Is Typica a Variety of Arabica? Flavor Introduction to Yunnan Typica Small-Bean Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee Yunnan Small Bean - Huaguoshan Coffee Introduction

Arabica

Arabica currently accounts for about 70% of the world's total coffee production and is grown around the globe. It suits only cool, high-altitude tropical regions and is highly susceptible to disease, with plants often dying from it, while yields stay quite low. Typica, Bourbon, Caturra, Catuai, and others all belong to the Arabica species as subspecies within the Arabica category. Arabica has distinct characteristics and unique flavors, making it the mainstay of specialty coffee and the primary supply for cafe operations and the high-end coffee market.

Typica is a natural variety originating from Yemen. Today it is the most common coffee variety worldwide, because the Dutch once planted it in Indonesia and the French later carried it to the Caribbean, from where it spread throughout Central and South America. Typica yields relatively little and is extremely susceptible to leaf rust disease, so most plantations do not grow it exclusively. Unlike other coffee varieties, Typica's fruit is cone-shaped. Its quality is extremely high, making it popular among plantations worldwide: when cultivated properly, Typica shows high sweetness, a pure mouthfeel, and pleasant acidity.

What Is Yunnan Small Bean Coffee?

Arabica coffee, also known as small bean coffee, descends from wild coffee growing in Africa. It was later introduced to Europe through Arabia and became widely known, hence the name. It was brought to Zhukula, Binchuan County, Dali, China in the 1890s, where it took root and developed on the Chinese mainland. Yunnan thus became representative of Chinese coffee, which is why Yunnan coffee is also called "Yunnan Small Bean Coffee."

Yunnan Small Bean Coffee Varieties

Typica

Typica coffee originates from southeastern Ethiopia and Sudan and is the most widely cultivated coffee variety in the Western Hemisphere. The plants are relatively robust but not tolerant of strong sunlight, and they yield better in Hawaii. Typica's top leaves are reddish-bronze, earning it the name "red-topped coffee." Typica is recognized as a specialty coffee variety, and many current commercial improved varieties descend from it. It exhibits excellent flavor but has extremely low yields and is highly susceptible to rust disease, requiring intensive human management.

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

Wet Aroma: Nutty, milky chocolate, herbal-floral notes

Mouthfeel: Smooth entry, Asian herbal plant aroma, lively and bright acidity, saliva-inducing, balanced acidity and richness, rich layers, distinct aftertaste of dark chocolate, honey, and cane sugar, with brown sugar notes when completely cooled.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Typica's pure, sweet, gently acidic character is exactly what FrontStreet Coffee highlights in its Yunnan offerings. The FrontStreet Yunnan Small Bean comes from the Baoshan region, washed and medium-roasted to bring out soft nutty and chocolate sweetness with a light plum-like acidity, making it an easy entrance into Chinese coffee. For a step up in clarity, the FrontStreet 2013 Natural Typica uses only fully ripe, whole red cherries and a natural process with a medium roast, showing darker berry tones, caramel sweetness, chocolate, a touch of dried apricot, and a black-tea finish. If you want Yunnan in espresso form, the FrontStreet Black Cocoa Blend pairs Yunnan small bean with Brazil Cerrado, where Brazil supplies mixed-nut aroma and balance while Yunnan contributes chocolate and citrus.