Papuan Bird of Paradise Coffee Bean Variety Introduction - Relationship Between Bird of Paradise and Blue Mountain - Bird of Paradise Coffee Price

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FrontStreet Coffee's Papua New Guinea Bird of Paradise coffee beans are actually of the oldest and most classic Typica variety—the same variety as FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee and FrontStreet Coffee's Hawaii Kona coffee! No wonder the Bird of Paradise coffee commands a premium price. However, besides being available at certain chain coffee shops, this very niche origin coffee can actually be easily purchased for home brewing—FrontStreet Coffee's Bird of Paradise coffee beans.

Typica

Typica is one of Ethiopia's oldest native varieties. Typica plants have bronze-colored young leaves and oval or slender-pointed beans. The flavor is elegant, but the plant has weak constitution, poor disease resistance, and low fruit yield.

Typica is one of the oldest discovered varieties of Arabica coffee species, the other being Bourbon. Arabica originates from Ethiopia, where this species still naturally grows in the local primary rainforest highlands. In the 13th-14th centuries, this species was brought to Yemen, and around 1700, Typica was cultivated at the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam. Typica seedlings were the first seedlings brought from the Dutch Royal Gardens to Central and South America and the New World for cultivation. Typica is a precious, pure-blooded variety with oval fruits and bronze leaves, featuring diverse fruit aromas.

Typica is one of the oldest varieties of the Arabica species and has given rise to many other mutant varieties. Typica beans are slender, the plant is tall, the fruits are oval, and the branches are slightly inclined. Typica has four slender branches that spread outward at a 50-70 degree angle. The coffee yield per tree is very low, but the cupping scores are very high.

Originally called Arabica Typica, the Scottish regiment brought this variety from Yemen to Kenya, where the leaves turned copper-colored after planting. Hawaii's Typica variety was introduced from Guatemala and renamed Kona, with leaf tips showing bronze coloring. Due to geographical reasons, Typica planted in other coffee-growing regions worldwide has developed differences. Typica has genetically evolved with many mutant varieties better adapted to their environments, producing new characteristics often considered new varieties. For example, Mexican Typica differs slightly from Hawaiian Typica, thus having different names: Criollo (South America), Arabigo (Americas), Kona (Hawaii), Pluma Hidalgo (Mexico), Garundang (Sumatra), Blue Mountain (Jamaica, Papua New Guinea), São Bernardo & San Ramón (Brazil), Kent and Chickumalgu (India).

Typica trees have a characteristic feature—their leaf tips are copper-colored, earning them the name "red-topped coffee." The coffee tree's opposite leaves are long-oval with smooth surfaces, terminal branches are long with few branches, and the white flowers bloom at the base where leaf stems connect to branches. Mature coffee cherries resemble cherries, appearing bright red with sweet flesh, containing a pair of seeds—coffee beans.

Typica was the first coffee variety planted in the New World. The Typica planted in Java was a gift from the Dutch to French King Louis XIV, surviving in the Persian Garden, with its seeds brought by the French to the French colony of Martinique in 1720.

Typica is the progenitor of many coffee derivatives. Like other Arabica varieties, Typica has oval fruits and slightly inclined branches. Typica trees reach 3.5-4 meters in height with branches inclined at 50-70 degrees. Typica has very low yields but very high cupping quality.

Typica Cultivars

Java

Java has long fruits and bronze young leaves, believed to be descendants of coffee introduced from Yemen to Java Island. This variety was first brought from Java Island to neighboring islands (Timor), then to East Africa (Cameroon), and began cultivation in 1980. It was introduced to Central America by CIRAD (International Center for Agricultural Research and Development). In Cameroon, this variety is known for moderate yields and good resistance to coffee berry disease.

Maragogype

Elephant Bean, a mutant of Typica, first discovered in Brazil in 1870. The fruits are large, long, and slightly twisted, with plants having long internodes and large leaves. The yield is relatively low.

