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Types of Coffee Beans | |||
 | Coffea Plant (and Beans)
Varieties There are more species of coffee plant: Coffea arabica, Coffea benghalensis, Coffea canephora, Coffea congensis, Coffea excelsa, Coffea gallienii, Coffea bonnieri, Coffea mogeneti, Coffea liberica, Coffea stenophylla, etc. The types of coffee trees produce coffee with slightly different characteristics. Robusta (Coffea Canephora) Robusta trees are more "robust" and are less susceptible to insect infestation and disease. Typically cultivated at lower elevations Coffea arabica does not thrive. It has a higher amount of caffeine but less desirable flavors. The robusta trees are easier to grow and maintain and produce a higher yield. Robusta beans tend to be smaller and bitterer. This type of coffee is typically used to achieve a lower price (usually used for instant coffees). Arabica (Coffea arabica) About 75% of the world's coffee trade granted on Coffea arabica. Arabica coffee contain about half of the caffeine of robusta coffee, but have superior flavors and aromatic properties. Arabica trees are typically grown at high elevations where there are fewer insects or disease. Because of the inherently steep terrain Arabica coffee is nearly always picked by hand, which results in less under-ripe and over-ripe beans. The oldest known Arabica cultivar is Typica, which is the base from which others variations of coffee plants types are developed (Catimor, Kent, Bourbon, Pache, Mundo Novo, Caturra, Catuai, Pache Comum, Amarello, Maragogype, Blue Mountain). Typica This is the base from which many coffee varietals have been developed. Typica coffee plants have a conical shape. Typica coffee has a very low production, but has an excellent cup quality. Bourbon Coffee produced from the Bourbon cultivar of the Coffea Arabica tree (named after Bourbon Island located east of Madagascar in the Indian ocean). Bourbon is produced in large quantities throughout the world, but is slowly being replaced by more productive and disease resistant varietals such as Caturra. The Bourbon variety is bright yellow when ripe. Bourbon coffee plants produce 20-30% more coffee than Typica, but have a smaller harvest than less most coffee varieties. The fruit is relatively small and dense. Cup quality is excellent and similar to Typica. Caturra Caturra is a modern hybrid of Coffea Arabica and is becoming increasingly popular with farmers. Caturra has a greater crop yield and is less susceptible to disease than classic Arabicas (Typica and Bourbon). |
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| Mundo Novo Natural hybrid between Typica coffee and Bourbon coffee from Brazil. The plant is strong and resistant to disease. Mundo Novo has a high production, but matures slightly later than other kinds of coffee. Maragogype This coffee varietal is a mutation of Typica coffee and was discovered in Brazil. The plant is large and is taller than either Bourbon or Typica. Production is low, but the seeds are very large. The cup characteristics are highly appreciated in certain coffee markets. Amarello This coffee varietal, as its name indicates, produces a yellow fruit. It is not widely planted. Blue mountain Blue mountain is a famous coffee varietal favored for its resistance to the coffee berry disease and ability to thrive in high altitudes. It was first grown in Jamaica and is now grown in Kona, Hawaii. Blue mountain coffee, however, cannot adapt to all climates and maintain its high quality flavor profile. |
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| Catuai
Catuai is a high yielding coffee plant (a cross between Mundo Novo and Caturra). The fruit does not fall off the branch easily, which is favorable with areas with strong winds or rain. Catuai also needs sufficient fertilization and care. Pache comum Pache comum is a mutation of Typica coffee from Guatemala. Many consider the cup to be smooth or flat. Pache colis Pache colis was found in Mataquescuintla, Guatemala. The coffee fruits are very large and the leaves are roughly textured. Pache colis provides some resistance to phoma. Catimor Catimor is a cross between Timor coffee (resistant to rust) and Caturra coffee. It was created in Portugal. Maturation is early and production is very high with yields equal to or greater than the yield of other commercial coffee varietals. |
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| Kent Kent is used for its high yield and resistance to coffee rust. Mundo Novo Natural hybrid between Typica coffee and Bourbon coffee from Brazil. The plant is strong and resistant to disease. Mundo Novo has a high production, but matures slightly later than other kinds of coffee. Maragogype This coffee varietal is a mutation of Typica coffee and was discovered in Brazil. The plant is large and is taller than either Bourbon or Typica. Production is low, but the seeds are very large. The cup characteristics are highly appreciated in certain coffee markets. Amarello This coffee varietal, as its name indicates, produces a yellow fruit. It is not widely planted. Blue mountain Blue mountain is a famous coffee varietal favored for its resistance to the coffee berry disease and ability to thrive in high altitudes. It was first grown in Jamaica and is now grown in Kona, Hawaii. Blue mountain coffee, however, cannot adapt to all climates and maintain its high quality flavor profile. |
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 | Take a good cup of coffee. |
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