12 Facts About Types Of Coffee Beans To Bring You Up To Speed The Water Cooler
Types of Coffee Beans
Behind every cup of coffee we enjoy, there are carefully graded bean. These beans are analyzed according to their size color, shape, and density.
The AA rating is given to coffee beans that meet the criteria above, with the exception that they can't contain more than three defects (quakers). They are typically Kenya AA beans.
Arabica
Arabica coffee beans, also referred to as Coffea arabica are the most sought-after kind of bean around the globe. According to the legend coffee was discovered by the goatherder of Ethiopia after he observed that his animals had more energy when they ate the fruits of the plant. This led him to experiment with roasting and brewing the seeds, creating the beverage we know and cherish today.
There are many varieties of coffee plants, but only two are used in the production of our favorite brews - arabica and robusta. The former is generally considered to be superior to the latter and this is reflected in the flavor of the finished beverage.
There are many different arabica cultivars. coffeee.uk has their own distinctive taste. Typica and Bourbon are two of the most well-known arabica cultivars. All other arabica varieties were derived from these two varieties, either through natural mutations or intentional crossbreeding. The SL28 cultivar, for example was developed in Kenya by Scott Labs and is known for its distinct chocolate flavor.
The flavor of an arabica variety varies on the conditions under which it was grown and also how it was handled and roasted. For instance, the type of shade that a tree receives along with its altitude and soil composition will all play a significant role in the final result.
Robusta
Robusta coffee beans (Coffea canephora) are the second most popular variety of coffee beans. These beans are commonly used in instant coffees and have twice the amount of caffeine as Arabica Coffee Beans. They are also used to make a variety of espresso blends including cappuccino, caffe latte, and many other coffee drinks.
Coffea Canephora is an African plant that was first discovered in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has been cultivated all over the world since. It can grow at lower elevations and can withstand higher temperatures than the Arabica coffee plant, making it a more convenient crop for farmers. Vietnam is the world's largest producer of robusta followed by Brazil and Indonesia.
The robusta plant makes a wonderful coffee, but it's not the most popular among cupping enthusiasts because of its bitter taste and burnt-rubber notes. It's usually regarded as an inferior coffee and many large coffee producers use arabica beans for their premium products.
The demand for gourmet coffees is growing and small roasters are experimenting to capitalize on its outstanding qualities. Our Valhalla Java coffee and Death With Coffee coffee are two examples. Both are excellent robustas that blend with arabica to create the perfect balance between the strength and flavor. The coffees are carefully obtained from Uganda where robusta is cultivated for long periods of time. Find out more about them.
Liberica
Liberica coffee beans are scarce and rarely used throughout the world. They comprise less than 2% of worldwide coffee consumption. They are often overlooked because they don't have as much caffeine as Arabica and Robusta do. But, they have an unique flavor that coffee lovers find irresistible.
Despite being very rare, Liberica coffee beans are still quite popular in some parts of Asia. The most common place for these beans is in Malaysia and Indonesia where there is a huge Muslim community. The coffee industry in these countries has traditionally been extremely strong, and drinking a cup of joe during prayer is a part of the tradition.
Liberica coffee's history dates back to the 1890s after a worldwide epidemic caused by rust on the coffee leaf caused a massive loss of the arabica crop. This triggered the coffee industry to seek out an alternative species that could thrive in tropical climates, and they quickly discovered the Liberica plant.
Liberica plants are resistant to disease and pests which makes them the perfect replacement for the depleted arabica crop. Liberica also has the ability to thrive in temperatures that are hot and lower altitudes, which enabled it to thrive in the climate of Southeast Asia. Liberica beans are the basis for the majority of the coffee that is produced in the Philippines and Indonesia.
Excelsa
Although it's not typical for coffee lovers to see excelsa coffee beans in their cups, these exclusive beans are beginning to gain the reputation of having a distinct flavor. According to Komal Sable, a fifth generation coffee farmer with South India Coffee Co. The beans are "a variant of the liberica species and have the same teardrop shape, but a smaller size." But despite the family resemblance it is important to remember that excelsa is technically not a distinct species.
It's not clear how to categorize excelsa beans. This confusion is largely to blame for the low existence of these beans in the current coffee industry. Because of this, a lot of growers, roasters, and brewers don't know how to cultivate and use these beans in a proper manner.
It is ultimately up to the individual to decide what they prefer about the taste of excelsa coffee and it may take a time to find a blend that suits their tastes. The most important thing is to remain open-minded and give every type of coffee you can until you find one you truly enjoy. You'll have the chance to explore the vast array of possibilities the unique beans provide. It's a journey worth the trip.