4 Types of Coffee Beans – If you’re an avid coffee drinker, you’ve probably wondered just how many different types of coffee beans there are and what makes them unique. We’ve got the answers!
There are four different types of coffee beans: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. The most common (and popular) are Arabica and Robusta, but you might get lucky and run into the other two. Keep reading to learn about these delicious beans and handy buying tips.
What exactly is a coffee bean?
Good question! A coffee bean is a seed found inside a coffee plant’s fruit (called the cherry). The coffee cherry is unusual because we don’t eat the fruity outer part. Instead, we take the pit out and roast it.
The 4 Different Types of Coffee Beans
1. Arabica Coffee Beans (Coffea arabica)
Arabica beans are the most popular coffee beans, making up about 60% of the world’s coffee. These tasty beans originated centuries ago in the highlands of Ethiopia and may even be the first coffee beans ever consumed! Arabica likely comes from the beans’ popularity in 7th-century Arabia (present-day Yemen).
The downside of Arabica beans is that they’re harder to grow. Because of this, Arabica beans are pricier. All coffee beans grow in the so-called Bean Belt, an area between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, in 50 countries worldwide. But Arabica beans need extra shade, water, and high altitude to grow correctly. These plants are more susceptible to plant diseases and must be developed at the height of at least 2,000 feet. They’re also smaller plants, measuring between 8 and 15 feet when fully grown.
What do they taste like?
Most gourmet coffee brands advertise that they use 100% Arabica beans. Why? Arabica coffee beans are considered the most high-quality variety. They’re known for their smooth, complex flavor and distinct lack of bitterness.
Depending on where they’re grown, Arabica beans can offer many different tasting notes, from earthy Indonesian to floral Ethiopian. If you want to amaze your tastebuds, pick up a bag of single-origin Arabica beans!
Where can you buy Arabica beans?
Arabica beans are widely available, especially from gourmet coffee companies. If you want to try Arabica coffee, check the label to ensure that it hasn’t been blended with Robusta beans, the second variety. Check our online shop for 100% Pure Arabica
2. Robusta Coffee Beans (Coffea caniphora)
The second most popular type of coffee bean is Robusta. This bean originated in sub-Saharan Africa and is now grown primarily in Africa and Indonesia. It’s also trendy in Vietnam and is often mixed into coffee blends. It’s a less expensive variety, making it a very budget-friendly choice for roasters.
Robusta beans are larger and more rounded than the other bean varieties. These plants typically grow much more prominent than Arabica plants, measuring between 15 and 20 feet. Robusta beans are typically hardier because they can grow at lower altitudes and resist diseases. But recent research suggests that they don’t handle heat as well as was previously thought.
What do they taste like?
Many people think that Robusta coffee is harsher and more bitter. It often has a strong smell and a flat, almost burnt taste. Robusta beans also have significantly more caffeine than Arabica beans.
Though many fans of gourmet coffee turn up their noses at Robusta, we’d recommend trying it every once in a while. You may be surprised! We sampled an excellent Robusta bean from Coffee Beans PH. The unusual Thai beans were earthy and spiced without a hint of bitterness.
Where can you find Robusta beans?
Robusta beans are pretty easy to find since they’re common in blends. Some gourmet roasters offer special Robusta blends, and you can check our online shop Robusta Beans Plus, instant coffee is typically 100% Robusta.
3. Liberica Coffee Beans (Coffea liberica)
Native to central and western Africa – specifically Liberia, hence its name – Coffea liberica is prized for its piquant floral aroma and bold, smoky flavor profile. This hardy species is frequently mixed with other varieties to add body and complexity but rarely receives credit. Unheard of in Western civilization before the late 1800s, Liberica gained a foothold with Southeast Asian coffee producers after a fungal disease (“coffee rust”) wiped out much of the region’s Arabica crops.
Growing from a much larger plant than Arabica or Robusta, most Liberica cherries tend to be irregular in shape and closer to Robusta in size and general appearance. It’s also tolerant of hot, humid climates and does well at low altitudes. Now produced mainly in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, the bean makes up roughly 2% of the world’s coffee supply. Over 95% percent of the Malaysian coffee yield is Liberica beans. However, it’s not commonly found in North American and European markets.
What do they taste like?
Among enthusiasts, Liberica coffee has a controversial and polarizing reputation for wild inconsistency. Those who’ve tried this rare variety either love it or hate it. Some coffee drinkers adore the unusual, nutty, woody flavor and sneaky backbite on the finish. Others compare the taste to burnt garbage.
Where can you buy Liberica beans?
Perhaps the most renowned Liberican coffee is found in the Philippines, where it’s known as “kapeng barako” (Barako coffee), which translates to “macho stud” in Philippine culture. Typically served black with sugar, this hard-charging Liberican brew is not for the faint of heart. Considered somewhat of a relic from an older generation, kapeng barako is still widely available on the shelves of local supermarkets and served in coffee shops across the Philippines. In fact, outside of Southeast Asia, your best bet for finding Barako coffee (or Liberica beans) is in a market that caters to the Filipino ex-pat community.
4. Excelsa Coffee Beans (Coffea excelsa)
The fourth primary type of coffee bean is called Excelsa. Though it was once considered a separate coffee species, scientists recently reclassified it as a Liberica variant.
Excelsa beans grow almost entirely in Southeast Asia, and they’re shaped somewhat like Liberica beans — elongated ovals. These beans grow on large 20 to 30-foot coffee plants at medium altitudes.
What do they taste like?
In terms of flavor, Excelsa beans are pretty unique. They combine light roast traits like tart notes and fruity flavors with flavors that are more reminiscent of dark roasts. They’re also lighter on aroma and caffeine — while maintaining an unusual depth of flavor. You can sometimes find these distinctive beans in blends because they add complexity.
Where can you find Excelsa beans?
Excelsa beans aren’t as common as Arabica and Robusta beans and can be harder to find outside Asia. Luckily, specialty roasters like Len’s Coffee offer Excelsa beans.
What Kind of Coffee Bean Should You Choose?
Now that you’re familiar with the significant types of coffee beans, it’s time to start shopping! If you want the best possible flavor and don’t mind paying a little extra, look for coffee that’s 100% Arabica. Prefer excess caffeine, want to save money, and don’t mind a slight bitterness? Go for a bag of Robusta or a blend of Arabica and Robusta.
If you’d rather have something unusual, look for Liberica or Excelsa beans — but be prepared for a more extensive search! These rare coffee beans can be delicious but hard to find.
We recommend buying whole-bean coffee and grinding it just before brewing. The extra effort is well worth it, as you’ll get significantly better flavor and freshness, no matter which coffee bean you choose. By the way, do you know where coffee beans come from?
Also, if drinking coffee causes acidity, you can opt for low-acid coffee that is perfect for sensitive stomachs.
