The best coffee beans are not always the most expensive. This article will show you the different types of coffee beans, and which ones are best for your taste.
We all know that there is nothing better than a hot cup of coffee in the morning to get us going. But what is the difference between a good cup of coffee and a great one? It all comes down to the type of beans you use!
A good thing to keep in mind is that when we talk about types of coffee beans, we’re actually talking about coffee species. There are hundreds of coffee species, and each one is a bit different. For commercial use, only four species of coffee are generally used.
Are you asking yourself if coffee is truly a bean? Well, no, it’s not. It’s actually the seed of a fruit. The seed is removed from the ripe fruit, dried, and roasted, and that’s the coffee bean that we grind and brew into a delicious cup of coffee. So why do we call it a coffee bean? Simply because a roasted coffee seed looks quite a bit like a bean.
The main reason why people drink coffee is for the surge of energy that the caffeine in it provides. So, which or the best coffee beans have the most caffeine?
Arabica Coffee Beans
Coffea Arabica, more commonly known as just Arabica, is believed to be the origin of coffee in the world. It is the first coffee that was cultivated and still holds that crown, accounting for almost 60% of the world’s total coffee production. Arabica originated in Ethiopia and is believed to be first cultivated in Yemen.
Arabica coffee is grown mostly in humid climates without too much sunlight. For this reason, it thrives in subtropical regions of the world. Brazil, Ethiopia, and India are some of the major Arabica coffee-producing nations in the world.
Arabica coffee beans result in a smooth-tasting coffee that also has a certain sweetness to it. The natural sweetness offers hints of sugar, nuts, caramel, and chocolate as well, making it a good choice for people who enjoy flavored coffees with cream. Within Arabica beans, you also get varieties like Typica and Bourbon.
Arabica coffee also comes with a balanced level of acidity and some level of bitterness. The bitterness and flavor profile of the coffee depends on the degree of roasting of the beans.
When it comes to caffeine content, Arabica beans are milder than their Robusta counterparts. One Arabica bean contains around 1.9 milligrams of caffeine. You can expect about 1.2 to 1.5 grams of caffeine per 100 grams of this type of coffee.
Robusta Coffee Beans
Robusta Coffee beans make up the other 40% of the world’s coffee production and consumption. Robusta plants are originally native to Western and Central Africa, growing in countries like Ethiopia, Tanzania, Liberia, and Angola.
In modern times, Vietnam, Brazil, India, and Indonesia are the world’s top exporters of Robusta beans.
Unlike Arabica plants, which look like trees or large bushes, Robusta plants look more like vines or wild shrubs. Robusta plants are generally much tougher and more resilient than Arabica plants, which means that they don’t require as much herbicide, pesticide, or general upkeep as their more fragile counterparts.
This is because of Robusta beans’ higher chlorogenic acid (CGA) content. Although CGA doesn’t do anything to affect coffee’s taste, it does play a big part in the overall health of a coffee plant, providing natural antioxidant and insect-repelling properties. Robusta coffee is considered to be less pure in terms of taste as compared to Arabica coffee. For this reason, you will always find Arabica coffee to be priced higher than Robusta.
Liberica Beans
Liberica coffee is one of the four main coffee bean varieties grown for consumption out of the nearly 120 species of coffee plant. If you’ve never heard of Liberica coffee, it’s not surprising. It accounts for less than 2% of the global coffee crop, while Arabica and Robusta combined make up the rest.
Liberica coffee stands out as the largest of these three, growing on tall trees that can reach up to 17 meters tall. The beans are also larger, with a long, oval shape. Liberica coffee trees have a comparatively low yield, making them less attractive as a crop, though the rarity of the beans means they often fetch a higher price.
The reason why Liberica coffee is not more popular is that it has a metallic undertone to it. The coffee also has hints of natural wood and bitterness. You can also note a slight dark chocolate aftertaste to it. The bean size of Liberica is much larger than Arabica and Robusta beans.
Excelsa Beans
Excelsa coffee is one of the four main types of coffee grown commercially. Until 2006 it was classified as a unique species but is now considered a variety of Liberica coffee. This confusion and its many different characteristics from other Liberica coffees mean it’s still often listed separately.
Production of Excelsa coffee beans is very limited, partly due to labor involved in the production and partly due to the lack of a market for the coffee.
The tart undertones of the coffee make it a particularly good fit for people who enjoy a rich, dark aftertaste. However, coffee enthusiasts only find this experience enjoyable when it is blended with other coffees, as Excelsa by itself can give a highly bitter, strong flavor profile that not everyone will enjoy.
Despite the strong taste, Excelsa coffee has a much lower caffeine content than the other types of beans mentioned on this list. You will get only about 0.86 to 1.13 grams of caffeine per 100 grams from these coffee beans.
