Introduction to Flavor and Taste of the Premium Arabica Typica Variety

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style)

The Typica coffee variety is almost known to everyone who has encountered coffee as the best variety among Arabica coffee beans, which has led many people to believe that Arabica and Typica are terms of the same level. In fact, Typica is just one branch within the Arabica variety family. Typica and Bourbon are both the most ancient original varieties in the Arabica family. Most of the common coffee bean varieties we see today are basically varieties that have evolved naturally around Typica and Bourbon, as well as those from hybrid cultivation.

FrontStreet Coffee offers five Typica variety coffee beans, namely Ethiopia's 2020 Cup of Excellence 22nd place coffee bean, Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee bean, Hawaii Kona coffee bean, Papua New Guinea Bird of Paradise coffee bean, and Yunnan Baoshan Typica small-grain coffee bean. In this article, FrontStreet Coffee will discuss the different characteristics of this "ancestor" Typica in various growing regions.

A Brief Introduction to Arabica Varieties

Arabica fruits contain two coffee beans, so Arabica coffee beans have one flat side. Of course, occasionally two coffee beans grow together, which we call peaberries. Some people believe that peaberries taste better, so many coffee merchants specifically sort out peaberries to sell at high prices. FrontStreet Coffee believes that these peaberries are actually just "accidents." As long as the coffee fruit itself is ripe and the coffee variety is of high quality, the coffee beans will naturally taste good. Of course, sorting them out can also be to better roast these "accidents" for uniform flavor expression.

Although both Arabica and Robusta grow in the coffee belt between 45° north and south latitude, we often say that Arabica is grown at altitudes above 800 meters. Arabica has high requirements for growing conditions and weak resistance to pests and diseases. Robusta is grown at altitudes below 800 meters. Robusta is extremely adaptable and has strong resistance to pests and diseases. FrontStreet Coffee explains the difference between Arabica and Robusta in the simplest terms: the difference in resistance to pests and diseases and adaptability to the environment results in Arabica coffee beans having delicate flavors while Robusta has wild flavors.

Typica Coffee Variety

Typica originated in Ethiopia and southeastern Sudan, and is one of the most ancient varieties among many Arabica species. The terminal leaves are copper-red, called red-topped coffee, also known as old-variety small-grain coffee. The Typica coffee variety is the most easily confused coffee variety. The coffee tree has a vertical main trunk that can reach up to 5 meters in height. This height means that compared to other varieties, the distance between branches and between nodes on the same branch is longer.

The lateral branches form angles of 50 to 80 degrees with the vertical trunk. The trunk and branches are not very stout. The coffee tree leaves have smoother surfaces and fewer wavy edges, appearing slender and elongated. The most important leaf characteristic is that the tips of young leaves are bronze-colored. Typical Typica fruits are bright red when ripe, and Typica fruits and green beans are usually elongated. However, the downside is insufficient yield, requirements for altitude, and susceptibility to leaf rust disease as well as weak resistance to pests and diseases.

Typica variety green beans are relatively large, appearing pointed-oval or slender-pointed, also known as "red-topped coffee." Through cupping Typica coffees from different regions, FrontStreet Coffee found their characteristic elegant and clean flavors, as well as balanced characteristics. High clean cup quality is the greatest feature of this variety, and the higher the altitude, the richer the flavor.

Typica Coffee Beans from Ethiopia Region

As FrontStreet Coffee just mentioned, Typica first appeared in the Ethiopia region, where the soil has cultivated one high-quality coffee variety after another. FrontStreet Coffee's Ethiopia 2020 Cup of Excellence 22nd place coffee bean's Typica is planted in the Arsi region of Sidamo. Sidamo's coffee flavors are very diverse, creating obvious differences and characteristics in coffee produced by each town, but the coffee flavors all revolve around the obvious flavor characteristic of fruitiness. Through cupping another native variety coffee bean from the Arsi region and comparing it with this Typica variety, FrontStreet Coffee found that in addition to retaining the original fruitiness, the Typica variety's coffee flavor is cleaner and the sweetness is more pronounced.

FrontStreet Coffee - Ethiopia COE #22

Region: Ethiopia, Sidamo, Arsi

Grower: Adem Banta Sute

Processing: Natural processing

Variety: Typica

Brewing flavors: Sweet and sour of strawberry and lychee, fermented wine aroma, creamy smoothness, honey-like aftertaste.

