The Best Arabica Coffee Beans in the World
Most people are unaware that the coffee beans in your favorite cafe or at the supermarket are not arabica. This type of bean is best in regions that have high altitudes and produces smoother sweeter, more nutty flavor.
The place where coffee beans are grown (aka their terroir) can have a significant influence on the 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 qualities. The high-quality beans are cultivated in small farms located in the Oromia Region (formerly Harrar), at altitudes of between 1,400 and 2,000 meters. The natural process results in the beans to be ripe with a distinct sweetness and berry taste.
The high elevations in 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 perfect for growing coffee.
The green beans that are not roasted in this coffee are an excellent option for roasters who want to bring out the true essence of this exotic bean. Light to medium roasts allow the berry, citrus and wine flavors to shine through. This coffee is great with desserts that complement these flavors like lemon pound cake or chocolate. The coffee’s 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 popular choice 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 element in determining the flavor profile. Supremo coffee beans are large. This bigger size means that the beans will pass through Grade 14 or higher perforations in the sieve, which is less than Excelso.
With strict quality standards, a bright acidity and moderately rich body, Colombian Supremo has a universal appeal that makes it an excellent choice for any brewing method. This coffee is from the Popayan area is grown by farmers who are part of the Colombian Coffee Federation. This association supports more than 500,000 coffee farmers. This coffee is a great example of the premium Colombian beans which have been renowned for their world class coffees.
3. Jamaican Blue Mountain
Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is one of the most sought-after gourmet coffees in the world. Its smooth, rich taste makes it among its most sought-after varieties. This wet-processed Jamaican Blue Mountain variety is renowned for sophistication 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 provide the perfect conditions for the cultivation of coffee of top quality. The beans from this tiny region are sought-after the world over and fetch high prices for their rarity.
Jamaican Blue Mountain, as its name implies 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 as a national park, and farmers cultivate small amounts of coffee with meticulous care to preserve the distinct characteristics of the beans.
4. Costa Rican Tarrazu
Costa Rican Tarrazu coffee is an absolute delight for coffee lovers. It has the perfect balance of acidity and body. The region boasts high altitudes and a mineral-rich volcanic soils, which allow the beans to mature at a slower pace so they can fully develop their flavor profile.
Many of these farms are well-known for their environmentally-friendly practices and strict controls to ensure quality that make them a favorite for eco-conscious buyers. Some of them also offer traceability, which allows customers to know more about the particular farm that produced their coffee.
One World Roasters’ Tarrazu is an excellent example of the region’s distinctive flavor profile, displaying aromas of vibrant grapefruit and rich dark chocolate. Its medium body is well-balanced and well-rounded, resulting in a smooth, silky finish that’s guaranteed to please your taste buds.
5. Colombian Caturra
Caturra is a coffee cultivar has become the most popular 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 process of mass selection was employed to identify parent plants that performed exceptionally well. bulk arabica coffee beans seeds from these parents were then 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, which was developed by Cenicafe as the flag plant for their “Colombia sin roya” program aimed at recovering and renewing the production of coffee.
This historic Caturra was grown by farmers in the department of Urrao at 2,000 feet and then carefully roasted by Camber Coffee. The cup quality is a lively acidity that is flavored with citrus, watermelon, and strawberry.
6. French Roast
Those looking for a bold cup of coffee that has the aroma of charred and smoky will be delighted by French Roast. This blend is a combination of arabica beans from various regions that have rich flavor such as caramel and chocolate. The beans are roasted darkly to reveal their natural oils and flavors. This blend is of premium quality arabica coffee beans quality and will please the most sophisticated palate.
These beans are more difficult to cultivate than other coffee varieties because they require specific climatic conditions to thrive. The plants require a certain amount of sunshine and rain and they need to be protected from frost and drought.
These beans are rich in antioxidants that can boost your energy and improve your overall health. The antioxidants found in these beans help fight free radicals which can cause chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. Additionally they are a source of vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid, which is essential for the body to convert food into energy.
7. Ethiopian Gesha
Known as Geisha or Gesha, this variety of coffee was first discovered in the Gori Gesha forest in Ethiopia in the 1930s. It was introduced to Panama in the 1960s, where it quickly gained fame for its floral aromas, full-bodied flavor, and delicate acidity.
Geisha is among the most expensive coffees on the market, as it’s highly prone to disease and requires high altitudes for growth with lower fruit yield. These features make it difficult to consistently produce. This, along with its high score on the cup makes it a major factor in the price.
This particular batch of Gesha was processed with honey (not real honey but the beans are treated, then dipped in water that contains sugar) and then transferred to a marquee to dry for 96 hrs through carbonic maceration. This unique process enhances the complexity and flavor of this coffee. OMA has a complex, yet balanced cup profile that is bursting with exotic florals like jasmine, tea roses and delicate citrus, stone fruits and citrus.
8. Indonesian Liberica
Coffee drinkers are generally familiar with two species belonging to the Coffea genus which are robusta and arabica. The former accounts for 80% of the world’s coffee trade, whereas the latter makes up 20%. There are over 120 species in the genus, and some are less well-known than others.
The most well-known non-arabica is Coffea Excelsa (or the variant. dewevrei). This variety grows on large trees at moderate altitudes and produces a teardrop-shaped beans. It is commonly used in blends, and can provide an enduring flavor to a cup.
Although it’s not as well-known as arabica however, it has an established market in Southeast Asia. This is due to the religious demand in the region, since Muslims in Malaysia and Indonesia drink coffee following their prayers. Liberica’s resistance to rusty coffee leaf and its low caffeine content make it a desirable alternative for those who don’t have the funds to invest in arabica.
9. Brazilian Exelsa
While Excelsa is extremely resilient and productive, it also requires more attention from farmers to manage than other Coffea arabica or canephora varieties. This is in part due to its asymmetrical beans, which are bigger than arabica and canephora. It also has a longer period of fruiting and its leaves are bigger than other C. liberica varieties. It can also reach 15m tall and produce a large volume of fruit.
Oliveiro says it’s a shame that the plant is misunderstood, even though it was reclassified in 2006 as the dewevrei liberica variety. It is considered a “really good coffee producer”. It’s unlikely that the plant will be converted to a coffee that is a commodity without a market for it. For those who are willing and are able to put in the time and effort required to cultivate it, the advantages of excelsa beans are evident. They tend to be lower in caffeine than arabica or canephora, and have a thicker more soluble mucilage.
