9 Lessons Your Parents Teach You About Best Arabica Coffee Beans In The World

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 coffee bean grows best at high altitudes, and has a smoother flavor.

The terroir (or place of origin) of the coffee beans can have a huge influence on their flavor. This is why single estate arabica coffee beans-origin arabicas are so cherished.

1. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe

This coffee is renowned for its citrus and floral characteristics. The top-quality beans are grown on small farms in the Oromia Region (formerly Harrar), at altitudes of between 1,400 and 2,000 meters. The natural process gives pronounced sweetness and berry flavor.

The high elevations of Yirgacheffe allows the coffee plants to develop more slowly, allowing them to absorb the nuances and flavors of the surrounding environment. The region is characterized by a tropical climate, which is perfect for growing coffee.

The green beans that are not roasted in this coffee are a great option for roasters who want to capture the real essence of this exotic coffee. Light to medium roasts bring out the citrus, wine and the berry flavor. This coffee pairs well with desserts like lemon chocolate and pound cake. The herbal and floral notes of this coffee also work well with food items that are spicy or sour.

2. Colombian Supremo

Colombian Supremo, a coffee that is known for its consistency in taste and quality is a popular choice among coffee lovers at all levels. Typically, it is smooth and has a classic flavor profile with notes of citrus and light caramel, Supremo beans have an overall mild flavor that's balanced enough for many palates.

The size of the bean plays a significant aspect in the flavor profile of Colombian coffee and Supremo beans are distinguished by their large size. This larger size implies that the beans are more likely to go through Grade 14 (or higher) perforations on the sieve that are lower than the grade of Excelso.

Colombian Supremo is an all-purpose coffee with universal appeal. Its high quality standards, bright acidity and moderately rich body make it an excellent choice for any brewing technique. This coffee from the Popayan region is cultivated by farmers that are members of the Colombian Coffee Federation. This organization supports over 500,000 coffee producers. This coffee is an excellent example of the high quality Colombian beans which have become famous for their world class coffees.

3. Jamaican Blue Mountain

The rich, smooth flavor of Jamaican Blue Mountain is one of the world's most sought-after gourmet coffees. This wet-processed Jamaican blue Mountain variety is renowned for 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, provide the perfect environment for coffee cultivation of the highest quality. The coffee beans from this small region are sought-after all over and fetch high prices because of their rareness.

Jamaican Blue Mountain, as its name implies, is grown in the Blue Mountain District, a area of 6,000 hectares on the island renowned for its natural beauty and the production of coffee. The area is protected as an official national park. farmers cultivate small lots of coffee with a keen eye to preserve the distinct characteristics of the beans.

4. Costa Rican Tarrazu

Costa Rican Tarrazu coffee is an absolute coffee lover's delight. It is the perfect balance between acidity and body. The high altitudes of the region and the mineral-rich volcanic soil allow for a slower maturing process, which allows the beans to develop their full flavor profile.

Many of the farms that grow these coffees are also renowned for their environmentally-friendly practices and strict quality control measures, which make them popular with eco-conscious buyers. Some of them also offer traceability, which allows customers to know more about the farm that produced their coffee.

One World Roasters' Tarrazu is a great example of the characteristic flavor profile of the region, featuring aromas of vibrant grapefruits and a rich dark chocolate. Its medium body is well balanced and rounded. This results in an elegant, satisfying finish.

5. Caturra de Colombia

Caturra, a coffee cultivar is now an iconic name in Latin America. The variety was introduced to Brazil as a natural change from Bourbon. Its production potential was superior to Bourbon but it needed higher altitudes, resulting in lower yields. The method of mass selection was used to find parent plants that produced exceptionally well. Bulk seeds from these parents were later produced and the process repeated.

Colombian Caturra has an excellent yield and is resistant to Coffee Leaf Rust. It is one of the parents of the Castillo variety, which was developed by Cenicafe as the plant that will be the flag for their "Colombia sin roya" program that aims to revitalize and revive the production of coffee.

This heirloom Caturra was grown by farmers in the department of Urrao at 2,000m and then carefully roasted by Camber Coffee. The cup quality is a vibrant acidity with flavors of watermelon, strawberry and citrus.

6. French Roast

If you're looking for a strong cup of coffee with the aroma of charred and smoky will enjoy French Roast. This blend is a blend of versatile arabica coffee beans beans from different regions, and offers rich flavours of caramel and chocolate. The beans are darkly-roasted to reveal their natural oils and flavors. This is a high-quality blend that will please even the most sophisticated palate.

These beans are more difficult than other coffee varieties to grow because they require very specific conditions for growth. The plants require a certain amount sunshine and rain and must be protected from frost and drought.

These beans are high in antioxidants which can boost your energy levels and improve your overall health. The antioxidants found in these beans help fight free radicals which can cause chronic illnesses like heart disease and cancer. These beans also contain vitamin B5, or pantothenic acids which are vital for the body's conversion of food into energy.

7. Ethiopian Gesha

Also 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 by the 1960s where it quickly gained a reputation for its floral aromas, full-bodied taste, and delicate acidity.

Geisha is a costly coffee variety. It is susceptible to disease and requires high altitudes for growing. The fruit yield is also lower. These factors make it difficult to consistently produce and this is paired with its high scores on the cup to drive up the price.

This particular batch of Gesha was processed with honey (not actual honey however the beans are treated and then dipped in water that contains sugar) and then moved to a marquee for drying for 96 hours through carbonic maceration. This unique process adds to the complexity and flavor of this coffee. It also provides OMA a complex yet balanced cup profile with exotic florals, such as jasmine and tea roses, with delicate citrus and stone fruits.

8. Indonesian Liberica

Coffee drinkers are generally familiar with two species belonging to the Coffea genus which are arabica and robusta. The former is responsible for 80% of the global coffee trade, while the latter makes up 20 percent. However, there are more than 120 known species belonging to the genus, and some are more well-known than others.

Currently, the most well-known non-arabica species is Coffea excelsa (or var. dewevrei). This variety is found on medium-sized trees in moderate elevations. It produces a teardrop-shaped beans. It is commonly blended into blends and can give a distinctive lingering finish to your cup.

Although it's not as well-known as indigenous arabica coffee beans but it does have an established market in Southeast Asia. This is due to the religious demand for coffee, as Muslims in Malaysia & Indonesia drink coffee following their prayers. Liberica's resistance to rusty coffee leaf and its low caffeine content make it an attractive alternative for producers who don't have enough money to invest in fresh ground arabica coffee beans.

9. Brazilian Exelsa

While Excelsa is extremely durable and productive, it requires more attention from farmers to manage than other Coffea arabica or canephora species. This is due in part to the asymmetrical size of its beans that is bigger than the arabica or canephora. It has a longer time of fruiting and its leaves are larger than other C. liberica varieties. It can also grow to 15m tall and produce an abundance of fruits.

According to Oliveiro it's a pity that the plant has been misunderstood so much despite it being classified as the dewevrei variety of liberica in 2006 - as it could be "a very good coffee producer". It's unlikely that the species will be changed to a commodity coffee without a market for it. But for those willing to put the time and effort in growing it, the benefits are obvious: Excelsa beans tend to have a lower caffeine content than authentic arabica coffee beans and canephora, and also have a more dense mucus with less solids that are soluble.