Do You Know the Two Main Coffee Bean Varieties? What Are the Famous Coffee Bean Types?

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Arabica is known for its excellent flavor and aroma quality, and is often used for specialty coffee. Robusta, being easy to cultivate, has the advantage of low price and is mainly used for hybrid varieties or as the main ingredient for instant coffee.

Biologically speaking, coffee varieties can be divided into Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica. The main varieties consumed worldwide are Arabica and Robusta, while Liberica is often overlooked due to limited production or inferior quality.

Generally, Arabica is mainly used for single-origin or specialty coffee, while Robusta is used for instant coffee. Although Arabica can be defined as premium coffee and Robusta as secondary, this classification isn't always necessary. It's more appropriate to distinguish them based on personal taste preferences. From a taste perspective, the United States and Japan tend to prefer light coffee brewed with Arabica, while Europe prefers espresso made from a blend of Arabica and Robusta.

Arabica: Premium Coffee Beans with First-Class Flavor and Aroma

Arabica is a representative variety originating from Ethiopia and is also produced in Southern Africa, African countries, and Asian nations, accounting for 70%-75% of the world's coffee production. Arabica has weaker resistance to pests and diseases, making highland regions more suitable for cultivation. Arabica coffee beans grown at elevations above 1,500 meters produce the best quality.

Such carefully produced high-quality coffee beans, with balanced flavor and aroma, can be certified as premium coffee beans, mainly used for single-origin or specialty coffee. The three famous coffee varieties—Hawaii Kona, Jamaica Blue Mountain, and Yemen Mocha—all belong to the Arabica variety. Arabica green beans have a dark, narrow appearance and are celebrated as the highest quality highland Arabica variety, characterized by rich flavors including sweetness, acidity, and aroma.

Robusta: Strong Acidity and Rich Body

Robusta originates from the Congo in Africa and accounts for 30% of the world's coffee production. The name "Robusta" means "robust," and indeed, this coffee tree not only has strong resistance to pests and diseases but can survive in any soil and even grow in wild conditions. Therefore, it can also be cultivated in high-temperature regions, growing quickly and being easy to cultivate. With the advantage of low price, it's mainly used for blending or as the main ingredient for instant coffee. Some Robusta produced in India, Africa, and Brazil has strong acidity, high caffeine content, and a richer body.

Recently, there's also the Arabusta variety, which is a cross between Arabica varieties and has superior taste and aroma.

Robusta has a plump, oval appearance. The green beans are light brown or yellowish-brown with grass-green and yellow luster. Compared to Arabica varieties, Robusta has a more fragrant but lighter taste, characterized by less obvious acidity and heavier bitterness.

There are many more varieties that we won't introduce here. To learn more customer service knowledge, you can follow FrontStreet Coffee's official account!

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