Types of Coffee Beans

Behind every cup of coffee we enjoy there are beans that have been carefully graded. These beans are graded based on size, color and shape.

The AA grade is awarded to coffee beans that meet the above criteria, with the exception that they cannot contain more than three defects (quakers). Typically, these are Kenya AA beans.

Arabica

Arabica coffee beans are also referred to as Coffea Arabicica and are the most sought-after coffee beans in the world. Legend has it that coffee was discovered in Ethiopia when goat herders noticed their herd's dancing more vigorously after eating the fruit of the coffee plant. This led him experiment with roasting the seeds and brewing them, making the drink that we drink today.

Although a variety of dark roast coffee beans plants exist, there are only two species that are used as the base for all our favourite beverages: robusta and arabica. The taste of the final drink is typically better with the first.

There are a number of different cultivars of arabica, with each having its own unique flavour profile. Two of the most well-known varieties are Typica and Bourbon from which all other varieties of arabica were developed either through natural mutations or intentional crossbreeding. Scott Labs developed the SL28 cultivar in Kenya and is renowned for its distinctive chocolaty flavour.

The flavor of an arabica variety varies on the environment in which it was grown, as well as the method by which it was handled and roasted. The shade the tree gets will have a major impact on the final product.

Robusta

Robusta coffee beans (Coffea canephora) are the second most sought-after variety of coffee. They are the beans used to make most instant coffees and have twice as much caffeine as Arabica Coffee Beans. They are also used to make many blends of espresso - especially for cappuccino, caffe latte, and other beverages that are coffee-based.

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

While the robusta coffee plant has its benefits, it's not as well-loved by cupping enthusiasts due to its bitter taste and burnt rubber notes. It's generally regarded as a poorer quality coffee, and most large coffee companies make use of arabica beans to create top-quality products.

However, the demand for gourmet coffee is increasing, and even small roasters are experimenting with robusta varieties that are high-end to take advantage of its superior 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 are coffees from Uganda which is a nation where robusta has been grown for a long time. You can learn more about them here.

Liberica

Liberica coffee beans are scarce and are not used in the world. They are less than 2% of the world's coffee consumption, and are often overlooked because they don't contain the same amount of caffeine that Arabica and Robusta do. However, these beans have distinct taste that many coffee enthusiasts find irresistible.

Liberica coffee beans, though extremely scarce they are still very popular in some parts of Asia. They are especially common in Malaysia and Indonesia, which have significant Muslim population. In these countries, the coffee industry has been steady for a number of years. Drinking a cup coffee following a prayer is a part of their culture.

The background of Liberica coffee dates back to the 1890s when a worldwide epidemic of coffee leaf rust wiped out the majority of the world's arabica crop. This event spurred coffee beans for sale producers to find a more resilient species that could thrive in tropical climates, and they quickly discovered the Liberica plant.

Liberica plants are resistant to pests and diseases which makes them an ideal replacement for the devastated arabica crop. Liberica can also grow in lower altitudes and high temperatures which enables it to thrive in the Southeast Asian climate. Liberica beans are used to make the majority of the coffee that is produced in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Excelsa

While it's not usual for coffee drinkers to come across excelsa beans in their cups, these exclusive beans are gaining recognition for their distinctive flavor. According to Komal Sable, a fifth generation coffee farmer at South India Coffee Co., these beans are "a variant of the liberica species that has the same teardrop shape, but a smaller size." It's important to understand that, despite the resemblance of family between excelsa and liberica however, this species is not an individual one.

So, it's bit hazy as to the best way to classify excelsa beans. classified. It's this confusion that's been at the root of the beans' lack of presence in the contemporary world of Bulk coffee Beans. Due to this, many roasters, farmers, and brewers don't know how to grow and utilize these beans in a proper manner.

Ultimately, it's up the individual to determine what they prefer about the taste of excelsa coffee bean and it could take a time to discover a blend that is suitable for your preferences. The key is to be open-minded and give each type of coffee a try until you discover one you truly love. You'll get to explore the many possibilities these unique beans can offer. It's a trip worth the effort.