How to Drink Arabica Coffee Beans_How Much Does Arabica Coffee Cost in a Coffee Shop

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Coffee Plant Varieties

Coffee belongs to the Rubiaceae family, genus Coffea. The genus contains more than 60 species, but only three have significant economic value: Coffea Arabica, Coffea Robusta, and Coffea Liberica. Liberica, however, is cultivated far less than the other two and is gradually being pushed out of the coffee market.

Arabica vs. Robusta

Arabica accounts for about 70% of the market overall, while Robusta makes up roughly 30%.

Both varieties have their own sub-varieties, which are given different names based on where they grow. Taiwan coffee, for example, derives from the Typica sub-species of Arabica.

Coffee grown in Ethiopia's Yirgacheffe region is named after the place, while the variety cultivated near the Geisha mountains in Panama is called Geisha, sharing its name with the Japanese word for geisha. The Geisha coffee from Panama, particularly from Hacienda La Esmeralda (commonly known as Jade Estate), is considered the most premium.

Arabica and Robusta grow in very different environments. Arabica is better suited to hills and mountains at 600 to 2,000 meters above sea level, while Robusta grows on plains and hills below 600 meters. Taiwan mainly cultivates Arabica, so most of it sits above 600 meters and can reach elevations of 1,000 meters.

The terrain also constrains harvesting. On flat land, harvesting can be mechanized, sharply cutting labor costs. On hills and mountains, it can only be done by hand, which drives labor costs up considerably. This is one of the main reasons Taiwan coffee is so expensive.

How Different Beans Are Used in Different Products

The flavors of the two beans are completely different as well. Arabica shows more fruit acidity and floral aroma, while Robusta presents stronger bitterness and a lingering mouthfeel. Their uses in coffee products therefore differ greatly.

1. Pour-Over and Siphon Coffee

These brewing methods typically use Arabica, especially specialty-grade beans. Specialty coffee is carefully selected (bean selection is covered in the next column) and earns a certain score in cupping. It is usually sold as single-origin beans for pour-over and siphon because high flavor is required, and Arabica fits best. That said, some Robusta beans also qualify as specialty coffee.

2. Espresso Coffee

Espresso is brewed under high pressure, which concentrates the flavor compounds. With a single variety, the flavor can easily become too intense. That's why espresso-based drinks such as shots, lattes, and mochas almost always use blends, with the blender mixing different varieties, origins, and processing methods to build the most suitable profile. Because Arabica tends to be more acidic, blends often include Robusta to reinforce the "coffee sensation" that baristas call body.

3. Canned, Instant, and 3-in-1 Coffee

In the past, canned coffee and similar products were seen as lower-priced, so they rarely used pure Arabica. Instead, they incorporated Robusta to adjust flavor and cut costs.

In recent years, though, the coffee market has boomed and consumers have learned that Arabica is the more premium variety. This has led many products to advertise pure Arabica beans, but those beans don't necessarily qualify as specialty grade.

Recommendations for Enjoying Coffee

Next time you are in a cafe, why not try a pour-over Yirgacheffe to experience its unique citrus flavor, or a Geisha to taste its distinctive floral aroma. But don't forget to check the roast level. Coffee's aromatic compounds are destroyed by high heat and produce many bitter substances. If the roast is too dark (medium-dark or above), the beans lose their unique flavor characteristics.

Arabica Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted Arabica beans offer full assurance in both brand and quality, and just as importantly, excellent value. Each 227-gram package costs only around 70-90 yuan. At 15 grams per cup, one package makes 15 cups, so each cup costs only about 5-6 yuan. Compared with coffee shops selling for over 100 yuan a cup, that is a genuinely conscientious recommendation.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

For anyone new to the Ethiopia region, start with FrontStreet Coffee's washed Yirgacheffe daily drinker. It is known for white jasmine, bright citrus and lemon acidity, and a tea-like body, and its friendly price has made it the first specialty bean for many newcomers.

Yirgacheffe is a small town in Ethiopia's Sidamo zone in the south, at roughly 1,700-2,100 meters, with coffee trees planted above 1,800 meters, making it one of the highest coffee regions in the world. Its highly recognizable white florals and lemon-citrus acidity turned Yirgacheffe into shorthand for Ethiopian specialty coffee. In 2010, because the name had become so famous, the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange separated it from Sidamo, giving us the Yirgacheffe coffee everyone knows today.

For a natural-process alternative, FrontStreet Coffee's Natural Red Cherry beans use a whole-cherry natural method, picking only fully ripe, sound fruit. The cherries are dried on raised beds, turned every two to three hours over the first few days to prevent uneven heating and over-fermentation, and after three to five weeks the dried fruit is hulled. Because the fruit dries around the bean, the cup keeps the typical Yirgacheffe character while adding tropical fruit from the sun-drying: citrus-like acidity, juicy berry, honeyed sweetness, and a creamy smoothness.