10 Tell-Tale Signs You Must See To Know Before You Buy Types Of Coffee Beans

Types of Coffee Beans

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

The AA grade is given to coffee beans that satisfy all of the above requirements, except they should not contain more than three deficient qualities (quakers). Most often, these are Kenya AA beans.

Arabica

Arabica coffee beans are also referred to as Coffea Arabicica and are the most coveted coffee beans in the world. According to the legend, coffee was discovered by an Ethiopian goatherder Ethiopia after he noticed that his livestock had more energy when they ate the fruit of the plant. This led him to experiment with roasting the seeds before brewing them, creating the drink which we enjoy today.

There are a variety of coffee plants, however only two are used to create our most popular brews: arabica and robusta. The former is generally considered superior to the latter and this is reflected in the taste of the final beverage.

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

The flavor of an arabica variety varies on the conditions under the conditions it was cultivated, as well as the method by which it was handled and cooked. The type of shade that the tree gets will have a major impact on the final product.

Robusta

Robusta coffee beans, also referred to as coffee canephora, are the second most popular type of coffee. They are the beans used for the majority of instant coffees. They also have twice as much caffeine as Arabica Coffee Beans. They are also used in many espresso blends, notably for caffe latte and cappuccino.

The Coffea Canephora plant originated in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it has since been cultivated around the globe. It is able to 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 world's biggest producer of robusta, followed by Brazil and Indonesia.

While coffee beans online Coffeee has its advantages however, it's not as adored by cupping enthusiasts for its bitter taste and smoky rubber notes. Most large coffee companies use arabica beans in their top-quality products since it's considered to be lower-quality coffee.

However the demand for premium coffee is increasing and small roasters are exploring robusta varieties that are high-end to take advantage of its superior qualities. Our Valhalla Java and Death With Coffee are two examples of exceptional robusta coffees, which are blended with arabica for the perfect blend of flavour and strength. These are carefully procured from Uganda, where robusta has been grown for hundreds of years. You can read more about them here.

Liberica

Liberica coffee beans are a rare variety that are seldom used around the globe. They are less than 2% of the 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. These beans have a distinctive flavor that a lot of coffee drinkers find irresistible.

Despite being extremely scarce, Liberica coffee beans are still fairly popular in parts of Asia. They are most popular in Malaysia and Indonesia where there is significant Muslim population. The coffee industry in these countries has historically been extremely strong and drinking a cup of joe following a prayer is part of the tradition.

The history of Liberica coffee dates back to the 1890s, when an epidemic of coffee leaf rust killed the majority of the world's arabica crop. The event spurred coffee producers to look for a robust plant that could thrive in tropical climates. They soon discovered the Liberica.

Liberica plants have a high tolerance for pests and diseases making them a perfect replacement for the ruined arabica crop. Liberica also has the capacity to grow in hot temperatures and lower altitudes, allowing it to thrive in the climate of Southeast Asia. Liberica beans are used to make the majority of the coffee in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Excelsa

While it's not common for coffee drinkers to find excelsa beans in their cups, these unique beans are gaining recognition for their distinctive flavor. According to Komal Sable, a fifth generation coffee farmer at South India Coffee Co., these beans are "a variation of the liberica species that has a similar teardrop shape but smaller size." But, despite this family resemblance it is important to remember that excelsa is technically not a distinct species.

It's not easy to categorize excelsa beans. This confusion is reason for the insufficient their presence in the current coffee industry. Many roasters, growers and brewers are unaware of how to properly cultivate and utilize these beans.

It's the individual's responsibility to decide if they prefer the flavor of excelsa, and it could take a while to find the perfect blend. The most important thing is to remain open-minded and give each type of coffee a shot until you discover one you truly love. You'll discover the many possibilities the unique beans have to offer. This is a trip worth taking.