11 Strategies To Completely Defy Your Best Arabica Coffee Beans In The World
The Best Arabica Coffee Beans in the World
Most people don't realize that the coffee beans you find in the grocery store or at your favorite cafe aren't all arabica. This kind of coffee bean thrives at higher altitudes, and has a more smooth flavor.
The place where coffee beans are grown (aka their terroir) can have a significant influence on how they taste. This is the reason why single-origin arabicas are extremely sought-after.
1. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
The coffee is known for its citrus and floral characteristics, this coffee is a classic. The premium beans are grown in small farms that are located in the Oromia Region (formerly Harrar), at altitudes of between 1,400 and 2200 meters. The natural process produces an berry-like taste and a sweet taste.
The elevations that are high in Yirgacheffe cause the coffee plants to grow slower which allows them to absorb flavors and nuances from the surrounding environment. The area also has a lush tropical climate that is ideal for the cultivation of coffee.
This coffee is available in green beans that have not been roast. They are perfect for roasters who wish to bring out its essence. Light medium to medium roasts reveal the citrus, wine and berry flavors. It is a great match for desserts that complement these flavors, such as lemon chocolate or pound cake. The floral and herbal notes go well with spicy or sour dishes.
2. Colombian Supremo
It is known for its consistent quality and taste, Colombian Supremo is a well-loved choice for coffee enthusiasts of all levels. Typically featuring a smooth, classic flavor profile that has notes of light caramel and citrus, Supremo beans have an overall mild character that's well-rounded enough to satisfy a variety of palates.
Bean size plays an important role in the flavor profile of Colombian coffee, and Supremo beans are distinguished by their large size. This larger size implies that the beans are more likely to be able to pass through Grade 14 (or higher) perforations on the sieve which is less than the grade of Excelso.
Colombian Supremo is an all-purpose coffee with universal appeal. Its high-quality standards, bright acidity and moderately rich body make it an excellent option for any brewing technique. This coffee is from the Popayan area is grown by farmers that are part of the Colombian Coffee Federation. This association supports more than 500,000 coffee producers. This coffee is an excellent example of the top-quality Colombian beans that have earned the country a reputation for its top-quality coffees.
3. Jamaican Blue Mountain
The smooth, rich flavor of Jamaican Blue Mountain is one of the world's most sought-after gourmet coffees. This wet-processed variety from the Blue Mountains of Jamaica is renowned for its sophistication and smooth taste. It's also an essential ingredient in the coffee liqueur Tia Maria.
The steep elevations of the Blue Mountains and their unique combination of fertile soil along with a mild climate and dense cloud cover provide the perfect conditions for the cultivation of coffee of the highest quality. The coffee beans from this tiny region are highly prized and fetch high prices due to their rarity.
As the name suggests, Jamaican Blue Mountain is grown in the Blue Mountain district, a area of 6,000 hectares on the island, which is famous for its stunning natural beauty and coffee cultivation. The area is protected by a national park and farmers cultivate small amounts of coffee with extreme care to preserve their unique qualities.
4. Costa Rican Tarrazu
A coffee lover's desire, Costa Rican Tarrazu is a perfect balance of acidity and body. The region is blessed with high altitudes and a mineral-rich volcanic soil, which allows the beans to mature at a slower rate so that they can fully develop their flavor.
Many of the farms that make these coffees are also renowned for their sustainable practices and strict quality control measures, which makes them popular with eco-conscious buyers. Some of them also offer traceability, which enables customers to find out more about the specific farm that produced their coffee.
One World Roasters' Tarrazu is a prime example of the region's distinctive flavor profile, displaying aromas of vibrant grapefruit and lush dark chocolate. Its medium-bodied body is well-rounded and balanced, resulting in a smooth, silky finish that's guaranteed to please your palate.
