Types of Coffee Beans

Behind every cup of coffee we drink, there are carefully graded beans. They are graded based on size, color and shape.

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

Arabica

Arabica coffee beans are also known as Coffea Arabicica and are the most well-known bean in the entire world. The legend says that coffee 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 explore roasting and brewing the seeds, creating the drink we all know and cherish today.

There are many varieties of coffee plants, however only two are used to create our top brews, arabica and robusta. The flavor of the final drink is usually better with the robusta variety.

There are many different arabica cultivars. Each one has their own distinctive taste. Two of the most well-known varieties are Typica and Bourbon, from which all other varieties of arabica have been created, either through natural mutations or intentional crossbreeding. Scott Labs developed the SL28 cultivar in Kenya and is renowned for its distinctive chocolaty flavour.

The flavour of a given arabica variety will be determined by the climate in which it is grown, as well as the way it is handled and roasted. For instance, the kind of shade a tree gets, its altitude and soil composition could all play a role in the final result.

Robusta

Robusta online coffee beans beans (Coffea canephora) are the second most sought-after variety of coffee beans. These beans are utilized in the majority of instant coffees, and they contain twice the amount of caffeine as Arabica Coffee Beans. They are also used in numerous espresso blends, especially for caffe latte and cappuccino.

The Coffea Canephora plant was first discovered in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it has since been cultivated around the world. It can thrive at lower elevations and can withstand higher temperatures than Arabica coffee plants, which makes it more convenient for farmers. Vietnam is currently the largest producer of robusta coffee followed by Brazil and Indonesia.

The robusta plant makes a wonderful coffee however it's not popular with cupping enthusiasts because of its bitter taste and burnt-rubber aroma. It's generally regarded as a poorer quality coffee, and a majority of the major coffee companies make use of arabica beans to create premium products.

The demand for premium coffees is increasing and small roasters are experimenting to make the most of its exceptional qualities. Our Valhalla Java coffee and Death With Coffee coffee are two examples. Both are excellent robustas that are blended with arabica for the perfect balance between strength and flavour. These coffees are sourced from Uganda where robusta is cultivated for long periods of time. You can learn more about them here.

Liberica

Liberica coffee beans are scarce and are rarely used around the world. They comprise less than 2% of the world's coffee bean consumption and are often overlooked due to the fact that they don't contain the same amount of caffeine that Arabica and Robusta do. However, they do have distinctive taste that many coffee enthusiasts 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 most prevalent in Malaysia and Indonesia where there is a huge Muslim community. The coffee industry in these countries has traditionally been very strong coffee beans, and drinking coffee following a prayer is part of the tradition.

The background of Liberica highest rated coffee beans dates back to the 1890s when a global epidemic of coffee leaf rust wiped out the majority of the world's arabica crop. This incident prompted coffee farmers to search for a more resilient plant that could thrive in tropical climates. They soon found the Liberica.

Liberica plants have a high tolerance for pests and diseases making them a perfect replacement for the ruined arabica crop. Liberica can also be grown in lower altitudes and high temperatures that allow it to thrive in the Southeast Asian climate. Liberica beans are the basis for the majority of the coffee that is produced in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Excelsa

Although it is not common for coffee drinkers 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, and have the same teardrop shape, however, they are smaller." It is important to note that despite the resemblance in family between excelsa and liberica the species isn't a separate one.

It's not easy to classify excelsa beans. This confusion is reason for the insufficient existence of these beans in the modern world of coffee. Because of this, many roasters, farmers, and brewers don't know how to cultivate and use these beans properly.

It is ultimately up to each person to decide if they like the taste of excelsa and it can take a while to find the right blend. The most important thing is to remain open-minded and give each type of coffee a go until you find one that you truly enjoy. You'll discover the many possibilities the unique beans provide. It's a journey that's well worth the effort.