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

You've probably heard that different varieties produce distinct flavors. Read on to learn about four of the most sought-after varieties: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsa.

Excelsa beans are a kind of Liberica that is grown only in Southeast Asia. They have a sweeter and more tart flavor profile and are often added to blends of coffee to add depth.

Arabica

Arabica is the world's most popular coffee and accounts for 75% of global coffee bean production. Arabica beans are softer and sweeter than Robusta, and come in different flavors. The aroma and taste of a coffee beans price may vary significantly based on the growing conditions and methods of processing used to produce it.

The word 'coffee' actually is derived from the Arabic word for berry, and premium coffee beans beans are fruit seeds that grow in bright red berries. It is believed that ancient Ethiopian shepherds found that their goats were energized after eating the berries. The cultivation of coffee spread quickly across the globe.

Coffee beans can flourish at high altitudes and flourish in 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 roasters and shops insist on the ethical source of their arabica beans by focusing on fair wages for farmers and sustainable cultivation practices. These companies typically blend arabica beans to make distinctive coffees that are suitable for many different methods of brewing. Blending allows control over the aroma, flavor and body as well as acidity of coffee. It is often preferred to get an even and balanced taste that appeals a wide market.

Robusta

Robusta beans (Coffea canephora) are the second most commonly used variety of coffee bean grown in the world. They have a higher amount of caffeine per bean than Arabica, and are more resistant to disease and pests. They also contain more chlorogenic acids, which are naturally-occurring antioxidants. These acids can cause oxidation in the coffee brewing and produce undesirable flavors.

The plant itself is more resilient than arabica, able to grow in less favorable climate conditions and at lower elevations. It can withstand warmer temperatures and thrives in direct sunlight. It is faster growing and produces more organic coffee beans per plant than arabica, which makes it a cost-effective crop to cultivate.

While it might seem contradictory, Robusta beans are often blended with arabica to make coffee blends. If you see names such as Uganda or Kenya on the coffee bags it's possible there's also some robusta.

Most roasters employ a mixture of arabica and coffee beans to lower costs and maintain the quality. To preserve the flavor integrity, you should choose a high quality bean from a reliable source. This can be done by purchasing your beans directly from the farmer.

Liberica

Liberica beans are more or less football-shaped which distinguishes them from other types of coffee beans. They have a unique aroma that is floral and fruity with smokey undertones. They are paired with other types of coffee beans to provide them with a more rich and more robust taste.

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

These qualities make them ideal for home-growing. You can purchase the seeds from many sources. However, it is ideal to purchase the beans from local producers in order to guarantee quality. The ideal conditions for the cultivation of Liberica coffee include fertile deep volcano soils, with a pH that is moderately acidic and sufficient annual rainfall.

Another kind of coffee bean is Excelsa which was originally thought to be a separate species, but was re-classified as a variant of Liberica. These coffee beans are elongated ovals that grow on 20 to 30-foot coffee plants at medium altitudes. Their distinctive flavor is tart and sour, making them a popular choice for blends in the home. They are also less pronounced in flavor and caffeine than Arabica and Robusta and Robusta, yet they possess a unique depth of flavor.

Excelsa

Excelsa coffee beans aren't as widely used as Arabica and Robusta, despite being the fourth most popular. In fact, they were considered a distinct coffee plant species until 2006 when they were reclassified to an alternative to Coffea liberica var. dewevrei. Currently, they're cultivated primarily in Southeast Asia and account for 7 percent of the world's coffee production. The coffee beans have the shape of teardrops and possess a dark, eerie taste. They're typically used in blends to give extra body and a full tart, ripe fruit taste.

Arabica beans are the most well-known, and are well-known for their a sweeter taste. They thrive in warm, tropical climates and at high altitudes. They have a slight acidity. When roasted and brewed properly they can be a bit sweet with hints of chocolate, nuts, or even fruit.

Robusta is the second most sought-after coffee worldwide, and is responsible for 40% of the coffee consumed worldwide. Robusta beans are smaller and more round however, they contain twice the amount of caffeine as Arabica. They also have more bitterness than the other two varieties, and tend to have earthy and woody undertones.

After you've learned about the four most popular types of coffee beans and the four most popular types of coffee beans, it's time to select your perfect brew. If you prefer a smooth and delicate flavor opt for an arabica, or a blend consisting of arabica beans and robusta beans.