The Best Arabica Coffee Beans in the World
Most people don't realize that coffee beans at the grocery store or at the cafe you frequent are not all arabica. This type of bean grows best in areas with high altitudes and produces smoother, sweeter and more nuanced flavor.
The terroir (or place of origin) of the coffee beans has a significant impact on the taste. This is why single-origin arabicas are so sought-after.
1. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
It is renowned for its citrus and floral scents, this coffee is an iconic. 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 results in pronounced sweetness and berry flavor.
The high elevations in Yirgacheffe cause the coffee plants to grow slower and allow them to absorb nuances and flavors from the surrounding environment. The region is characterized by a tropical climate, which is ideal for cultivating coffee.
This coffee is available in green beans that haven't been roast. They are great for roasters who wish to bring out its essence. Light to medium roasts let the berry, citrus and wine flavors to shine through. This coffee is great with desserts like lemon pound cake and chocolate. The coffee's herbal and floral notes go well with spicy or sour dishes.
2. Colombian Supremo
Colombian Supremo, a coffee that is well-known for its consistency in taste and quality is a popular choice 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 major element in determining the flavor profile. Supremo coffee beans are large. The larger size indicates that the beans will go through Grade 14 or more perforations in the sieve, which is less than Excelso.
With strict quality standards, a vibrant acidity and a moderately rich body, Colombian Supremo has a universal appeal that makes it an excellent choice for any brewing technique. This coffee is from the Popayan region is cultivated by farmers that are members of Colombian Coffee Federation. This organization supports over 500 000 coffee producers. This coffee is an example of the top-quality Colombian beans that have earned the country a reputation for its premium coffees.
3. Jamaican Blue Mountain
Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is one of the most sought-after gourmet coffees around the world. Its rich, smooth taste makes it among the most sought-after varieties. This wet-processed Jamaican Blue Mountains variety is known for its elegance and smoothness. It's also an essential ingredient in the coffee liquor Tia Maria.
The soaring peaks of the Blue Mountains and their unique combination of fertile soils, mild climate, and dense cloud cover create the perfect conditions for the cultivation of coffee of the highest quality. The coffee beans from this small region are sought-after the world over and fetch high prices for their rareness.
arabica coffee beans in bulk coffeee.uk , as its name suggests is grown in the Blue Mountain District, a area of 6,000 acres on the island renowned for its natural beauty and the production of coffee. The area is protected by a national park, and farmers cultivate small amounts coffee with great care to preserve their distinctive characteristics.
4. Costa Rican Tarrazu
Costa Rican Tarrazu coffee is an absolute delight for coffee lovers. It is the perfect balance between acidity and body. The region boasts high altitudes and mineral-rich volcanic soil, which allows the beans to ripen in a slower rate, so they can fully develop their flavor profile.
Many of these farms are recognized for their sustainable practices and strict measures to control quality, which makes them popular with eco-conscious consumers. Some offer traceability, so that consumers can know more about the farm that made their coffee.
One World Roasters' Tarrazu is an excellent illustration of the region's distinctive flavor profile, with notes of vibrant grapefruit and lush dark chocolate. Its medium body is well-rounded and balanced and gives an elegant finish that is sure to please your palate.
5. Colombian Caturra
Caturra is a coffee cultivar, has become a household name in Latin America. This variety was introduced into Brazil as a natural change from Bourbon. Its capacity for production is superior to Bourbon, but it requires higher altitudes resulting in lower yields. The method of mass selection was used to identify plants that performed exceptionally well. Bulk seed from these parents was later produced and the process repeated.
Colombian Caturra has a high yield and is resistant to Coffee Leaf Rust. It is one of the parents of the Castillo variety, developed by Cenicafe as the flag plant for their "Colombia sin roya" program designed to revive and revitalize coffee production.
This vintage Caturra, grown at 2,000 meters by farmers in Urrao was processed by Camber Coffee. Its cup quality is vibrant with the flavors of watermelon, citrus and strawberry.
6. French Roast
If you're looking for a strong cup of coffee that has smokey and charred notes will love French Roast. This blend is a mix of arabica beans from different regions that offer rich flavors such as caramel and chocolate. The beans are darkly-roasted to bring out their natural oils and flavors. This is a high-quality blend that will satisfy even the most sophisticated palate.
These beans are more difficult than other varieties of coffee to grow because they require very specific climate conditions to thrive. The plants require a certain amount sunlight and rain, and they must be protected from frost and drought.
These beans are rich in antioxidants which can boost your energy and improve your overall health. These beans contain antioxidants that fight free radicals which can trigger chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. Additionally, these beans are also a 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 known, was discovered in Ethiopia's Gori Gesha Forest in the 1930s. It was brought to Panama in the 1960s, and quickly gained fame for its strong floral scents, full body, and delicate citric acidity.
Geisha is a pricey coffee variety. It is susceptible to disease and requires high altitudes to grow. The fruit yield is also lower. These features make it difficult to consistently produce. This, combined with its high cup score is what drives the price.
This particular batch of Gesha was honey processed (not honey itself but the beans are treated and then dipped in sugar-rich water) and then transferred to a marquee to dry for 96 hours through carbonic maceration. It's a unique method that adds to the complexity of this incredible coffee. OMA has a rich and balanced cup profile with exotic florals such as jasmine, tea rose and delicate stone fruits, citrus and citrus.
8. Indonesian Liberica
Coffee drinkers are most likely familiar with two species of the Coffea genus which are arabica and robusta. The former makes up 80percent of all coffee sold around the world, while the second only makes up 20 percent. There are over 120 species in the genus, and some are less popular than others.
Currently, the most well-known non-arabica species is Coffea excelsa (or var. dewevrei). This variety grows on huge trees that are at medium altitudes. It produces a teardrop-shaped bean. It is typically blended into blends and can provide a distinct lingering finish to your cup.
Although it's not as popular as arabica, it still has a market of its own in Southeast Asia. This is largely because of the demand created by religion and the fact that Muslims in Malaysia and Indonesia drink their coffee after prayers. Liberica's resistance to coffee leaf rust, and its low caffeine content, makes it a viable alternative for those who do not have the money to invest in arabica.
9. Brazilian Exelsa
While Excelsa is extremely durable and productive, it requires more attention from farmers to manage than other Coffea arabica or canephora varieties. This is partly due to the asymmetrical size of its beans, which is larger than the arabica or canephora. It has a longer duration of fruiting, and its leaves are bigger than other C. liberica varieties. It can also reach 15m in height, and produces a lot of fruit.
Oliveiro says it's a shame that the plant is not understood, even though it was reclassified in 2006 as the dewevrei liberica variety. It is considered a "really good coffee maker". However, without a commodities market and minuscule demand for the species, making the switch is unlikely to happen. But for those willing to invest the time and effort into growing it, the benefits are obvious: Excelsa beans tend to contain less caffeine than arabica and canephora, and have a thicker mucus with less soluble solids.