How Many Major Types of Coffee Beans Are There? Understanding Arabica Coffee Bean Characteristics

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FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Three Major Coffee Varieties

Arabica

Originally from Ethiopia, scientific name Coffea arabica Linnaeus. Arabica beans have small fruits and seeds, so they are also called small-grain varieties. They are self-pollinating crops, relatively cold and drought tolerant, accounting for about 76% of global commercial cultivation. Mostly distributed in high altitude (1300~1900m) areas. Arabica beans have a fragrant aroma, rich and delicate taste, though strong without bitterness, though fragrant without intensity, with a slight fruity acidity, of good quality, they are the premium variety among coffees and have always been favored in the international market.

Robusta

Also known as medium-grain coffee, originally from the tropical rainforest regions of Congo and Uganda. Robusta beans are cross-pollinating crops, their offspring have strong variability, and breeding of excellent varieties is generally done through cutting or grafting methods. Their fruits are round and oblate, not tolerant to strong light, nor to wind and cold, mostly distributed in low altitude (≤900m) areas, accounting for about 23% of global commercial cultivation. Although Robusta has a rich coffee flavor, it is highly stimulating and of medium quality, and many coffee enthusiasts cannot accept its intense flavor.

So if Arabica beans are so delicious, why do we still need Robusta? First, Arabica beans are easily infected by coffee leaf rust and are vulnerable to borer pests, while Robusta beans are resistant to coffee leaf rust, not easily harmed by borers, and much easier to cultivate. If Arabica is compared to "the delicate and sickly Lin Daiyu," then Robusta must be the "soldier" among coffee beans. Second, Robusta's caffeine and oil content are much higher than Arabica, making it a very important component of blended beans and espresso.

Liberica

Originating from Liberia in West Africa. Belonging to the Liberica species, also called "large-grain variety," it is now widely cultivated in various tropical regions. Generally grows on slopes at around 200 meters altitude, can tolerate high and low temperatures, humid or dry environments, has strong reproductive capacity, and compared to Robusta, it is more like a "rough and tough" variety. Liberica coffee trees are only about 10-20 feet high (approximately 3.3 meters-6.6 meters), their leaves are larger compared to other coffee species, and since their requirements for growing environment altitude, temperature, etc. are relatively low, they are also suitable for use as ornamental plants.

Although Liberica fruits are very large, their thick fruit skin is not easy to remove, requiring a very complex processing process to obtain coffee beans, which has also limited its economic development.

Most importantly, its taste is not good. Liberica has a heavy bitterness in taste, low aroma and body, is difficult to obtain, and is expensive, naturally having little commercial value. However, as a coffee bean that is both expensive and not tasty, its research value far exceeds its commercial value.

Knowledge Point:

High altitude growing areas are at 4000 to 6000 feet. Growing temperature needs to be between 15-25 degrees Celsius, annual rainfall must reach 1500-2000 millimeters, and the timing of rainfall must align with the flowering cycle of coffee trees.

In Brief:

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