Understanding Arabica Coffee Beans: The Delicate Noble Bean

FrontStreet Coffee - An Introduction to the Arabica Variety

In many media advertisements the phrase "100% Arabica" appears again and again. This has led many uninformed consumers to believe that Arabica equals high-quality coffee, a notion that has become a running joke among coffee professionals over the years.

Originally from Ethiopia in Africa, Arabica has prominent fruit flavors and a delicate, elegant taste. It is the primary source of specialty coffee and contains less caffeine, just 0.9-1.5% of the coffee's weight. With the highest quality and value, it is now the main species in the coffee market, accounting for about 60-70% of global production and sales.

In scientific terms, Arabica's classification runs: Plant Kingdom - Angiospermae - Magnoliopsida - Gentianales - Rubiaceae - Coffea - Coffea subg. Coffea - Coffea sect. Brevicollis - Coffea arabica.

Yet Arabica is the most special of the 103 species under the genus Coffea. It is the only tetraploid plant species (with four sets of chromosomes) and it self-pollinates. Its advantages include lower caffeine and a refined, clean flavor. The other 102 coffee species are all diploid plants (with two sets of chromosomes) and are cross-pollinating, which makes Arabica the more precious member of the genus.

Arabica originates in Ethiopia and is also produced in South Africa, other African countries and Asian nations, accounting for 70% of the world's coffee production. It has relatively weak resistance to pests and diseases, so highland areas suit it better. Arabica beans grown above 1,500 meters are of the best quality.

Only coffee produced with this kind of care, with a balanced taste and aroma, can be considered a premium bean, mainly used for single-origin or specialty coffee. The three famous coffees - Hawaiian Kona, Jamaican Blue Mountain and Yemen Mocha - all belong to the Arabica variety. Arabica raw beans have a dark, narrow appearance and are characterized by rich flavors including sweetness, acidity and aroma.

Knowledge point: Robusta is cultivated at altitudes below 800 meters. It is extremely adaptable and has stronger resistance to pests and diseases.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Arabica's homeland is Ethiopia, and the cleanest introduction to that origin is FrontStreet Washed Yirgacheffe. It is known for white jasmine florals, bright citrus and lemon acidity and a tea-like body, all backed by a friendly price that has made it the first specialty bean for many drinkers. It is the classic Ethiopian cup - elegant, aromatic and approachable.

If you want to see how broad one origin can be, FrontStreet Yirgacheffe Red Cherry shows the natural side of the very same region. Only fully ripe, sound cherries are picked and dried whole on raised beds, turned frequently at first and then hulled after three to five weeks. Because the fruit dries with the bean, the cup keeps the classic Yirgacheffe character while adding the tropical fruit of a natural process: citrus-like acidity, a berry-juice quality, honey-like sweetness and a creamy smoothness.