How Many Varieties of Arabica Beans Are There? Is Yirgacheffe an Arabica? Understanding the Coffee Gene Pool

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FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Arabica Coffee Varieties

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, commonly known as "Ethiopia" or "Ethi" (Taiwan translation: "Yisuobijia"), is a country located in northeastern Africa. It borders Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Sudan and South Sudan to the west, Kenya to the south, and Eritrea to the north. Plateaus account for 2/3 of the country's area, with an average altitude of nearly 3000 meters, earning it the reputation as the "Roof of Africa." The capital is Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia is a member of the African Union and one of the world's least developed countries, with an economy primarily based on agriculture and animal husbandry and a weak industrial base. The African Union headquarters is located in its capital.

Ethiopia is Africa's largest Arabica-producing country. More than 2,000 varieties under Arabica are all derived from Ethiopia's oldest Typica, which was transplanted to Central and South America or Asia and then mutated. Ethiopia is a genetic treasure trove of Arabica, with an estimated at least 2,000 varieties. However, Ethiopian authorities claim that the varieties of Arabica currently within the country that have been deeply studied and confirmed in morphology and habits account for less than 5%.

1. Unique Grading System and Bean Characteristics

Ethiopian coffee beans are divided into five grades. Grade 1 and Grade 2 are reserved for washed beans. Grade 1 washed beans represent 0-3 defective beans per 300g of raw beans; Grade 2 represents 4-12 defective beans per 300g of raw beans. The quality of natural processed beans is sequentially Grade 3, Grade 4, and Grade 5. In recent years, some farms have also introduced Grade 1 natural processed beans, which can be considered exceptional.

The production method and flavor profile of Yirgacheffe coffee are so outstanding that Ethiopian coffee farmers compete to pride themselves on their coffee having Yirgacheffe flavor, making it the most renowned coffee-producing region in Africa. The so-called "Yirgacheffe flavor" refers to rich jasmine flower fragrance, as well as peach and almond sweet aromas and tea fragrance - "coffee enters the mouth, a hundred flowers bloom." It is akin to the pleasant sensation of flowers touching the taste buds and olfactory cells.

Arabica has two main derivative varieties: Typica and Bourbon, as well as their derived varieties, experimental varieties, hybrid varieties, etc. Commonly heard varieties include Caturra, Catuai, Catimor, and countless others.

Knowledge Point: High-altitude growing areas range from 4,000 to 6,000 feet. Growing temperatures need to be between 15-25 degrees Celsius, with annual rainfall reaching 1,500-2,000 millimeters. Additionally, the rainfall timing must align with the flowering cycle of coffee trees.

FrontStreet Coffee's Mission

In short: FrontStreet Coffee is a specialty coffee research house, happy to share coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation only to let more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month, we hold three coffee discount events 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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