Coffee culture

Are Heirloom Coffee Varieties the Origin of Coffee? Ethiopian Beans Will Transport You to a Garden of a Hundred Flowers

Published: 2026-01-28 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/28, Professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information. Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). FrontStreet Coffee introduces Heirloom coffee varieties. Coffee flavors are incredibly diverse, with numerous factors contributing to their unique characteristics. Among these factors, one of the most significant is undoubtedly the coffee bean variety. Currently, there may be hundreds to thousands of coffee bean varieties worldwide, which means...

For more professional coffee knowledge and coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

Introduction to Heirloom Coffee Varieties

Coffee flavors are incredibly diverse, with numerous factors contributing to these variations. One of the most significant factors is undoubtedly the coffee variety. Currently, there may be hundreds or even thousands of coffee varieties worldwide, meaning coffee flavors come in countless forms, which can overwhelm beginners just starting their coffee journey. Today, I'll introduce some basic and common varieties to everyone.

Most coffee hybrids or natural varieties still originate from Arabica's Typica and Bourbon (as Chinese translations often vary, I'll use English terminology throughout).

Typica is the origin of most existing coffee varieties. Its seeds are slightly longer than its sibling Bourbon, making it the ancestor of modern coffee. It has low yield per tree but produces exceptionally high-quality coffee. Typically grown in Central America, Jamaica, and Indonesia, its flavor profile often features sweet or fruity acidity reminiscent of apples and pears.

As the universally recognized birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia produces outstanding coffee quality. The coffee here typically consists of Ethiopia's native Heirloom varieties, offering incredibly diverse flavors with both floral and fruity notes. Washed beans are usually delicate and elegant, while natural processed beans are bold and captivating. Sidamo, Harrar, and Yirgacheffe are Ethiopia's three most famous growing regions. Among these, Yirgacheffe can be considered one of the world's finest coffee-producing regions. Yirgacheffe's washed beans have extremely rich aromas with citrus and floral notes, offering a delicate and elegant mouthfeel. Natural processed beans feature bold fruit flavors with unique and delicious taste profiles.

SL28, where SL stands for Scott Laboratories, was developed in the 1930s when the lab was hired by the Kenyan government to research disease-resistant, high-yield coffee trees. Although they didn't succeed in increasing coffee production, they unexpectedly discovered exceptional coffee varieties SL28 and SL34. Both are hybrids of Bourbon and Heirloom, and now they serve as Kenya's star coffee varieties. About 90% of Kenya's green coffee exports consist of these two sister varieties - delightfully aromatic and full of character.

Knowledge Point: According to coffee bean combinations, Arabica and Robusta are divided into single-origin coffee and espresso.

About FrontStreet Coffee

In summary, FrontStreet Coffee is a dedicated coffee research establishment that loves sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. Our unrestricted sharing aims to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month, we host three high-discount coffee events because FrontStreet Coffee wants to offer the best coffee at the lowest prices to more friends - this has been our mission for the past six years!

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