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

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Arabica Coffee Varieties

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, commonly known simply as Ethiopia, is a country 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 make up 2/3 of its area, with an average altitude of nearly 3,000 meters, earning it the nickname "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 built primarily on agriculture and animal husbandry and a weak industrial base. The African Union headquarters sits in its capital.

Ethiopia is Africa's largest Arabica-producing country. The more than 2,000 varieties grouped under Arabica all descend from Ethiopia's oldest Typica, which was carried to Central and South America and Asia and then mutated. Ethiopia is a genetic treasure trove of Arabica, with an estimated at least 2,000 varieties. Yet Ethiopian authorities say the varieties currently found within the country that have been thoroughly studied and confirmed in both morphology and habit account for less than 5%.

1. A 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 300 g of raw beans; Grade 2 represents 4-12 defective beans per 300 g. Natural processed beans are graded as 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 farmers compete to boast that their coffee has Yirgacheffe flavor, making it the most renowned coffee-producing region in Africa. The so-called "Yirgacheffe flavor" means a rich jasmine fragrance, along with peach and almond sweetness and a tea-like aroma, the feeling of "coffee enters the mouth and a hundred flowers bloom." It is like the pleasure of flowers touching the taste buds and the olfactory cells at once.

Arabica has two main derivative varieties, Typica and Bourbon, along with their descendants, experimental varieties, and hybrids. Commonly heard names 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. The rainfall timing must also align with the flowering cycle of the coffee trees.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If you want to taste what makes Ethiopia the home of Arabica, the FrontStreet washed Yirgacheffe is the natural starting point. It is famous for white jasmine, bright citrus and lemon acidity, and a clean tea-like body, and its friendly price has made it the first specialty bean for a whole generation of newcomers.

Yirgacheffe itself is a small town in southern Ethiopia, within the Sidamo province, at roughly 1,700-2,100 meters, and the coffee trees are planted above 1,800 meters, making it one of the highest coffee regions in the world. The region's white floral lift and lemon-citrus acidity are so distinctive that it has become shorthand for a whole style of Ethiopian specialty coffee.