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Coffee Beans 101 – How To Know Which Ones To Use

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By  

Sasha Pavlovich

 ·  23 August 2022

Oh, what on heaven’s earth would we do without coffee? How would we ever be able to make it through the day without this delicious drink? The truth is, whether we like it to admit or not, the smell and flavor of this tasty drink lure us to get out of bed and move on with our day.

It can be defined as a great source of motivation that encourages us to overcome every single daily obstacle and stay energized even when we feel completely drained and exhausted. That’s precisely one of the reasons why so many people adore it.

But the question is, how much do you really know about your favorite drink? Are you familiar with its ingredients, or do you just drink it because you love the taste of it? If you want to gather more useful information when it comes to this, then stay tuned!

Everything You Need To Know About The Most Common Coffee Beans

Let’s Begin With Amazing Arabica

This is by far the most popular type of coffee beans in the world. This type accounts for approximately seventy percent of all the coffee made worldwide. The biggest producer of Arabica is Brazil which produced almost 2,500,000 metric tons in 2021.

Unlike other types of coffee beans, this one is far more complex. So what’s so superior and spectacular about it? Namely, it is packed with lipids and sugar and doesn’t contain as much caffeine and chlorogenic acid, meaning that is less bitter in comparison to the other ones.

Additionally, it contains almost twice the amount of sugar when compared with Robusta, which just goes to show that it is way sweeter. The way that the sugar levels alter during the roasting process has an effect on the way we “feel” the texture of Arabica.

Although it’s the most common type of coffee bean, the truth is, that it is the most delicate sort and generally produces low yields. Therefore, it’s of huge importance to properly take care of it and be sure that the plant is grown in the most suitable conditions.

Unfortunately, Arabica is prone to fungal illness, also known as coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix). Furthermore, it happens on the underside of the patches that are usually yellow-orange or on the leaves which is why it is normally referred to as rust. 

Sadly, there’s no cure for this condition, however, farmers are doing everything that’s in their power to decrease the risk by planting more durable varieties of Arabica which have more powerful genetics. 

The most popular coffee drinks that contain Arabica are Turkish coffee, espresso, and Spanish Latte. If you want to learn how to make a Spanish Latte or any of these two aforementioned beverages then just browse the web and you’ll easily find recipes that are very simple, yet useful. Now, moving on to other types of coffee beans.

Let’s Discuss Robusta 

The second most popular type of coffee beans is Robusta. As the name suggests, its coffee beans are pretty robust and luckily, immune to various illnesses. Its beans thrive in a hot climate at different altitudes with irregular rainfall patterns.

In comparison to Arabica, this type of coffee bean has twice the amount of coffee which is ideal for anybody who adores coffees with a stronger flavor. Moreover, its beans have a relatively smooth texture which is why many define them as a bit chocolaty which makes them an amazing choice for anyone who loves combining their coffee with milk and sugar. 

As previously mentioned, Robusta coffee is extremely bitter and is frequently utilized in espresso, instant coffee and as a filler in specific blends of ground coffee.

What Else Needs To Be Mentioned Regarding This Tasty Drink?

What Do We Know About Liberica?

Unlike the previous ones, this one makes up less than 2 percent of global production. It was discovered back in 1872 in Liberia, Africa. Almost twenty years later, it was transported to other places and one of them was Malaysia. 

What’s interesting is the fact that over ninety percent of the coffee produced in this country is precisely Liberica. Another place where this type of coffee bean was transported to was the Philippines. 

Further, Liberica grown in this country is also known as Barako due to its strong aroma and flavor. In comparison to Robusta and Arabica trees, this one is the biggest, achieving eighteen meters. 

Additionally, it produces very low yields, possibly the lowest ones of all. In order to produce one kilogram of coffee beans, it takes two and half times more coffee cherry fruits than Arabica and four times as many than Robusta.

But what do we know about the taste of this coffee bean? Those who have drunk this popular beverage made from Liberica suggest that it has a similar taste to kopi luwak, a type of coffee that has been excreted in Asia and is one of the priciest coffees in the world. The coffee is dark roasted and pretty sweet.

And Then We Have Excelsa 

These types of coffee beans have latterly been reclassified as one of members of the Liberica family. How did this happen? Well, that’s because its coffee beans grow on very large trees, which are normally twenty to thirty ft long. 

And what’s interesting is the fact that the altitude of Liberica trees is exactly the same. Additionally, both of them have an irregular shape that resembles an almond. However, there are still a couple of coffee gurus out there who believe that Excelsa coffee beans are not that similar to Liberica coffee beans, particularly when it comes to taste.

Furthermore, these coffee beans are mostly produced in Southeast Asia and contribute seven percent of the global coffee production. Nowadays, they are mostly utilized in blends with a goal to provide coffee lovers with that extra flavor. Those who have tried it, suggest that it has a distinctive dark, fruity, yet mysterious flavor.

It doesn’t matter how much you adore coffee, we are positively sure that a vast majority of people aren’t familiar with the most common facts regarding coffee beans, which is why we decided to provide you with this engaging info.


author sasha
Sasha Pavlovich

Hi, I'm Sasha Pavlovich and welcome to my blog about coffee! As an experienced barista, I have a deep passion for coffee. I love to share my knowledge and enthusiasm with everyone, and I never get tired of talking about it. Whether you're a novice or a connoisseur, I'm sure you'll find something on my site that will make you appreciate the wonderful world of coffee even more.