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A Comprehensive Guide to Common Coffee Bean Types and Classifications: Varieties, Characteristics, and Origins

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). A comprehensive introduction to common coffee bean types and classifications? What are the variety classifications and characteristics of coffee? What are the common types of coffee beans and their origins? In reality, only two species have true commercial value and are cultivated on a large scale.

For more professional coffee knowledge and coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

Common Types and Classifications of Coffee Beans

What are the common types and classifications of coffee beans? What are the varieties, classifications, and characteristics of coffee? What are the common types of coffee beans and their origins?

Only two species have real commercial value and are widely cultivated. One is Arabica, and the other is Robusta. Different varieties of coffee beans have different flavors, but even coffee trees of the same variety will produce coffee beans with unique characteristics due to different soil, climate, and other factors.

Arabica Coffee

Arabica coffee trees are relatively difficult to cultivate. They prefer mild daytime temperatures and cooler nights. Too cold, too hot, or too humid climates can be fatal to them. Arabica coffee trees need to be planted on high-altitude sloped terrain, so harvesting must be done manually by climbing up and down, making it extremely difficult. However, because Arabica coffee beans have excellent aroma, balanced flavor, and lower caffeine content, they account for about 70% of total coffee cultivation despite being difficult to grow.

Robusta Coffee

Robusta coffee trees are resistant to high temperatures, cold, humidity, drought, and even mold infestation. Their adaptability is extremely strong, and they can grow very well on flat land. Harvesting doesn't necessarily require manual labor and can be done entirely with shaking machines. In terms of cultivation, Robusta coffee trees have many advantages, but unfortunately, the coffee beans produced have poor aroma, strong bitterness, insufficient acidity, and double the caffeine content of Arabica. Robusta coffee beans have more distinctive flavor profiles and are often used for blending or instant coffee.

Regional Classifications

These two coffee beans are classified by origin. Arabica is mostly produced in Brazil and Colombia in South America, Central American countries, Costa Rica and Guatemala in the Caribbean Sea, Jamaica, Mexico, as well as Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and other countries. Arabica coffee beans are relatively large, uniform in size, and have uniform, glossy color.

Robusta coffee beans, on the other hand, are mostly smaller, vary in shape and size, and don't look very attractive. They are mainly produced in Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo, Zaire, Angola, and other countries. Generally, when drinking single-origin coffee in Taiwanese cafes, the most familiar coffee beans such as Brazil Santos, Indonesia Mandheling, Yemen Mocha, and Jamaica Blue Mountain are all high-quality Arabica coffee beans.

Coffee Bean Varieties

FrontStreet Coffee · Jamaica Blue Mountain

Premium beans grown on the slopes of Jamaica's Blue Mountains, this heavenly delicacy has limited production. As the finest among coffees, most are monopolized by coffee buyers from Japan, America, and Britain, so most Blue Mountain on the market is not pure. The author recently saw Japanese-imported Blue Mountain at a department store on Nanjing Road in Taipei.

FrontStreet Coffee · Indonesia Java

Beans produced in Indonesia, Java has become a coffee center with bitter yet mellow and rich flavor. Indonesian beans have an earthy quality and pair well with wild, wine-like Yemen Mocha beans.

FrontStreet Coffee · Indonesia Mandheling

Produced in the same Indonesian region as Java, but Mandheling has more stable quality, rich texture, good body, and low acidity, making it more popular. For many years, it has been the mainstay of blended coffees. Due to its bittersweet taste, rich flavor, and low acidity, Mandheling has been the author's favorite in recent years and is more suitable for drinkers who don't like acidity.

FrontStreet Coffee · Yemen Mocha

Mocha originally referred to beans shipped from the port of Mocha in Arabia, located in Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula. Today's pure, rare Yemen Mocha is extremely uncommon. Pure Mocha is rare and expensive, with rich, mellow flavor and strong acidity in taste.

FrontStreet Coffee · Brazil Santos

Brazilian beans have their special flavor but are not preferred by buyers. They are often used as substitutes when coffee bean production is low.

Classification by Major Coffee-Producing Countries

Kenya (Africa)

Kenya, located near East Africa, cultivates high-quality Arabica coffee beans. The beans are medium to large in size, very rich and flavorful, with moderate acidity. Grades are divided into seven levels according to bean size, and six levels from top to bottom according to flavor. In terms of taste, "Kenya AA" is particularly well-regarded.

Ethiopia (Africa)

The origin of coffee's name comes from the Kaffa region in the southwest and the Sidamo region in the south, both major production areas. Additionally, the eastern highland region of Harar is also famous for coffee. The beans are small but fragrant and rich, with special names like "Harar Mocha" and "Longberry," possessing unique flavors and usually referred to simply as Mocha.

Yemen (Africa)

Yemen's common name is Arabia, the birthplace of Arabica species, which once swept the world under the name "Mocha Coffee," though that prosperity is no more. However, its wine-like flavor, rich and mellow characteristics, remain quite popular as an after-dinner coffee. Along with coffee from Brazil and Colombia, it is selected as one of the three musketeers for blended coffees. "Mattari" from the Bani Matar region and "Sanani" from the Sana'a region are also quite famous.

Indonesia (Southeast Asia)

Main production areas include Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi islands. 90% of these are Robusta species, with quality considered world-class. Sumatra is most famous for its rich, smooth, highest-grade Mandheling. Additionally, "Gayo Mountain" is produced in the northern part of the island, while Java's Arabica has good-quality acidity and is especially loved by the Dutch. Sulawesi produces large "Kalossi," with "Toraja" from the mountainous region in the southwest being representative.

Coffee Bean Varieties from Around the World

The coffee on the market mainly consists of two primary species: Coffee Arabica and Coffee Robusta. Each can be further divided into more varieties, with Arabica being widely consumed.

Below are some major producing countries and their famous coffees:

Americas (Central and South America)

Brazil: Santos, Bahia, Cerrado, Mogiana

Mexico: Coatepec, Huatusco, Orizaba, Maragogype, Tapanchula, Huixtla, Pluma Coixtepec, Liquidambar MS

Panama: Boquet, Cafe Volcan Baru. The King of Single Origin, Geisha, comes from here, with Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda being the most outstanding.

Peru: Chanchmayo, Cuzco, Norte, Puno

Dominican Republic: Barahona, Salvador, Pipil, Pacamara

Puerto Rico: Yauco Selecto, Grand Lares Yauco

Colombia: Armenia Supremo, Narino, Medellin

Guatemala: Antigua (famous for Flor de Café), Huehuetenango

Costa Rica: Dota, Indio, Tarrazu, Tres Rios

Cuba: Turquino

Jamaica: Blue Mountain

Ecuador: Galápagos, Gigante

Venezuela: Montebello, Miramar, Granija, Ala Granija

Nicaragua: Jinotega, Nuevo Segovia