Types of Coffee Plants

Linnaeus initially provided a description of coffee arabica in 1753. The most popular varieties are "Typica" and "Bourbon," although many more cultivars have been created from these, including "Caturra" (Brazil and Colombia), "Mundo Novo" (Brazil), "Tico" (Central America), "San Ramon," a dwarf variety, and "Jamaican Blue Mountain." A big bush known as the Arabica plant has oval, dark-green leaves.

The C. arabica cultivars "Mundo Novo" and "Catuai" are the two most grown varieties, however many others are similarly crucial to the global economy. Resistance is one of the main objectives of plant-breeding projects since arabica coffee is frequently vulnerable to attack by pests and diseases. All over Latin America, Central and East Africa, India, and to a lesser extent, Indonesia, Arabica coffee is grown.

Typica was the first variety of Arabica coffee bean to be identified, and it is now one of the two most popular types. As a result, it is regarded as the first coffee produced in the New World. Additionally, it is a low-yielding variety prized for its superior cup quality.

On the other hand, Bourbon kinds of Arabica are frequently appreciated for their nuanced, well-balanced fragrances and have produced numerous premium mutations and subtypes. Caturra, San Ramon, and Pacas are a few names for natural variations of Arabica.

In addition, several Bourbon cultivars have been developed to fit the local environment, elevation, and climate. These include the highly valued Blue Mountain variety, which can only grow at very high elevations. Other illustrations consist of Mundo Novo and Yellow Bourbon.

2. Coffea Canephora (Robusta)

Given that there are more than a hundred different varieties of coffee, Robusta has done well to rise to the second position on the global market. The beans (seeds) of the Coffea Canephora plant are used to make the coffee variety known as "Robusta." Central and Western sub-Saharan Africa is where Robusta first appeared. With 40% of the global coffee production, it is the second most popular coffee in the world. Only Arabica, which originates from the Coffea Arabica plant, produces the remaining 60% or more of the world's coffee.

Most of the Eastern Hemisphere’s Robusta coffee is grown in Africa and Indonesia. Vietnam produces the most. Coffea Canephora, which has the two main cultivars c.c Robusta and c.c Nganda, has been replaced by Coffea Robusta as a synonym. Robusta coffee is the term used to describe the varietals.

What is the difference between Arabica and Robusta?

The amount of caffeine in Robusta beans is roughly twice as high as that in Arabica beans. Furthermore, Robusta beans have a stronger, harsher flavor with a grainy overtone and peanutty aftertaste than Arabica beans, which are gentler and more aromatic. Additionally, Arabica beans are a deeper shade of green, flat, and elongated, whilst Robusta beans are more obviously spherical in shape and may be easily distinguished from one another by their differences in color and shape when the coffee beans are unroasted (green).

The high caffeine content in Robusta serves as a chemical defense for the coffee bean since it is toxic to insects and is simpler to produce in farms, yields more, and is less sensitive to pests. While Robusta can be cultivated at sea level, Arabica coffee must be grown at higher altitudes (600–2000 meters) and in colder subtropical regions. This latter makes up more than 70% of all coffee that is farmed worldwide. Furthermore, there are a lot of high-quality Robusta blends on the market, even though Arabica is typically thought of as the bean of greater quality.

3. Coffea Liberica

Coffee beans from Liberica are a special pleasure. They are produced in much too small quantities for farmers to scale their businesses to adequately meet the demands of a global market because they are grown in very specialized conditions. The beans are still regarded as a welcome surprise. Many people who have sampled the coffee compare its aroma to that of fruit and flowers and say it has a little "woody" taste.

Liberica coffee once enjoyed enormous popularity. A plant disease that is now known as "coffee rust" had nearly wiped off all Liberica plants worldwide by the end of the eighteenth century. Farmers and government organizations both sought out to develop viable substitutes because coffee was such a major commodity even at that time.

The Philippines was the first country to harvest and market the Liberica plant in significant quantities, and as the only provider, the country's economy experienced extraordinary growth. The Philippines were still a U.S. colony during this time, but as their economy developed, they proclaimed their independence. As a result, the United States imposed severe economic sanctions and stopped supplying the nation. Due to the fact that no other countries ever stepped up and could match the production that the Philippines had once pioneered, this finally resulted in the demise of the Liberica coffee bean in the international market.

4. Coffea Excelsa

Excelsa is technically a member of Liberica family, but its species is incredibly distinct. Like the Liberica coffee described above, Excelsa is grown primarily in southeast Asia and represents only a small fraction of the world’s coffee production. Excelsea does boast a tart, fruitier flavor and is known for showing attributes of both light and dark roast coffees to create a unique profile that is frequently sough out by coffee enthusiast.