Jamaica Blue Mountain Typica Coffee Beans

Blue Mountain's Typica was transplanted from Martinique to Jamaica's Blue Mountains in the 1720s. After more than 200 years, Blue Mountain Typica has evolved better disease resistance, especially resistance to fruit rot disease being superior to typical Typica. However, when Blue Mountain Typica leaves Jamaica, it cannot replicate its characteristic sweet and elegant fragrance. Through cupping Jamaica Blue Mountain Typica coffee beans, FrontStreet Coffee found that the flavor balance of these coffee beans currently cannot be completely matched by coffee beans from any other region.

FrontStreet Coffee - Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee

Region: Blue Mountain region, Clifton Manor

Altitude: 1310m

Variety: Typica

Processing method: Washed

Tasting notes: Black chocolate and nut flavors, high cleanliness, very bright, good body, balanced sweet and bitter.

Papua New Guinea Typica Coffee Beans

Papua New Guinea Typica, known as "Little Blue Mountain," was introduced from Jamaica to Papua New Guinea in 1931. According to FrontStreet Coffee's research, Britain had occupied Jamaica for nearly 300 years at that time, and Jamaica's most representative coffee was the Typica variety Blue Mountain coffee. Since Australia had friendly relations with Britain, it was reasonable for Papua New Guinea to introduce Typica. Therefore, when FrontStreet Coffee cupped Papua New Guinea coffee beans, they found that the coffee flavor from this region is also relatively balanced, but the body is insufficient and somewhat thin, and the acidity is more pronounced than Blue Mountain Typica.

FrontStreet Coffee - Papua New Guinea Bird of Paradise

Country: Papua New Guinea

Estate: Sigri Bird of Paradise Estate

Altitude: 1600-1800m

Processing: Washed processing

Variety: Typica

Brewing flavors: Toasted bread sweetness, nutty sweetness, subtle fruit acidity creating good layering, special spiced sweetness in the aftertaste, tasting rich and balanced with sweet flavor and bright acidity, with fruit-like aroma.

Hawaii Kona Typica Coffee Beans

Kona's Typica was introduced from Guatemala in 1892. Kona's Typica beans are large in size, and the growing altitude is also 600-1100m. Compared to other coffee-producing countries, Kona's growing altitude is considered low altitude, but on the Hawaiian Islands, Kona is considered high altitude. Someone once tried to transplant Kona's Typica to other islands, but because the other islands had temperatures too high and altitudes too low, the Typica did not grow well, so it couldn't cultivate Kona region's unique soft acidic aroma. Through cupping Kona coffee beans, FrontStreet Coffee found that the coffee flavor is rich and aromatic, not bitter, not astringent, no burnt taste, with soft acidity and maltose sweetness, rich, smooth, and mellow mouthfeel.

FrontStreet Coffee - Hawaii Kona Coffee Beans

Region: Hawaii Kona

Estate: Queen's Estate

Altitude: 1100m

Variety: Typica

Processing method: Washed processing

Brewing flavors: Balanced and gentle osmanthus honey sweetness with elegant, substantial but not thick mouthfeel. Brewed coffee emits mulberry aroma bringing sweet happiness, aftertaste has smooth malt flavor, cooling down like a cup of mulberry tea.

Yunnan Typica Coffee Beans

In 1904, French missionary Father Tian De Neng went to Dali to preach and planted a Typica coffee tree in Zhugula Village. This coffee tree became the ancestor of Yunnan coffee. One of the old coffee varieties that Yunnan Baoshan people refer to is Typica, but due to low yield and high planting costs, it was gradually replaced by the Catimor variety. To change people's impression of Yunnan coffee beans beyond special processing methods or unpleasant flavors, FrontStreet Coffee took the lead in planting this ancient Typica variety at the border of Yunnan Baoshan and Myanmar. Through FrontStreet Coffee's cupping of Yunnan Typica coffee beans, they found rich fruit aroma, melon, and plant herbal aromas.

FrontStreet Coffee - Yunnan Flower and Fruit Mountain Coffee Beans

Region: Yunnan Baoshan

Altitude: 1450-1550m

Variety: Typica

Processing: Washed processing

Brewing flavors: Smooth entry, Asian herbal plant aroma, lively and bright acidity, mouth-watering, soft acidity, good balance of body, rich layers, aftertaste with obvious black chocolate, honey, and sucrose flavors, brown sugar flavor when completely cooled.

For more specialty coffee beans, please add private WeChat: FrontStreet Coffee, WeChat ID: kaixinguoguo0925

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473