Types of Coffee Beans

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

The AA grade is granted to coffee beans that fulfill the criteria above, except that they are not allowed to have more than 3 defects (quakers). Most often, these are Kenya AA beans.

Arabica

Arabica coffee beans, also referred to as Coffea arabica, are the most popular kind of coffee bean in the world. The legend says that Rounton Coffee Roasters Two Stories Blend 1kg was discovered in Ethiopia when a goat herder observed his herd swaying with more energy after eating the fruits of the coffee plant. This inspired him to experiment with roasting the seeds before brewing them, which resulted in the beverage that we enjoy today.

There are a myriad of varieties of coffee plants, however only two are used in the production of our favourite brews - robusta and arabica. The flavor of the final beverage is usually more appealing with the former.

There are many different arabica cultivars. Each has its own unique taste profile. Typica and Bourbon are two of the most well-known Cafédirect Fairtrade Machu Picchu Arabica Coffee – Premium 6-Pack cultivars. The other arabica varieties were developed from these two varieties, either through natural mutations, or intentional crossbreeding. The SL28 cultivar, for instance was created in Kenya by Scott Labs and is known for its distinctive chocolate taste.

The flavor of a particular arabica variety will vary based on the environmental conditions in which it is grown, and also how it is handled and cooked. The type of shade a tree gets can have a significant effect on the final product.

Robusta

Robusta coffee beans, also known as coffee canephora are the second most popular type 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 numerous espresso blends, specifically for cappuccino and caffe latte.

The Coffea Canephora plant was initially discovered in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it has since been cultivated around the globe. It is able to grow at lower elevations and tolerate higher temperatures than Arabica coffee plants, making it a better choice for farmers. Vietnam is the world's biggest producer of robusta, followed by Brazil and Indonesia.

While the robusta coffee plant has its advantages However, it's not adored by cupping enthusiasts for its bitter taste and burnt rubber notes. Most major coffee companies utilize arabica bean for their top-quality products since it's considered to be lower-quality coffee.

The demand for gourmet coffees is growing, and small roasters are experimenting to capitalize on its outstanding qualities. Our Valhalla Java and Death With Coffee are two exceptional robusta coffees. They are mixed with arabica to create the perfect balance of flavor and strength. These coffees are expertly procured from Uganda where robusta is cultivated for hundreds of years. Find out more about them.

Liberica

Liberica coffee beans are rare and are rarely used in the world. They make up less than 2% of the global coffee consumption and are often overlooked due to the fact that they don't contain as much caffeine as Arabica and Robusta do. However, these beans possess distinctive flavor that coffee lovers find irresistible.

Liberica coffee beans, despite being extremely rare and extremely scarce, are still quite well-loved in a few parts of Asia. They are particularly popular in Malaysia and Indonesia with a large Muslim population. In these countries the coffee industry has been robust for a long time. A cup of coffee after prayers is a part of their customs.

Liberica coffee's history dates back to the 1890s which was the time when a global epidemic caused by coffee leaf rust caused a massive loss of the arabica crop. This caused coffee producers to find a more resilient species that could thrive in tropical climates. They soon discovered the Liberica plant.

Liberica plants have a high tolerance to pests and diseases making the perfect substitute for the devastated arabica crop. Liberica also has the ability to thrive in temperatures that are hot and lower altitudes. This allowed it to flourish in the climate of Southeast Asia. This is why, today the majority of the coffee produced in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia originates from Liberica beans.

Excelsa

Although it is rare for coffee lovers to find excelsa beans, they are quickly gaining the reputation of having a distinctive flavor. According to Komal Sable, a fifth generation coffee farmer with South India Coffee Co., these beans are "a variant of the liberica species that has a similar teardrop shape but smaller size." However despite this family resemblance it's important to understand that excelsa is technically not a separate species.

In this way, it's a little bit confusing as to how excelsa beans should be classified. It's this confusion that has been the reason for the beans' absence in the contemporary world of coffee. Many roasters, growers and brewers aren't aware of how to properly cultivate and use these beans.

It's up to each individual to decide if they prefer the taste of excelsa. it may take some time to find the right blend. The key is to be open-minded and give each type of coffee a try until you find one you really enjoy. You'll discover the wide range of options these unique beans can offer. This is a trip worth the effort.