Coffee
THE COFFEE FRUIT
While you are enjoying your coffee, do you know where does your coffee comes from? You may know that coffee is a plant and recognize that the beans came from the bright red coffee fruit. But what is inside that coffee fruit?
If you have been around coffee for any amount of time you probably have heard the name Arabica and Robusta coffee. But what’s the difference between the two? It’s significant, and it’s helpful to understand when choosing coffee.
Arabica is coffee that comes from the beans of the Coffea Arabica plant. Arabica coffee originates from Ethiopia. Arabica coffee is the most popular species of coffee, accounting for about 60% of the world’s coffee production.
Arabica coffee is known for its mild, smooth, and nuanced flavors with a slightly sweet and fruity taste. They typically have lower caffeine content than Robusta, making them a popular choice for those who prefer a milder cup of coffee.
Arabica coffee is grown in specific regions around the world, including Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Arabica coffee grows well at high altitudes which is why it is often cultivated on hillsides.
Robusta coffee comes from the beans of the Coffea canephora plant. Robusta coffee is one of two species of coffee that is consumed globally. It makes up around 30-40% of world’s coffee production.
Robusta coffee has a stronger and more bitter taste than Arabica coffee, with a higher content of caffeine. The taste profile of Robusta is often described as harsh or woody, with notes of burnt rubber, grainy or nutty flavors, and an earthy aftertaste. It has less acidity than Arabica coffee and a heavier body, making it a popular choice for espresso blends.
Robusta coffee is grown primarily in countries in Asia and Africa. The largest producer of Robusta coffee is Vietnam. Robusta coffee is more tolerant of harsh growing conditions such as high temperatures, low altitudes, and irregular rainfall.
Everyone who enjoys coffee is familiar with the name Arabica and Robusta. But did you know that there are actually other lesser-known varieties of coffee beans? One of them is Liberica, which accounts for less than 2% of commercially-produced coffee worldwide.
Liberica coffee beans are larger than those of Arabica and Robusta, with an irregular shape and a distinctively asymmetric form. Liberica is a coffee species that originated from Liberia, West Africa.
Liberica coffee has a distinctively unique flavor profile, which some people describe as having a floral and fruity aroma, with a full-bodied and smoky taste.
Liberica originated in Liberia, West Africa. However, today, it is mostly grown and consumed in Southeast Asia – namely the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Excelsa is one of the rarest types of coffee in the world. Excelsa is technically a member of the Liberica family, it does boast a tart, fruitier flavor and is frequently used in blends to create a more interesting flavor.
Excelsa coffee beans are larger than most other coffee beans and have a distinctively asymmetrical shape. They are often used as a blending component to add complexity and depth to other types of coffee.
Excelsa coffee is known for its unique flavor profile, which is often described as having a tart and fruity taste, with a slightly nutty or woody undertone
Like Liberica, Excelsa coffee originated in Africa but is now found almost exclusively in South East Asia, such as Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia.