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Are Coffee Beans Divided into Male and Female Beans? Which is Better, Male or Female Coffee Beans? Isn't It Opposites Attract?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange For more coffee bean information Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account cafe_style ) FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Male and Female Coffee Beans Are coffee beans divided into male and female? First, we've heard that plant flowers have pistils and stamens, but coffee beans, as the seeds of coffee trees, are unlikely to have male and female distinctions. So do coffee trees themselves have male and female differences? The answer is no.

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Male and Female Coffee Beans

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FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Male and Female Coffee Beans

Do Coffee Beans Have Male and Female Distinctions?

First, we've heard that plant flowers have pistils and stamens, but coffee beans, as seeds of the coffee tree, couldn't possibly have male and female distinctions. So do coffee trees themselves have male and female differences? The answer is also no.

Coffee flowers belong to the Rubiaceae family of the Gentianales order, and each flower possesses both male and female reproductive organs. Since they are hermaphroditic, there are no so-called male or female trees, and naturally, there shouldn't be differences between male and female beans.

The correct terminology should be Flat Beans and Peaberry. When coffee cherries are picked and the fruit skin is peeled off, you'll see two semi-circular beans with flat surfaces fitting together. We call this form of beans Flat Beans. However, in rare cases, the internal seeds don't split, resulting in a complete oval-shaped single bean called Peaberry. "Male bean" is just its Chinese nickname.

Why Do Differences Between Flat Beans and Peaberries Occur?

About 3-5% of the fruits on a coffee tree are small peaberries. The yield of peaberries is about 1/50th that of flat beans. They typically grow in the fruits at the very tips of coffee tree branches, where peaberries are most likely to develop. Additionally, when encountering drought and little rain, malnutrition, flowering too early or too late, or pest and disease damage during growth, it can lead to abnormal development inside the coffee fruit. Due to natural selection, one bean might "eat" another bean, with the stronger one growing into a peaberry.

Do Male Beans or Female Beans Taste Better?

Regarding the flavor of peaberries, coffee enthusiasts have their own interpretations: Some believe that because peaberries concentrate the essence of two beans during their growth process, their flavor is richer and more prominent compared to flat beans, with a more intense aroma. Others think that peaberries formed at the ends of coffee tree branches receive more sufficient sunlight and heat, and these nutritional supplies are exclusively enjoyed, making these beans naturally superior in flavor compared to regular beans from the same tree. There's also another view that peaberries, with their full and round shape, roll more easily than flat beans during roasting, which helps improve roasting uniformity.

Knowledge Point: Pacamara is a hybrid of Pacas and Maragogype discovered in El Salvador in 1950.

About FrontStreet Coffee

In short, FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research hall that enjoys sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. Our unreserved sharing is only to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Moreover, we hold three low-discount coffee activities every month because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends drink the best coffee at the lowest price. This has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for six years!