Types and Varieties of Coffee Beans

Species are varieties of coffee trees. The most common of them are Arabica and Robusta, but there are others, less well-known. The taste of different coffee beans varies. The main types of coffee:

Arabica (Coffea arabica) is the fruit of the Arabian coffee tree. This type of coffee is grown on mountain slopes, at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level. Coffee trees are quite capricious and demanding of weather conditions. The fruits are distinguished by a delicate and complex taste, with a characteristic sourness and notes of fruits, flowers, berries.

Robusta (Coffea canephora). This type contains more caffeine compared to Arabica, has a stronger and bitter taste. Robusta is often used in coffee blends to give the drink greater strength. Robusta has a denser body and lower acidity than Arabica.

Liberica (Coffea liberica). This type of coffee is much less common than Arabica and Robusta, and is grown mainly in Africa. The coffee beans are quite large. The aroma is rich, intense, with spicy and woody notes, but the coffee tastes very bitter. Liberica is most often used in blends.

Excelsa. A relatively new type of coffee, it was discovered only at the beginning of the 20th century. Now Excelsa is officially classified as a type of Liberica, although it was originally considered a separate type. It is usually added to coffee blends with Arabica and Robusta to give them a more complex taste. Medium roast beans have berry, fruit, and wine tones, while dark roasts have chocolate and cream notes.

These are not all the types of coffee grown in the world, but only the main ones. There are even rarer coffee trees, the share of plantations of which is less than 1%.

Coffee varieties

Varieties are selective hybrids created on the basis of different types of coffee. There are more than a thousand of them in total, in this article we will tell you about the most popular varieties.

Brazilian Bourbon Santos

The Brazilian Bourbon Santos Arabica variety gets its name from the Santos region of Brazil where it was first grown. The coffee beans are characterized by a soft acidity and a harmonious profile. The flavor notes range from the moderate sweetness of dark chocolate to fruity and nutty tones. The beans themselves come in different shapes and sizes, there is no single standard. The variety is suitable for making all types of coffee drinks.

Antigua and Cobano

Exquisite coffee varieties from Guatemala, which have a rich aroma, deep taste and unique characteristics. They also got their name due to their origin.

Antigua is a plantation around the capital of Guatemala, located at an altitude of about 1,500 meters above sea level. Coffee trees are grown there in volcanic sandy soil. The climate and mountain heights are ideal for growing coffee. The beans ripen slowly and evenly, gaining amazing complexity and depth of taste.

Cobano is another region in Guatemala with rich soils and an optimal climate for growing coffee trees. The variety has a rich bouquet of flavors with shades of chocolate, nuts, cocoa and floral notes.

Maragogype

This exclusive coffee variety is grown in Latin America. The coffee beans are large, almost three times larger than standard Arabica. Selection experiments were conducted on plantations near the city of Maragogype, hence the name. The variety is characterized by rich notes of chocolate, caramel and nuts, with a slight sourness and pleasant sweetness. However, depending on the country of origin, the taste properties differ.

Medellin

The Arabica variety comes from the Colombian province of Antioquia, located near the city of Medellin. The coffee has a special character and a unique rich taste. Coffee bushes are grown at an altitude of 1,200 to 2,000 meters above sea level, where the weather is cool and foggy. The beans ripen slowly, which gives them a rich and complex taste.

Maracaibo

Maracaibo is a variety with an excellent reputation and a recognizable taste profile. Grown in Venezuela, but stands out from other varieties of coffee from South America. Maracaibo has moderate acidity and a mature taste, which harmoniously combines notes of chocolate, nuts and spices. The aroma is subtle, grape, with nuances of caramel and fruity sweetness.

Coffee is ideal for both Turkish coffee and coffee machine, and for use in blends. But we still recommend trying it without additives to fully experience the richness and uniqueness of the taste.

Colombia Excelso

Coffee plantations of this high-quality Arabica variety are located on the Andes terraces at an altitude of 1,000–2,000 meters above sea level, where the climate and fertile soils are favorable for growing. The taste is affected by the degree of roasting of the beans with light and medium, notes of fruits, citrus and berries are felt with a slight sourness and a chocolate aftertaste. With dark, the coffee becomes rich and strong, with a pronounced bitterness.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is famous for its ideal conditions for growing coffee trees. It is no coincidence that the country is among the world's top twenty suppliers of high-quality coffee, despite its small territory. Depending on the location of the Arabica plantation and processing methods, the taste can have bright fruity notes, floral shades, and chocolate accents.

Supremo

Supremo is grown mainly in Colombia, one of its features is the rather large size of the beans. They are significantly larger than other coffee varieties, except for Maragogype. Supremo has a complex and rich taste profile. It has a soft, balanced taste with a slight sourness, fruity notes and a long aftertaste.

Dalat

This is Vietnamese coffee grown on plantations near the city of Dalat. The taste has sweet creamy notes, bitterness of chocolate and cocoa, light sourness. The aroma of coffee also deserves a special mention. It is rich, bright, with nuances of flowers and fruits.

Yemen Mocha

Yemeni coffee is often referred to generically as Mocha. Yemen has a rich coffee history, with coffee being grown there since the 11th century. The crop is hand-picked and the beans are naturally sun-dried. The taste of Yemeni Mocha coffee is complex, rich, with hints of spice, fruit, and a distinct chocolate aftertaste. The aroma has hints of flowers, cloves, and vanilla.