By understanding the different types of coffee beans and their characteristics, a coffee lover may have a better overall experience and appreciation for the subtle differences.
While coffee beans do look a lot like beans, coffee beans are not really beans but are actually the seed of a coffee plant referred to as cherries. When the coffee cherries are harvested, the beans must be removed from the cherries and dried before they can be roasted, ground, and brewed.
Types of Coffee Beans
There are over 100 different coffee species in the world, but there are four primary types of coffee beans when it comes to the coffee we enjoy every day: Arabica (Coffea arabica), Robusta (Coffea canephora), Liberica (Coffea liberica), and Excelsa (Coffea excelsa or Coffea liberica var. dewevrei).
1. Arabica
Arabica is a species of coffee originating in the Southern Highlands of Ethiopia. It is one of the types of coffee plants that are cultivated all over the world and are often considered superior in taste and aroma. Arabica beans are by far the most popular type of coffee bean, making up about 60-80% of the world’s coffee production.
As a matter of fact, Arabica beans are better tasting and yield higher quality coffee that grows best in tropical climates around the equator. Arabica generally likes high altitudes of 1800 – 6500 feet with cooler climates and are often grown in hilly areas.
Characteristics of Arabica
- Complex flavors and aromas
- Smoother and sweeter when compared to others
- Flavor notes of chocolate and sugary overtones
- Hints of berries and nuts
- Naturally low in caffeine
- 60% more lipids and almost twice the amount of sugar
- Good for specialty coffee
2. Robusta
Robusta is another species of coffee originating in central and western sub-Saharan Africa. It is the second most popular coffee in the world, making up 20-40% of the world’s coffee circulation. Unlike Arabica, Robusta prefers to grow at a lower elevation of 660 – 2600 feet with warmer climates and thrive in lowlands such as rainforests.
Robusta coffee beans are slightly smaller and rounder in shape and usually taste stronger and more bitter than Arabica. Flavor-wise, Robusta coffee beans are not as rich as Arabica. They are harsher and usually have grainy overtones.
Characteristics of Robusta
- Bitter taste, rubbery/grain-like flavor
- Peanut aftertaste
- High in caffeine
- Heavier body
- Low acidity
- Less sugar
- Good for Vietnamese coffee and iced coffee
3. Liberica
Liberica is the rarest type of coffee bean that originated in Liberia in the coast of West Africa. It accounts for about 2% of the total production worldwide. Liberica coffee beans grow well at low elevations under warm and humid conditions.
Liberica beans are large, irregular-shaped coffee cherries characterized by having nutty and dark chocolate notes when roasted and brewed. Liberica boasts a rich, full body with woody and smoky overtones. It is also known to have a complex but unique aroma.
Characteristics of Liberica
- Larger than other beans, often asymmetrical
- Unique aroma
- Floral and fruity notes
- Full body
- Very low in caffeine
- Good for coffee blending by mixing different types of coffee
4. Excelsa
Discovered in Africa in the early 1900s, Excelsa used to be considered a separate coffee species until 2006, when it was reclassified as synonyms for Coffea liberica var. dewevrei. Excelsa is technically a variety of Liberica that grows mostly in Southeast Asia and accounts for about 7% of the coffee production around the globe.
Excelsa coffee beans have a distinctive “teardrop” shape and carry a distinctive tart, ripened fruit, dark, compelling taste. These coffee beans are particularly good in blends and are mainly used to punch up the body and flavor due to their dark, roasty tasting notes.
Characteristics of Excelsa
- Unique “teardrop” shape
- Unique tart notes and fruity flavors
- Strong taste, full-bodied
- Low in caffeine
- Good for coffee blending
What kind of coffee bean is the best?
While there are so many different varieties of coffee beans in the world, there are only two popular coffee bean types that really matter when it comes to our daily cup: Arabica and Robusta. These are the two big players that are widely produced, sold, and comprise of the majority of the coffee world.
Choosing coffee beans depends on how you actually like to drink your coffee. Some prefer cold, some enjoy black coffee, and some prefer to go with milk or creamer.
Typically, if you prefer a sweeter taste and want the best possible flavor, opt for high-quality 100% Arabica coffee beans. If you generally prefer a stronger coffee and highly caffeinated coffee, then pick a bag of Robusta up. If you’d rather have something surprising, then we might recommend giving Liberica or Excelsa a try. However, Liberica and Excelsa are rare and hard to find, with only a small amount of beans available at any time.
No matter what kind of coffee bean you get, we always recommend buying whole bean coffee and grinding them right before you brew. You’ll have a better chance of getting most of the aroma and flavors into the cup.
Explore your options to find something new and enjoy the process!
