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Types of Coffee Beans
Behind every cup of coffee we drink, there are carefully graded bean. They are graded based on color, size and shape.
The AA rating is given to coffee beans that meet the above criteria, with the exception that they are not allowed to contain more than three defects (quakers). Most often, these are Kenya AA beans.
Arabica
Arabica coffee beans are also known as Coffea Arabicica and are the most popular bean in the entire world. According to legend, coffee was discovered by an Ethiopian goatherder Ethiopia after he observed that his animals had more energy when they consumed the fruits of the plant. This inspired him to experiment with roasting the seeds before brewing them, making the drink that we enjoy today.
While a myriad of coffee plants are available There are only two main species that are used as the basis for all our favorite coffees: robusta and arabica. The flavor of the final drink is usually better with the first.
There are many different cultivars of arabica, each each possessing its own distinctive flavor profile. Two of the most well-known varieties are Typica and Bourbon, from which the other varieties of arabica have been created, through natural mutation or intentional crossbreeding. The SL28 cultivar, for example, was developed in Kenya by Scott Labs and is known for its distinctive chocolate taste.
The flavor of an arabica variety varies on the conditions under which it was grown and also how it was handled and cooked. The type of shade that trees receive will have a major impact on the final product.
Robusta
Robusta coffee beans (Coffea canephora) are the second most popular type of coffee. They are the beans used for most instant coffees and have twice as much caffeine as Arabica Coffee Beans. They are also utilized in many espresso blends, especially for caffe latte and cappuccino.
The Coffea Canephora plant was originally discovered in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it has since been cultivated around the globe. It can grow at lower altitudes and is able to withstand higher temperatures than the Arabica coffee plant, which makes it a more suitable crop for farmers. Vietnam is currently the biggest producer of robusta coffee followed by Brazil and Indonesia.
While the robusta coffee plant has its advantages but it's not as loved by cupping aficionados for its bitter taste and smoky rubber notes. Most major coffee companies utilize arabica beans to make their premium products because it is considered a lower-quality coffee beans for sale.
The demand for specialty coffees is growing, and small roasters are exploring to make the most of its exceptional qualities. Our Valhalla Java and Death With strong coffee beans are two exceptional robusta coffees, which are blended with arabica to create the perfect blend of flavour and strength. These are carefully sourced from Uganda where robusta has been cultivated for many centuries. You can read more about them here.
Liberica
Liberica coffee beans are rare and aren't used much around the globe. They comprise less than 2% of world's coffee bean consumption and are often overlooked due to the fact that they don't contain the same amount of caffeine as Arabica and Robusta do. They have a distinctive flavor that a lot of coffee drinkers find appealing.
Liberica coffee beans, despite being extremely rare, are still quite popular in some parts of Asia. They are particularly popular in Malaysia and Indonesia where there is a large Muslim population. The coffee beans uk industry in these countries has traditionally been very robust and coffee during prayer is a part of the culture.
The history of Liberica coffee dates back to the 1890s when a worldwide outbreak of coffee leaf rust killed most of the world's arabica crop. The event spurred coffee producers to look for a resilient plant that could thrive in tropical climates. They soon found the Liberica.
Liberica plants have a high tolerance to diseases and pests making the perfect substitute for the devastated arabica crop. Liberica also has the ability to thrive in temperatures that are hot and lower altitudes. This allowed it to thrive in the climate of Southeast Asia. This is the reason why, today the majority of the coffee that is produced in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia is derived from Liberica beans.
Excelsa
While it's not common for coffee beans bulk buy lovers to see excelsa coffee beans in their cups, these exclusive beans are starting to gain the reputation of having a distinct flavor. According to Komal Sable, a fifth generation coffee farmer with South India Coffee Co., these beans are "a variant of the liberica species that has the same teardrop shape, however, they are smaller." However despite this resemblance to the family it's important to understand that excelsa is technically not a separate species.
As such, it's a little bit confusing as to how excelsa beans should be categorized and it's this confusion that's been at the root of this beans' minimal presence in the world of coffee. Because of this, a lot of roasters, growers and brewers don't know how to grow and utilize the beans correctly.
It's ultimately the individual's responsibility to decide if he or she likes the taste of excelsa. it can take a while to find the right blend. It is important to be open and test every type of speciality coffee beans until you've found the one you love. By doing so you'll be able explore the entire variety of possibilities these unique beans have to provide. This is a trip worth the effort.