Kent

A tall Typica variety from the Kent region of India. Since 1930, this variety has been widely cultivated in India. There is a variety called K7 within this cultivar that is more common in Kenya and is one of the coffee bean varieties with best rust resistance.

Typica Coffee Beans

Typica: Oval in shape, appearing thin and flat from the side. Even when grown at different altitudes, the thickness difference of green beans' sides won't vary significantly.

Typica was first brought by Yemenis from Ethiopia to Malabar, India, then by the Dutch to Indonesia. Later, it was brought from the West Indies to the French colony of Martinique.

Subsequently, it grew in other cultivation areas, giving rise to many mutant varieties: Criollo (South America), Arabigo (Central America), Kona (Hawaii), Pluma Hidalgo (Mexico), Garundang (Sumatra), Blue Mountain (Jamaica, Papua New Guinea), San Bernado & San Ramon (Brazil), Kents & Chickumalgu (India).

All of these belong to the Typica variety.

Tasting Notes

FrontStreet Coffee · Jamaica Blue Mountain (Typica)

Roast Level: Medium-dark roast

Dry Aroma: Roasted peanuts, hazelnut, melon, chocolate-like

Wet Aroma: Rose tea, caramel, honey, dark chocolate, almond skins, silky mouthfeel, brightness

Flavor: Sweet and rich, lightly bitter, well-balanced with good body, rich layers, aftertaste with distinct dark chocolate, honey, and cane sugar flavors, with a viscous texture. When completely cooled, it has a strong oolong tea aroma, and when touched with fingers, surprisingly has the sticky texture of caramel syrup.

Recommended Brewing Method: Pour-over

Grind Size: 4 (Japan Fuji R440)

Water Temperature: 88°C

Other Drip Extraction Suggestions:

French press: Recommended grind size 3.5-4 / water temperature 90°C

AeroPress: Recommended grind size 2.5, water temperature 88°C

Siphon: Grind size 3.5

FrontStreet Coffee · Yunnan Huaguoshan (Typica)

Roast Level: Medium roast

Dry Aroma: Pear fruits, vanilla-like, honey-like, peach tea, ripe orange, jasmine hints

Wet Aroma: Nutty, milky chocolate, herbal-floral

Flavor: Smooth entry, Asian herbal plant aroma, lively and bright acidity, mouth-watering on both cheeks, soft acidity, well-balanced body, rich layers, aftertaste with distinct dark chocolate, honey, and cane sugar flavors. When completely cooled, brown sugar flavors emerge.

Recommended Brewing Methods: Siphon, pour-over

Grind Size: 4 (Japan Fuji R440)

Water Temperature: 90°C

Other Drip Extraction Suggestions:

French press: Recommended grind size 3.5-4 / water temperature 90°C

AeroPress: Recommended grind size 2.5, water temperature 88°C

Pour-over: Grind size 3.5, water temperature 89°C

FrontStreet Coffee · Papua New Guinea Bird of Paradise (Typica)

Roast Level: Medium-dark roast

Dry Aroma: Nutty, woody, spicy

Wet Aroma: Sugarcane sweetness, hazelnut, toast-like

Flavor: Toast sweetness, nutty sweetness, slight fruit acidity creating good sweet and sour layers, special spiced sweetness in the aftertaste

Recommended Brewing Method: Pour-over

Grind Size: 4 (Japan Fuji R440)

Water Temperature: 89°C

Other Drip Extraction Suggestions:

French press: Recommended grind size 3.5-4 / water temperature 90°C

AeroPress: Recommended grind size 3, water temperature 85°C

Siphon: Grind size 4.5, water temperature 91°C

Frontsteet Bird of Paradise Coffee Bean Brand Recommendation

FrontStreet Coffee's house-roasted FrontStreet Coffee Papua New Guinea Bird of Paradise coffee beans have full guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they offer extremely high value for money—a half-pound (100g) package costs only about 85 yuan. Calculating at 15g of coffee per cup, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, with each cup costing less than 6 yuan. Compared to the tens of yuan per cup prices at coffee shops, this is truly a conscientious recommendation.

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