The Best Arabica Coffee Beans in the World
Many people are unaware that coffee beans at the supermarket or in your favorite cafe are not all fair trade arabica coffee beans. This type of bean is best in areas with high altitudes. It produces more smooth and sweeter flavor.
The location where the coffee beans are grown (aka their terroir) has a major impact on how they taste. This is the reason why single-origin arabicas are extremely sought-after.
1. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
The coffee is known for its citrus and floral characteristics. The top-quality beans are grown in small farms that are located in the Oromia Region (formerly Harrar), at altitudes ranging from 1,400 to 2200 meters. The natural process produces a berry-like flavor and sweetness.
The high elevations of Yirgacheffe cause the coffee plants to develop more slowly which allows them to absorb the nuances and flavors from the surrounding environment. The region is characterized by an arid climate that is ideal for cultivating coffee.
The green beans that are not roasted in this coffee are a great option for any roaster looking to reveal the true essence of this exotic coffee. Light to medium roasts let the citrus, berry and wine flavors to shine through. Pairs well with desserts that complement these flavors such as lemon pound cake or chocolate. The floral and herbal notes pair well with spicy or sour foods.
2. Colombian Supremo
Colombian Supremo, a coffee that is renowned for its consistency in taste and quality is a favorite among coffee enthusiasts of all levels. Supremo beans are known for their smooth, classic flavor with notes of citrus and caramel.
The size of the beans is a major factor in determining their flavor profile. Supremo coffee beans are large. This larger size implies that the beans are more likely to go through Grade 14 (or higher) sieve perforations, which is lower than the grade of Excelso.
Colombian Supremo is a coffee that has universal appeal. Its high quality standards, bright acidity, and moderately rich body make it a fantastic option for any brewing technique. This particular coffee originates from the Popayan region is cultivated by farmers who belong to the Colombian Coffee Federation, an organization that provides support to more than 500,000 coffee farmers. This is a fantastic example of the high quality Colombian beans that have made Colombia famous for its top-quality coffees.
3. Jamaican Blue Mountain
The rich, smooth flavour of Jamaican Blue Mountain is one of the most sought after gourmet coffees. This wet-processed selection from the Blue Mountains of Jamaica is renowned for its sophistication and soft taste. It’s also an essential ingredient in the coffee liqueur Tia Maria.
The Blue Mountains, with their steep elevations, fertile soils mild climates and dense clouds, provide the perfect environment for coffee production of top quality. The coffee beans from this small region are sought-after all across and fetch a premium because of their rarity.
Like the name suggests, Jamaican Blue Mountain is grown in the Blue Mountain district, a 6,000 hectare swath of the island that is known for its stunning natural beauty and coffee cultivation. The area is protected as National Park, and farmers cultivate small quantities of coffee with a keen eye to preserve the distinctive characteristics of the beans.
4. Costa Rican Tarrazu
A coffee lover’s dream, Costa Rican Tarrazu is a perfect balance of acidity and body. The high altitudes of the region, as well as the volcanic soil’s mineral richness permit a slower maturing process, which allows the beans to create their full flavor profile.
Many of these farms are also known for their environmentally-friendly practices and strict controls to ensure quality, which makes them popular with eco-conscious consumers. Some of them provide traceability, so that consumers can learn more about the farm that produced their coffee.
One World Roasters’ Tarrazu is a wonderful example of the characteristic flavor profile of the region, featuring aromas of vibrant grapefruits and rich dark chocolate. Its medium body is well balanced and well-rounded. This gives a smooth, satisfying finish.
5. Colombian Caturra
Caturra, a coffee cultivar has become an iconic name in Latin America. This variety was introduced to Brazil as a natural mutation from Bourbon. Its potential for production was superior to Bourbon however it required higher altitudes and lower yields. Growers employed a technique known as mass selection to determine the parents that had exceptional performance, then bulked seed from those parents and repeated the process.
Colombian Caturra is a high yielding plant that has a remarkable resistance to Coffee Leaf Rust. It is one of the parents of the Castillo variety, which was developed by Cenicafe as the flag plant for their “Colombia sin roya” program designed to revive and revitalize coffee production.
This historic Caturra was grown by farmers in the department of Urrao at 2,000 meters and carefully roasted for you by Camber Coffee. The cup quality is a lively acidity that is flavored with citrus, watermelon, and strawberry.
6. French Roast
French Roast is a strong cup of coffee with the aroma of charred, smoky notes. This blend is a combination of arabica beans from several regions that offer rich flavors such as caramel and chocolate. The beans are roasted darkly to bring out their natural oils and flavors. This is a premium blend that will please even the most sophisticated palate.
These beans are more difficult than other varieties of coffee to grow because they require specific climate conditions to thrive. The plants need a specific amount of sunlight 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 contained in these beans fight free radicals, which can cause chronic illnesses like heart disease and cancer. Moreover, these beans are also an excellent source of vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid, which is crucial for the body to convert food into energy.
7. Ethiopian Gesha
Geisha or Gesha as it’s also called, was discovered in Ethiopia’s Gori Gesha Forest in the 1930s. It was introduced to Panama in the 1960s, where it quickly gained a reputation for its floral aromas, full-bodied flavor and delicate acidity.
Geisha is a costly coffee variety. It is susceptible to disease and requires high altitudes to grow. The yield of the fruit is also lower. This makes it difficult to consistently produce, which combines with its high cup scores to drive the price.
This particular Gesha lot was processed with honey. (Not actual honey, the beans were treated and dipped into a sugar-based water.) The beans were then moved to a marquee, and then dried for 96 hours by carbonic maceration. It’s a unique method which adds to the richness of this extraordinary coffee. OMA has a rich, yet balanced cup profile that is bursting with exotic florals such as tea rose, jasmine and delicate citrus, stone fruits and citrus.
8. Indonesian Liberica
The majority of coffee drinkers are familiar with two species in the Coffea family: arabica, and robusta. The former accounts for the majority of coffee that is traded around the world, whereas the second only makes up 20 percent. There are more than 120 species of the genus and some are more well-known than others.
The most well-known non-arabica species is Coffea excelsa (or var. dewevrei). This variety grows on large trees at moderate altitudes and produces a teardrop-shaped beans. It is often used in blends, and can add a distinctive taste that lasts for a long time.
Although it’s not as well-known as bulk arabica coffee beans however, it has a market of its own in Southeast Asia. This is largely because of the demand generated by religion, as Muslims in Malaysia and Indonesia drink their coffee following prayers. Liberica’s resistance to rusty coffee leaf and its low levels of caffeine makes it a viable alternative for producers who do not have the money to invest in arabica coffee beans direct from the source.
9. Brazilian Exelsa
Excelsa is a robust and productive but it also requires more attention from farmers than other Coffea arabica species or canephora. This is partly due to the asymmetrical size of its beans, which is larger than artisanal arabica coffee beans coffee beans variety (hop over to this web-site) or canephora. It has a longer time of fruiting and its leaves are larger than other C. liberica types. Plus, its high productivity levels mean that it can grow to over 15m tall and produce a huge volume of fruit.
Oliveiro says it’s a pity that the plant is not understood, despite it being reclassified in 2006 as the dewevrei liberica variety. It could be considered a “really good coffee maker”. However, without a commodity market and a tiny demand for the species, the switch is unlikely. If you’re willing and are able to put in the time and effort needed to grow it, the benefits of excelsa beans are evident. They are generally less caffeine-rich than arabica or canephora and have a denser more soluble mucilage.