Types of Coffee Beans

Behind every cup of coffee that we drink, there are carefully graded bean. These beans are examined by their size color, shape, and density.

The AA rating is given to coffee beans that fulfill the criteria above, except that they can't have more than 3 defects (quakers). Typically, these are Kenya AA beans.

Arabica

Arabica coffee beans are also referred to as Coffea Arabicica and are the most coveted coffee in the world. Legend has it that coffee was discovered in Ethiopia when the goat herder saw his herd's energy levels increased after eating the fruits of the coffee plant. This led him to study roasting and making the seeds into the beverage we know and love today.

There are many different types of coffee plants, however only two are used to create our favourite brews - arabica and robusta. The former is generally considered to be superior to the other, and this is evident in the taste of the final beverage.

There are many different cultivars of arabica, with each one possessing its own unique flavour profile. Two of the most well-known varieties are Typica and Bourbon from which the other arabica varieties have been developed, either through natural mutation or through deliberate crossbreeding. Scott Labs developed the SL28 cultivar in Kenya which is famous for its distinct chocolaty flavor.

The taste of the arabica variety is contingent on the environment in which it was grown and also on how it was handled and cooked. The kind 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 widely used kind of coffee. They are the beans used in the majority of instant drinks and have twice as much caffeine as Arabica Coffee Beans. They are also used in a variety of Rainforest Alliance Certified Light Roast Espresso Beans blends, particularly for caffe latte and cappuccino.

The Coffea Canephora plant was originally discovered in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it has since been cultivated all over the globe. It can grow at lower altitudes and can withstand higher temperatures than the Arabica coffee plant, which makes it a more convenient crop for farmers. Vietnam is currently the largest producer of robusta coffee, followed by Brazil and Indonesia.

While the robusta coffee plant has its merits, it's not as well-loved by cupping enthusiasts due to its bitter taste and smoky rubber notes. It is often considered inferior quality coffee and most large coffee companies employ arabica beans for their top-quality products.

The demand for premium coffees is growing and small roasters are exploring 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 strength and flavour. These coffees come from Uganda, a country where robusta has been grown for a long time. Learn more about them.

Liberica

Liberica coffee beans are a rare variety that are seldom used in the world. They are less than 2% of the world's wholesale coffee beans uk consumption, and are often overlooked due to the fact that they don't have as much caffeine as Arabica and Robusta do. However, they do have an unique flavor that a lot of coffee lovers find irresistible.

Liberica coffee beans, although extremely rare however, are quite popular in a few regions of Asia. These beans are most common in Malaysia and Indonesia where there is a significant Muslim community. The coffee industry in these countries has historically been very strong, and drinking the cup of coffee after prayer is part of the tradition.

Liberica coffee's history dates back to 1890s which was the time when a global epidemic caused by rust on the coffee leaf destroyed the arabica crop. This event prompted coffee producers to search for a more robust plant that could thrive in tropical climates. They soon found the Liberica.

Liberica plants are resistant to diseases and pests which makes them the perfect replacement for the depleted arabica crop. Liberica also has the ability to flourish in hot temperatures and lower altitudes, which allowed it to flourish in the climate of Southeast Asia. This is the reason why, today, most of the coffee grown in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia comes from Liberica beans.

Excelsa

Although it is rare for coffee drinkers to find excelsa beans, they are now gaining the reputation of having a distinctive flavor. According to Komal Sable of South India Coffee Co. who is a fifth-generation farmer of coffee These beans are similar to the teardrop shape, but are smaller. But despite the family resemblance, it's important to note that excelsa is technically not a separate species.

It's not clear how to categorize excelsa beans. This confusion is responsible for the absence of existence of these beans in the modern coffee world. Because of this, a lot of roasters, growers and brewers don't know how to cultivate and use these beans effectively.

In the end, it's entirely up for the individual to decide whether they enjoy the flavor of excelsa coffee and it could take a longer to find a ZATS Bold Speciality Blend Coffee Beans 1kg - Premium Quality that matches your preferences. It's crucial to be flexible and test every type of coffee until you discover the one you love. If you do this you'll be able explore the entire possibilities that these unique beans can offer. It's a trip that's worth the ride.