5. Colombian Caturra
Caturra is a coffee cultivar, has become the most popular name in Latin America. This variety was introduced to Brazil as a natural mutation from Bourbon. Its production potential is superior to Bourbon however, it requires higher altitudes, resulting in lower yields. The method of mass selection was used to identify parent plants that produced exceptionally well. Bulk seed from these parents was then produced and the process repeated.
Colombian Caturra is a high-yielding plant that has a remarkable resistance to Coffee Leaf Rust. It is one of the two parents of the Castillo which was developed by Cenicafe to be the flag plant of their "Colombia sin roya", which is a program that aims to recover the production of coffee in Colombia.
This family-owned Caturra was grown by farmers in the department of Urrao at 2,000 meters and carefully roasted for you by Camber Coffee. The cup quality is a vibrant acidity, with flavors of citrus, watermelon, and strawberry.
6. French Roast
For those who want a bold cup of coffee with the aroma of charred and smoky will enjoy French Roast. This blend is a mixture of arabica beans from various regions that provide rich flavors such as caramel and chocolate. The beans are roasted darkly to reveal their natural flavors and oils. This blend is of premium quality and will please the most sophisticated palate.
These special beans are more difficult to cultivate than other varieties of coffee due to the fact that they require very specific conditions for climatic growth. The plants require a certain amount of sunlight and rainfall, and they must be protected against frost and drought.
These beans are rich in antioxidants that can boost your energy and improve your overall health. The antioxidants in these beans help fight free radicals which can lead to chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. fresh ground arabica coffee beans contain vitamin B5, or pantothenic acids which are vital to the body's conversion of food into energy.
7. Ethiopian Gesha
Geisha, or Gesha as it's called, was discovered in Ethiopia's Gori Gesha Forest in the 1930s. It was brought to Panama in the 1960s when it quickly gained fame for its floral aromas, full-bodied flavour, and delicate acidity.
Geisha is a pricey coffee variety. It's susceptible to disease and requires high altitudes to grow. The fruit yield is also lower. These factors make it difficult to consistently produce. This, along with its high cup score is what drives the price.
This particular Gesha lot was processed with honey. (Not actual honey, the beans were treated and then dipped into sugar-rich water.) The beans were then moved to an enclosure and dried for 96 hours by carbonic maceration. It's a unique method that adds to the complexity of this extraordinary coffee. It also provides OMA a complex yet balanced cup profile that is full of exotic florals, such as jasmine and tea rose with delicate citrus and stone fruits.
8. Indonesian Liberica
The majority of coffee drinkers are familiar with two species belonging to the Coffea family: arabica and robusta. The former accounts for the majority of coffee traded in the world, whereas the latter only accounts for 20 percent. However, there are more than 120 identified species belonging to the genus and some are less well-known than others.
The most well-known non-arabica species is Coffea excelsa (or var. dewevrei). This variety grows on huge trees at medium altitudes and produces a teardrop-shaped bean. It is often used in blends, and can provide an interesting lingering flavor to the cup.
It's not as popular in Southeast Asia as arabica but it is still a niche market. This is due to the religious demand for coffee, as Muslims in Malaysia and Indonesia drink coffee following their prayers. In addition, liberica's resistance to rust on coffee leaves and low caffeine content make it an attractive alternative for producers that don't have the money to invest in arabica.
9. Brazilian Exelsa
Excelsa is a robust and productive, however it requires more care from farmers than other Coffea arabica species or canephora. This is partly due to the asymmetrical size of its beans that is larger than the arabica or canephora. It also has a longer fruiting period, and its leaves are larger than other C. liberica varieties. It can also reach 15m tall, and produce a lot of fruit.
According to Oliveiro the reason is that the plant is so misunderstood - despite being reclassified as the dewevrei variety of liberica in 2006 - because it could be "a really good coffee maker". However, without a commodities market and a comparatively low demand for the species, making the change is unlikely. If you're willing and able to commit the time and effort needed to grow it, the benefits of excelsa beans are obvious. They tend to be less caffeine-rich than arabica or canephora, and have a thicker more soluble mucus.