Do You Know the Three Major Coffee Varieties? How to Pronounce and Translate Typica Coffee

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FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Coffee Varieties

Coffee Bean Types

Currently, there are over 100 coffee varieties in the world, with the two most common being Arabica and Robusta/Canephora. These two coffees differ greatly in taste, composition, and growing conditions. Below we will compare the differences between them.

Arabica: Expensive, Smooth Taste, Low Caffeine

Coffee advertisements often emphasize that they use 100% Arabica coffee. That's right, just looking at price alone, Arabica is indeed more premium. Generally, Arabica coffee beans cost twice as much as Robusta.

In terms of composition, Arabica has lower caffeine content (0.9-1.2%), 60% more fat content than Robusta, and twice the sugar content. Therefore, Arabica's taste is sweeter and softer, with a bit of plum-like acidity.

Additionally, Arabica's chlorogenic acid content is slightly lower (5.5-8%). While chlorogenic acid has antioxidant properties, it's also an important component for resisting pests. Therefore, Arabica is more susceptible to pest damage and easily affected by climate. It's generally grown at higher altitudes, producing fewer and slower-maturing fruits. The fruits are oval-shaped.

Currently, Brazil is the largest producer of Arabica, while Colombia exclusively produces Arabica coffee.

Robusta: Cheap, Bitter Taste, High Caffeine

In contrast, Robusta has higher caffeine content (1.6-2.4%) and lower fat and sugar content, making its taste more bitter and intense. Some even bluntly say it has a rubbery flavor.

Robusta's chlorogenic acid content is higher (7-10%), making it less susceptible to pests and climate effects. It's generally grown at lower altitudes, producing abundant fruit that matures quickly. The fruits are round-shaped.

Currently, Vietnam is the largest producer of Robusta, and Africa and India also produce it.

Price Doesn't Equal Quality

Because of its low price, Robusta is often mixed into commercially sold coffee powder to reduce costs. Most inexpensive instant coffee on the market today is predominantly Robusta. However, price doesn't equal quality. High-quality Robusta beans are often used for espresso because their crema is richer. Good quality Robusta can even taste better than poor quality Arabica beans.

Therefore, the choice between these two coffee varieties mainly depends on personal preference. Some might find Arabica's aroma too strong, while others prefer Robusta's mellow bitterness. Our only reminder is that if you're sensitive to caffeine, pay special attention to caffeine content, as Robusta's caffeine content is twice that of Arabica.

Of course, coffee isn't limited to these two varieties. You can also try Java, Kona, Sumatra, and other varieties to add new flavors to your coffee experience.

Typica

The English pronunciation of Typica is based on transliteration. In Hong Kong and Taiwan, it's translated as "帝比卡" or "铁毕卡" etc.

Knowledge point: Coffee beans are the form that best preserves the complete coffee flavor, ensuring coffee freshness and original taste.

In short: FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research center, happy to share coffee knowledge with everyone. Our unconditional sharing is solely to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Additionally, we hold three monthly coffee events with low discounts, because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest price. This has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for the past 6 years!

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