TYPES OF COFFEE BEANS: FOUR KEY COFFEE VARIETIES TO KNOW!

Understanding main coffee varieties won’t just impress your friends; it will help you drink better coffee.

Coffee lovers are blessed with an abundance of coffee varietals, each with distinct a flavor and aroma profile. You’ve probably heard of Arabica and Robusta, the two most widely grown species of coffee, but can you name any others?

In this article, I’m going to tell you about the four most common types and their key characteristics. It will help you buy, brew, and drink the best coffee for your taste.

What Are The Four Types Of Coffee Beans?

The four main types of coffee beans within the Coffea genus are Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. The most common and economically relevant are Arabica and Robusta beans, which together make up over 90% of global coffee production.

To help you choose the best coffee beans for your morning brew, I’ll break down everything you need to know about each variety. Despite what you may have heard, each has a worthy place in the world of coffee!

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1. Arabica

Arabica coffee, officially Coffea arabica, is the most widespread commercial coffee plant, accounting for approximately 70% of the world’s coffee production. It originated in Ethiopia, where it grows wild, but was first cultivated in Yemen, from which it takes its name. 

Arabica coffee beans have sweeter and more complex flavors than Robusta coffee beans, which is why they currently dominate coffee markets, especially specialty coffee markets. 

Arabica beans have a bright acidity, medium body, and multiple layers of flavor. They are well suited for drip coffee brewing methods, which let their subtleties shine more than espresso or immersion brewing.

Coffea Arabica plants are easily influenced by their environment, which makes them more challenging to grow. They do best at higher elevations, with plenty of rain, well-draining soil, natural shade, and minimal temperature variations (1). 

They thrive in volcanic environments, which offer all of the above plus mineral-rich soils. It can be challenging and resource-intensive to grow Arabica coffee beans in environments that don’t naturally meet those criteria.

Arabica is the most fragile of the four types of coffee beans. It doesn’t grow well when conditions aren’t optimal, and it is prone to fungal diseases like Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR), Coffee Berry Disease (CBD), and Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD). These are particularly dangerous when Arabica plants are grown as a monoculture because an outbreak of disease can easily wipe out an entire crop.

As of this writing, Arabica has 55 varietals and cultivars cataloged by World Coffee Research.

2. Robusta

Robusta is the second most popular type of coffee bean, accounting for roughly 30% of commercial coffee production. The species is officially named Coffea canephora, but it is commonly called Robusta due to being more robust than Arabica plants. 

Originally native to western sub-Saharan Africa, it now grows in a much broader range of environments and is less prone to disease. Despite these advantages, it remains less popular than Arabica because its flavors and aromas aren’t as desirable.

Robusta beans are known for having a darker, earthier flavor profile and are often subjected to a darker roast to match their natural character. Robusta beans also have nearly twice the caffeine of Arabica beans.

Robusta beans are considered lower quality compared to Arabica beans and are often relegated to use in instant coffee. But this need not be the case. A growing number of farmers and processors are developing high-quality Robusta beans and Robusta-Arabica hybrids (2).

Their naturally dark and earthy character is the perfect foil for sweet steamed milk in coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, where the subtleties of an Arabica bean would be lost. 

In Southern Italy, a region with a globally recognized espresso culture, most espresso blends contain at least a portion of Robusta beans (3). They balance the brighter acidic notes of fine Arabica coffee, delivering a sweet and well-rounded shot.

Learn more about Robusta coffee here: https://homebrewscoffee.com/what-is-robusta-coffee/

3. Liberica

Liberica coffee beans make up less than 2% of the world’s coffee supply. The Liberica varietal thrived in Southeast Asia in the 19th century, as it proved more resistant to a pandemic of coffee rust disease than the region’s Arabica plants. However, as Arabica crops recovered, Liberica fell out of favor.

Liberica coffee has a unique flavor, pairing floral and fruity notes with a deep smokiness that some describe as woody. It has a full body, reminiscent of Robusta coffee. It’s not to everyone’s taste, but there are some exceptional Liberica coffees to be had when done right.

The Coffea liberica plant originated in West Africa, taking its name from the nation of Liberia, but it is now primarily grown in Malaysia and the Philippines. Liberica trees grow much taller than either Robusta or Arabica, and the coffee beans are larger and irregularly shaped. They thrive in light shade and well-drained soils and, crucially, can succeed in poorer soil than Arabica. 

Related: Liberica Beans: What You Need to Know

4. Excelsa

Excelsa has recently been reclassified as a type of Liberica coffee because it thrives in the same conditions and grows a similarly tall coffee tree. But the actual cup of coffee it produces is vastly different. It has a much fruitier character than Liberica, with a tart acidity that makes it popular for adding complexity to coffee blends.

Excelsa coffee makes up only a small fraction of the current coffee market. However, given its appealing flavor profile and the fact that it is nearly as resilient and productive as Robusta, this seems likely to grow. 

Much like Robusta, Excelsa coffee beans have been regarded as poor quality, but this is more due to poor growing and processing practices than the bean itself. With proper care, Excelsa has the potential to be specialty-grade coffee.

Related: Excelsa Beans: What You Need to Know

How Many Coffee Bean Varieties Are There?

There are over 130 species of Coffea, the genus of flowering plants whose seeds provide us with our treasured morning bean juice – and more continue to be discovered. But that’s only the beginning because there can be many varieties within each species, either due to natural mutations and hybridization or due to human intervention.

Coffee varieties are developed by growers and research scientists to enhance certain traits like resistance to pests and diseases, higher yields, or more compelling flavor profiles. At present, World Coffee Research catalogs 55 Arabica varieties and 47 Robusta varieties (4).

Final Thoughts

The dominant 4 types of coffee beans are Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. But there are dozens of different types of coffee beans to explore – and more to come. The coffee world is a fascinating topic that stretches from biology, geology, and geography to flavor and aroma.

Take the knowledge you’ve gained from this article and run with it. Try as many different coffee varieties as possible from various origins. You’re sure to find a few new favorite brews and learn plenty along the way.