of South India Coffee Co. who is a fifth generation farmer of coffee excelsa beans have a teardrop-like form, but are smaller. But, despite this family resemblance it's important to know that excelsa is technically not a separate species.

So, it's little ambiguous as to the best way to classify excelsa beans. categorized and it's this confusion that's been the cause of the beans' absence in the modern world of coffee. Many growers, roasters and brewers have no idea how to properly cultivate and utilize these beans.

It's ultimately up to each person to decide if they enjoy the flavor of excelsa. it might take some time to find the right blend. It is important to be open and try every kind of coffee until you discover the one that you like. If you do this you'll be able to enjoy the full variety of possibilities these unique beans can offer. This is a journey worth the effort.