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Coffee Knowledge: The Development Journey of Arabica Typica

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Today, Arabica varieties account for a full 70% of the world's total coffee production, and most Arabica varieties have evolved from the two ancient varieties of Typica and Bourbon after being spread to various regions. Today, let's briefly discuss one of these two ancient varieties, "Typica," and its journey from Ethiopia

The Journey of Typica: From Ethiopia to the World

Nowadays, Arabica varieties account for as much as 70% of the world's total coffee production, and most of these Arabica varieties have evolved from two ancient varieties - Typica and Bourbon - after being spread to various regions. Today, let's briefly explore the chronological journey of one of these ancient varieties, "Typica," from its origins in Ethiopia to its global spread!

Like many native varieties, Typica originates from the African continent of Ethiopia. The common images we see of Arabica coffee beans typically use Typica as examples! Flat, plump, and slender, with a standard oval shape - this is the classic appearance of Typica! And its first stop beyond its homeland was Yemen, across the sea!

From Yemen to India

(Image shows the spread path of Typica) Initially, coffee was introduced to Yemen primarily as a medicinal treatment, not as a daily beverage! It wasn't until around 1500 that a trend suddenly emerged in the Yemeni ports of Aden and Mocha: crushing dried coffee fruit and steeping it in water. With this trend, medicine transformed into a popular beverage. It became popular throughout the country, and people began exporting coffee beans to various countries for promotion and sale! However, before export, Yemenis would either pre-roast or boil the coffee beans, causing them to lose their ability to propagate, preventing coffee seeds from flowing into foreign countries. This is why for several hundred years between the 15th and 18th centuries, the global coffee trade was monopolized by Yemen - not only because it was a port city, but more importantly because coffee only existed in Yemen!

It wasn't until 1670 that a devout Muslim named Baba Budan became fascinated with coffee and wanted to continue enjoying it after returning to his country. However, his country had no coffee production, and Yemen wouldn't provide coffee seeds. So, after completing his pilgrimage and preparing to return to India, he stole seven coffee seeds, hiding them in his beard to avoid detection, and successfully brought them back to India. He planted them on Chandragiri Hill in the Karnataka state of southwestern India, where they successfully propagated. To commemorate his contribution, later generations renamed this mountain Baba Budan Hill! Going back to a slightly earlier time, coffee had entered Europe via Yemen, creating waves of enthusiasm. This was noticed by the Dutch, known as the "sea carriage drivers," who sensed enormous business opportunities.

From Europe to the Americas

Therefore, when they occupied the southwestern region of India in the early 17th century, they forcibly seized the stolen Typica trees from Yemen and planted them on Java Island in Indonesia, achieving immediate success and launching Indonesia's coffee industry! Then, in 1706, they transplanted a Typica plant from Java back to the Netherlands for cultivation. This Typica plant arrived in Amsterdam, where the Dutch built a special greenhouse for it to provide comfortable growing space, with botanists taking care of it. Unexpectedly, the offspring of this Typica plant spread to Central and South America, and this Typica plant became known to later generations as the "European mother plant." In 1708, France's attempt to cultivate coffee trees stolen from Mocha failed. Therefore, the mayor of Amsterdam seized the opportunity and gifted a Typica seedling to King Louis XIV of France in 1714. They consequently followed the Dutch example, building a greenhouse to provide meticulous care for the Typica.

In 1720, French naval officer De Clieu stole a Typica seedling from the Palace of Versailles and transported it to the Americas. After a journey of three years, he finally reached the French colony of Martinique in the Caribbean Sea, and thus, the island's coffee industry began! The offspring produced by this seedling spread to other islands, including Jamaica - the island nation that produces "coffee emperor."

South American Expansion

In 1727, a territorial dispute broke out between the Dutch colony of Suriname and the French colony of Guiana. Brazilian diplomat Francisco de Melo Palheta was rewarded for his successful mediation. Among the rewards given to him by the wife of the French Guiana governor were Typica seedlings. Therefore, diplomat Palheta resigned from his post and brought the coffee seedlings back to Brazil, planting them in the northern state of Pará, officially launching Brazil's coffee industry! Subsequently, Brazil also distributed seeds produced by this Typica plant to countries such as Paraguay and Peru.

Global Spread and Conclusion

Countries such as Colombia, Guatemala, and Costa Rica successively introduced Typica trees for cultivation around the 18th century. By the late 19th century, French missionary Tian De Neng brought Typica trees to Zhugula Village in Yunnan Province, China. Although large-scale cultivation did not occur in the short term, it laid a small "foreshadowing" for China's coffee industry.