How To Outsmart Your Boss Coffee Beans Types

Coffee Bean Types: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa

If you're a coffee enthusiast you're likely to know that different varieties of beans have distinct flavor profiles. Find out about four of the most well-known varieties: Arabica. Robusta. Liberica. and Excelsa.

Excelsa beans are one of the varieties of Liberica that is cultivated exclusively in Southeast Asia. They have a fruitier, tarter taste profile and are frequently used in blends of coffee for added depth.

Arabica

Arabica is the most well-known coffee in the world accounting for 75% of global coffee beans produced. Arabica beans are softer and sweeter than Robusta. They also come in different flavors. The aroma and taste of coffee are influenced by the conditions in which it is grown and the processing methods employed.

The word "coffee" is derived from the Arabic word that means berry. Coffee beans are actually seeds that grow in bright red berries. It is believed that ancient Ethiopian shepherds discovered that their goats were energized after eating the fruits. The cultivation of coffee spread quickly across the globe.

Coffee beans can be grown at high altitudes and are able to thrive when exposed to cool temperatures and lots of rain. This is the reason Arabica coffee is thought to be the best tasting kind of coffee.

Many specialty coffee shops and roasters focus on using ethically-sourced arabica beans, by emphasizing fair wages for farmers and sustainable cultivation practices. These companies blend arabica beans in order to create unique specialty coffees that can be used in many different brewing techniques. Blending can control the aroma, taste and body of the coffee. It is typically preferred to achieve a consistent and balanced flavor that appeals to a broad market.

Robusta

Robusta beans are the second most sought-after kind of coffee bean in the world. They contain more caffeine per bean than Arabica and are more resistant to diseases and pests. They also have higher levels of chlorogenic acids, which are antioxidants naturally found in. These acids can cause oxidation during the coffee's brewing process and cause undesirable flavors.

The plant itself is more robust than arabica, able to thrive in less favorable climate conditions and at lower elevations. It is able to withstand higher temperatures and thrives in direct sunlight. It is faster growing and produces more coffee per plant than arabica, making it a more cost-effective plant to grow.

Although unroasted coffee beans might appear counterintuitive, Robusta beans are often blended with arabica beans to create coffee blends. If you find names such as Uganda or Kenya on a coffee bag, it's possible that there is also some robusta.

Although some roasters exclusively use arabica beans but the majority do blend the two varieties to cut costs and ensure quality. To maintain the quality of the flavor, it's important to select a high-quality bean from a supplier you trust. This can be achieved by purchasing the beans directly from the farmer.

Liberica

Liberica beans are more or less football-shaped that makes them different from other varieties of coffee beans. They have a unique aroma that is fruity and floral with the smoky notes. They are added to other types of coffee beans to give them a deeper and more robust flavor.

Liberica coffee beans are grown in West Africa and Malaysia (Borneo) as and in Southeast Asia. They are tolerant of hot, humid climates and can thrive at low altitudes. They are also more resistant to diseases than Arabica or Robusta.

These qualities make them perfect for home-growing. Online, you can buy seeds from a variety of sources. However, it's best to purchase the beans from local producers in order to ensure the highest quality. The ideal conditions for growing Liberica coffee are fertile deep volcano soils that have a pH that is moderately acidic, and enough annual rainfall.

Excelsa is a different type of coffee bean. It was originally classified as a distinct species, but has now been reclassified as a Liberica variant. These coffee beans are ovals that grow on large 20-30-foot coffee plants at moderate altitudes. Their unique taste is both sweet and tart, making them a popular choice for blends in the home. They have a lighter scent and a lower caffeine content that is lower than Arabica or Robusta but they still have a distinct flavor.

Excelsa

Although they're the fourth-most popular kind of coffee beans Excelsa beans aren't as readily available as Arabica or Robusta. They were actually thought to be to be a different species of coffee up until 2006, at which point they were reclassified to be a synonym for Coffea Liberica var. dewevrei. Nowadays, they're grown mostly in Southeast Asia and account for 7% of the world's production of coffee. These coffee beans are shaped in the shape of teardrops and possess a dark, mysterious taste. They're frequently used in blends to give extra body and a delicious, tart, ripened fruit taste.

Arabica beans are the most sought-after, and are known for having a sweeter taste. They thrive in warm, tropical environments and at high altitudes. They can be a bit acidic. If they are brewed correctly and roast properly they may have notes like nuts, chocolate or even fruit.

Robusta is the second most-loved coffee in the world, and is responsible for 40% of all coffee consumed worldwide. These beans are smaller and more round however, they contain twice as much caffeine as Arabica. They also have more bitterness than the other two varieties, and tend to have earthy and woody overtones.

After you've learned about the four most common types you can now select the best brew. If you prefer a delicate and smooth flavor opt for an arabica or a blend comprised of arabica beans and robusta beans.