The Best Arabica Coffee Beans in the World
Most people are unaware that the coffee beans you find in your favorite cafe or at the supermarket aren't arabica. This type of bean is best in regions with high altitudes. It produces more smooth sweeter, more nutty flavor.
The terroir (or place of origin) of the coffee beans can have a huge influence on their flavor. This is why single-origin arabicas are adored.
1. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
Known for its floral and citrus characteristics The coffee is an iconic. The high quality beans are grown on small farms in the Oromia region (formerly Harrar) at altitudes that range from 1,400 to 2,200 meters. The natural process results in an berry-like taste and a sweet taste.
The elevations that are high in Yirgacheffe causes the coffee plants to grow slower which allows them to absorb the nuances and flavors from the surrounding environment. The region also has a thriving tropical climate that is perfect for the cultivation of coffee.
This coffee is available in green beans that have not been roasted. They are great for roasters who wish to bring out its essence. Light to medium roasts allow the citrus, berry and wine flavors to shine through. This coffee is great with desserts that complement these tastes such as lemon pound cake or chocolate. The herbal and floral notes go well with spicy or sour meals.
2. Colombian Supremo
Colombian Supremo, a coffee that is well-known for its consistency in quality and flavor is a favorite among coffee lovers at all levels. Supremo beans are renowned for their classic, smooth taste with notes of caramel and citrus.
The size of the beans is a key factor in determining their flavor profile. Supremo coffee beans are large. This larger size means the beans will go through Grade 14 or higher perforations in the sieve, which is less than Excelso.
Colombian Supremo is a coffee that has universal appeal. Its high-quality standards, bright acidity and moderately rich body make it a great choice for any brewing method. This coffee is from the Popayan area is grown by farmers that are part of the Colombian Coffee Federation. This organization has over 500,000 coffee farmers. This is a fantastic example of the high quality Colombian beans which have made Colombia famous for its world class coffees.
3. Jamaican Blue Mountain
Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is one of the most sought-after gourmet coffees around the world. Its rich, smooth flavor makes it one of the most sought-after varieties. This wet-processed Jamaican Blue Mountain variety is famous for its sophistication and smoothness. It's also an important ingredient in the coffee liquor Tia Maria.
The Blue Mountains, with their steep elevations, fertile soils, mild climates and dense clouds make the perfect setting for coffee cultivation of the highest quality. The coffee beans grown in this small region are coveted the world over and fetch high prices for their rarity.
As the name suggests, Jamaican Blue Mountain is grown in the Blue Mountain district, a area of 6,000 hectares on the island, which is famous for its stunning natural beauty and coffee cultivation. The area is protected as an official national park. farmers cultivate small lots of coffee with care to preserve the distinct characteristics of the beans.
4. Costa Rican Tarrazu
A coffee lover's desire, Costa Rican Tarrazu is an ideal balance of acidity and body. The region boasts high altitudes and mineral-rich volcanic soil, which permits the beans to mature at a slower pace so they can fully develop their flavor profile.
Many of these farms are also well-known for their environmentally-friendly practices and strict measures to control quality that make them a favorite with eco-conscious consumers. Some offer traceability to allow customers to find out more about the farm that made their coffee.
One World Roasters' Tarrazu is a perfect example of the region's characteristic flavor profile, displaying aromas of vibrant grapefruit and lush dark chocolate. The medium body is balanced and rounded. This results in a smooth, satisfying finish.
5. Colombian Caturra
Caturra, a coffee cultivar has become an iconic name in Latin America. This variety was introduced into Brazil as a natural change from Bourbon. Its capacity for production is superior to Bourbon however it requires higher altitudes which results in lower yields. The process of mass selection was employed to identify parent plants that produced exceptionally well. Bulk seeds from these parents were then produced and the process was repeated.
Colombian Caturra has high yield and is resistant to Coffee Leaf Rust. It is one of two parents of the Castillo that was created by Cenicafe to be the official plant for their "Colombia sin roya", an initiative aimed at restoring the production of coffee in Colombia.
This historic Caturra was grown by farmers in the department of Urrao at 2,000 feet and carefully roasted for you by Camber Coffee. www.coffeee.uk displays a vibrant acidity with flavors of citrus, watermelon, and strawberry.
6. French Roast
French Roast is a strong cup of coffee with smokey, charred notes. This blend is a mixture of arabica beans from various regions that have rich flavor like caramel and chocolate. The beans are darkly roasted to enhance their natural oils and flavors. This blend is of high quality and will please the most sophisticated taste buds.
These beans are more difficult to cultivate than other varieties of coffee due to the fact that they require specific conditions for climatic growth. The plants require a certain amount of sunshine and rain, and they must be protected against frost and drought.
These beans are rich in antioxidants that can boost your energy levels and improve your overall health. The antioxidants found in these beans help fight free radicals which can lead to chronic illnesses like heart disease and cancer. These beans also contain vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid which are vital to the body's transformation of food into energy.
7. Ethiopian Gesha
Known as Geisha or Gesha, this coffee variety was first discovered in the Gori Gesha forest in Ethiopia in the 1930s. It was brought to Panama in the 1960s, where it quickly gained fame for its floral aromas, full-bodied taste, and delicate acidity.
Geisha is among the most expensive varieties of coffee on the market, due to it being highly prone to disease and requires high altitudes for growth with a lower fruit yield. These characteristics make it hard to consistently produce. This, in conjunction with its high cup score is what drives the price.
This particular Gesha lot was honey processed. (Not the actual honey, the beans were processed and then dipped into a sugar-based water.) The beans were then placed in a marquee and dried for 96 hours by carbonic maceration. This unique process adds to the complexity and taste of this coffee. It also gives OMA an intricate yet balanced cup profile that is full of exotic florals, like jasmine and tea roses, with delicate citrus and stone fruits.
8. Indonesian Liberica
The majority of coffee enthusiasts are familiar with two species belonging to the Coffea family: arabica and robusta. The former accounts for 80percent of all coffee sold around the world, whereas the second only makes up 20%. There are more than 120 species of the genus, and some are less well-known than others.
The most favored non-arabica in the world is Coffea Excelsa (or the variant. dewevrei). This variety is cultivated on medium-sized trees at medium altitudes, and produces a teardrop shaped bean. It is typically blended into blends and can provide a distinct taste that lasts for a long time.
Although it's not as popular as arabica however, it has an established market in Southeast Asia. This is due to the religious demand, as Muslims in Malaysia and Indonesia drink coffee following their prayers. Liberica's resistance to coffee leaf rust and low caffeine content make it an attractive alternative for producers that don't have the financial resources to invest in arabica.
9. Brazilian Exelsa
Excelsa is resilient and productive, but it requires more care from farmers than other Coffea arabica species or canephora. This is due to the asymmetrical bean size that is larger than the arabica or canephora. It also has a longer time to fruit and its leaves are larger than those of other C. liberica varieties. It can also grow up to 15m tall, and produce a large volume of fruit.
Oliveiro says it's a pity that the plant is often misunderstood despite being classified in 2006 as the dewevrei liberica variety. It can be considered a "really good coffee maker". But, without a commodity market and a comparatively low demand for the species, making the switch is unlikely to happen. If you're willing and able to invest in the time and effort needed to cultivate it, the benefits of excelsa beans are evident. They tend to be less caffeine-rich than arabica or canephora, and have a denser more soluble mucus.