Rare Coffee Varieties: Introduction to Geisha, Eugenioides, Wush Wush, and Laurina

Coffee can be divided into three major varieties: Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica. Currently, Arabica and Robusta are the most common coffee species used for commercial cultivation. With the development of the coffee industry, coffee varieties have undergone continuous transplantation, mutation, and cross-breeding, giving rise to numerous varieties. In addition to common varieties like Bourbon, Typica, Caturra, and Gesha, there are now some relatively rare varieties as well.

The Rise of Rare Coffee Varieties

In 2004, Hacienda La Esmeralda entered the Gesha variety in the Best of Panama (BOP) competition and auction. Exceptionally high cupping scores and a selling price of $21 per pound made the Gesha variety famous. Consequently, many baristas and coffee professionals choose Gesha varieties to participate in professional coffee competitions. However, in recent years, the popularity of Gesha in competitions has significantly declined, with participants opting for more unique and rare varieties such as Wush Wush, Sidra, Eugenioides, and Laurina.

Eugenioides

In 2021, at the World Coffee Championships, both world champion Diego and world brewer champion Matt used Eugenioides. The native habitat of Eugenioides is in the deep mountains of East African coffee-producing countries, and it is also known as the origin of Arabica. The caffeine content of this variety is only half that of Arabica, with a very unique flavor profile, higher sweetness, and almost no citric acid. However, it is extremely weak in constitution, with small fruits, low fruit-bearing rates on branches, and fruits that easily fall off. Therefore, under current conditions of abnormal climate change and worsening pests and diseases, growers are unwilling to plant this low-yield and labor-intensive variety, so it is only cultivated as a rare variety or for experimental purposes.

Wush Wush

This variety is also known as "Big Navel" and was first discovered in a forest area within the Kaffa region. Near Kaffa, some villages grow Wush Wush coffee, and the variety was named after these villages. Around 2002, the Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC) examined anthracnose-resistant varieties selected from the Wush Wush area and continued to cultivate and purify them, discovering that while resistant to viruses, they also had excellent flavor. In 2006, JARC officially released the purified Wush Wush variety. Today's Wush Wush coffee variety has undergone localization adaptation processes and changes due to differences in microclimates, soil, nutrients, and other conditions across farms in Colombia.

Sidra

Sidra gained fame in 2019 and 2022 when two competitors used Sidra coffee beans in the World Barista Championship (WBC) and won the championship in their respective years, making Sidra famous. Sidra was produced through hybridization of Typica and Red Bourbon, but genetic testing revealed that Sidra samples are genetically similar to Ethiopian native varieties, thus possessing floral and fruity characteristics. Sidra needs to grow in shaded environments and requires cultivation at high altitudes. Sidra has high yields and is resistant to pests and leaf rust, but is highly susceptible to coffee berry disease. This variety is primarily produced in South America, mainly grown in Ecuador and Colombia regions. FrontStreet Coffee has Sidra coffee beans from the Diviso Estate in Colombia. Using double anaerobic natural processing and brewed with V60 at a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, it exhibits flavors of grape, passion fruit, and citrus, with a slight fermentation sensation and a rounded mouthfeel.

Laurina

Laurina is also known as "Bourbon Pointu" and was first discovered on Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. In 2018, competitor Emi used anaerobically fermented Laurina in the World Brewers Championship, bringing attention to this variety. It has gained popularity due to its ideal flavor profile and naturally low caffeine content. However, this variety is difficult to cultivate on a large scale. Although it can resist drought conditions, which is beneficial for survival, it contains less caffeine, and caffeine is a natural insect repellent. Additionally, its growth rate is much lower than other Arabica varieties. Currently, the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC) in Brazil is researching and cultivating this variety.

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