The ultimate coffee beans guide
Just as it happens with wine, coffee beans have different varieties. These types can give us some pretty different flavors in our cup.
Coffee bean varieties need different climates and care to grow well. In this article we will see the four different coffee bean types: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsa (or this last one is not a coffee variety?)
As a coffee lover I decided to investigate the different bean varieties so I can choose the one which is more suitable for me. I put together all that information so you can also make that decision.
Index:
The 4 main coffee bean types
Arabica
Robusta
Liberica
Excelsa
Which variety should I buy?
Final thoughts
The 4 main coffee bean types
Arabica
By far the most consumed coffee in the world. It is estimated that 60% of bean production is from Arabica type.
It is considered to be the higher quality coffee bean and many baristas choose to use only this variety because of its smooth and not bitter taste. This bean has a big spectrum of tasting notes depending on where it grew. We can find floral notes in Ethiopian Arabica, or earthy notes in the ones cultivated in Indonesia. The changes in flavor between heach cultivation encourage coffee lovers to choose single origin beans to taste them to its full potential.
The big downside of Arabica coffee is that they have a complex process of growing. These plants need more altitude than the others (2000 ft), consume more water and need to be carefully protected from the sun. Also they are propense to different plant diseases, which is a threat to growers because they always have the risk of losing entire batches. Because of this, Arabica beans are usually pricier than the others.
Robusta
Robusta coffee beans are the second most consumed type in the world. This variety is kind of the growers bad boys. They can resist almost any disease and can grow at a lower altitude. Because they are less labouriose, Robusta beans are cheaper than Arabica beans.
Robusta coffee beans plants are bigger than Arabica, with between 15 and 20 ft tall doubling the other plant size. The beans are also larger and more rounded.
Robusta coffee beans have a stronger flavor. With a bitter dominance and a stronger smell, many people don't find this variety attractive. Nevertheless, many roasters like to add some of these beans in their blend for two reasons: it can accentuate the soft notes of Arabica beans, and it's really convenient in terms of price.
If you like strong flavors and love to try new ones, you should try a cup of coffee made from 100% robusta beans, some experts ensure they have chocolate and rum notes. Also, this variety has a bigger amount of caffeine than Arabica.
Liberica
Now we are entering the rare coffee beans. Liberica is native from central and western Africa, and takes its name from Liberia, a country where this variety grows well. This type of coffee reaches only 2% of global consumption, so it is probably that you have never tried it before or even heard of it.
Liberica coffee beans grow on a bigger plant than Robusta, and also tolerate low altitudes. These beans have a strangely irregular and asymmetrical shape, but bigger than the other varieties.
Some of those who tasted a cup of coffee made from this unique variety ensure that it has an amazing flavor. They have an unusual flavor, woody and spicy. These strange notes are also the reason because some other people that taste this variety just hate it and affirms that it has an intolerable burnt taste.
Excelsa
Last but not least, Excelsa coffee beans with 7% of global consumption . I decided to leave this variety for the end because there is a controversy involved. For many years, Excelsa was considered a coffee bean type for itself, but recently studies tell that it's a sub-variety from Liberica coffee. That's the reason why you can find in many information sources that they consider it one way or the other.
This kind of beans grows in southeast Asia and they have a similar shape to Liberica coffee, such as the plant where they grow. These are some hints that let us know that after all they are from the same family.
Excelsa coffee bean flavors are quite unique, with fruity and tart notes. Some specialists decide to use this variety in their blends because it adds some complexity to the final product.
Which variety should I buy?
Answering which coffee variety you should buy is pretty much like trying to tell you which ice cream flavor you have to buy. In both cases it will depend on your taste.
Although we can analyze two factors: market availability and what have you drunk before. If you are in the US you can probably find Arabica and Robusta really easy, but if you want to find Liberica and Excelsa you will need to search for a determined shop and be willing to pay some extra money. Also, you have to consider that almost every coffee you have drunk in your life is from 100% Arabica, or a blend with Robusta. So if you want to buy a coffee that is familiar to your taste you should definitely go with one of those. If you are looking to innovate,I would recommend to start with a 100% Robusta coffee and start noticing the differences.
Final thoughts
There are some different varieties of coffee out there, three or four depending how we consider Excelsa, but there are infinite ways of combining those beans.
If you're a coffee lover give them a chance and try them so you can find which one is more suitable for you. Do not just stay in those flavors you are already comfortable with, they might be some out there that you can also like.