Types of Coffee Beans

The Different Types of Coffee Beans

Two main types of coffee beans dominate world production -- The Arabica Coffee Bean and The Robusta Coffee Bean. But; because environmental factors deeply affect the flavor of coffee, the coffee bean types and blends are more usually identified by geographic location rather than coffee bean type

A coffee bean is the seed of the coffee berry, that's the parts inside the red or purple fruit. Even though they are seeds, they are referred to as coffee beans simply because they resemble beans.

The coffee plant fruit, called the coffee cherry or coffee berry, almost always generates two seeds, which grow with their flat sides together. However, in a standard crop some of the coffee berry will generate just a single bean, and this is called a peaberry.

Coffee beans consist mostly of endosperm that contain from 0.8 to 2.5% caffeine, which is the main reasons the plant is cultivated.

Types of Coffee Bean Plants

Different species of the coffee bean plant include ...

The seeds or coffee beans of the different plants produce coffee with slightly different characteristics.

The two main types of coffee beans are Coffea Arabica, (simply referred to as Arabica), and Coffea Canephora commonly referred to as Robusta.

These two coffee bean types make up over 90% of coffee beans sold all over the world.

The Arabica type of coffee beans, typically produce higher quality coffees and good Arabica coffee beans will have an even, bright appearance

Coffee produced using the Arabica coffee bean is usually considered a superior grade of coffee. The blends that coffee drinkers refer to as gourmet coffee.

Arabica coffee beans contain about half the caffeine of Robusta beans and are more flavorful and aromatic. Much of the worlds coffee producers grow the arabica types of coffee beans, but only a few meet the exacting standards set by the Speciality Coffee Association of America.

Robusta coffee beans are favored more for their robust coffee blends.

Robusta coffee is considered a lower grade of coffee, as it is usually grown at lower elevations. It has a more astringent flavor and contains a higher amount of caffeine.

Robusta trees are normally easier to grow and simpler to maintain. They are also more resistant to disease and produce a higher yield.

The Robusta types of coffee beans are typically used to produce a lower priced coffee blend.