How Many Major Types of Coffee Beans Are There? A Brief Analysis of Whether Geisha Coffee is Arabica

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FrontStreet Coffee - Coffee Varieties and Geisha Coffee Introduction

Arabica

Rather delicate and noble-like, Arabica coffee is cultivated on high-altitude mountains between 600-2200 meters. It has extremely high requirements for soil and sunlight. Additionally, their growth cycle is quite slow, taking nearly 5 years to yield harvest. With poor resistance to pests and diseases, they require meticulous "caretaker" attention at all times, making them very precious. Nearly 70% of commercially grown coffee worldwide consists of Arabica varieties, with the total amount of roasted coffee reaching up to 7 million tons annually.

Canephora

Relatively more common, Canephora is cultivated at altitudes below 800 meters. It has strong resistance to pests and diseases, less demanding environmental requirements, and doesn't need as much careful attention. It can yield harvest in about two years after sowing. The most common variety among Canephora beans is Robusta, which occupies almost the entire remaining market besides Arabica beans. Major production areas include India, Java and Sumatra in the Indonesian archipelago, and Vietnam.

Canephora is generally known as Robusta. In fact, Robusta is merely one branch of Canephora. Because it's widely recognized, it has become synonymous with Canephora.

Arabica beans are longer in shape, presenting an oblong form. They have lower caffeine content, higher fat content, and higher sugar (sucrose) content. Their flavor is rich and mellow, with an intense and multi-layered aroma.

Robusta beans are round in shape, short and stout, presenting a flat oval form. Their caffeine content is about twice that of Arabica beans, but their fat content is lower than Arabica beans, as is their sugar (sucrose) content. Their taste is slightly bitter with a subtle wheat aroma.

Geisha

The Geisha variety, with slightly elongated fruits and leaves, is a genetic mutation of Typica. It has very low yield and is an extremely valuable variety. Characterized by intense aroma and refreshing acidity, its distinctive flavor profile has captured the attention of many enthusiasts.

In 2005, when the Peterson family of Boquete, Panama entered this variety into the COP coffee competition and auction, it achieved very high scores and broke the coffee auction price record at the time, selling for over $20 per pound. From then on, Geisha began to gain prominence.

There are many varieties on the market called "Geisha." Many of these varieties have different genetics from Panamanian Geisha but are still called Geisha because many of them share similar geographical origins in Ethiopia.

Recent genetic sequencing by the World Coffee Research Center indicates that Panamanian Geisha originates from T2722. This result is definitive and unified. Its extremely high flavor quality is related to high-altitude cultivation and good management. It is famous for its delicate floral aromas, jasmine, and peach-like fragrances.

The spellings "Geisha" and "Gesha" can be used interchangeably, as there is no fixed standard when translating from the local language to English.

The originally recorded spelling of the variety was "Geisha," and coffee researchers have continued using this spelling for decades, making it widely used in the coffee industry. However, it was originally collected from a mountain called "gesha" in Ethiopia, and this mountain name is commonly translated as "gesha."

Knowledge Extension

Arabica is primarily used for single-origin or specialty coffees. From both coffee culture and genetic perspectives, Bourbon and Typica are the two most important branches of Arabica coffee varieties.

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