Excelsa Coffee Beans: The Next Big Thing In Specialty Coffee?

Climate change is pushing the exploration of alternative coffee varieties, and that might not be a bad thing!

Most coffee lovers have a basic understanding of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans and the differences between them. Today, I want to tell you about one of the lesser-known coffee bean varieties, Excelsa.

Excelsa beans have a long history and a lot of potential but have only recently captured the attention of specialty coffee enthusiasts. Why is that? And what can we expect in the future? Let’s investigate.

What is Excelsa Coffee?

Excelsa coffee is one of the four main types of coffee. Until 2006, it was classified as a unique species – coffea excelsa – but is now considered a variety of Liberica coffee. The reclassification is due to botanical similarities between the two plants rather than a similar cup profile. Most roasters still specify Excelsa coffee.

Production of Excelsa coffee beans is very limited, partly because of the labor involved in production but mostly due to the limited market for the coffee.

The lack of demand stems from Excelsa’s unfounded reputation for poor quality. The beans are not inherently bad; they just haven’t benefited from proper production methods. The confusion between Liberica and Excelsa has also made it difficult for Excelsa farmers to market their beans effectively.

In many countries, farmers tend to keep Excelsa coffee for local consumption. When exported, it is more often added to Arabica blends.

What is Liberica coffee?

Liberica coffee is the main species to which Excelsa coffee belongs. Both grow on tall trees, but Liberica beans are larger and have a distinctive long oval shape, while Excelsa beans are smaller and rounder.

Liberica accounts for less than 2% of commercial coffee crops worldwide. It’s mainly grown in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia – in fact, making up most of Malaysia’s coffee production. In the Philippines, Liberica coffee is known as Barako coffee, but Excelsa is usually sold as a distinct type (1).

Where Are Excelsa Coffee Beans Grown?

Excelsa coffee originated in Africa but is now found almost exclusively in Southeast Asia. The key producing countries of Excelsa are Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. There is currently a project to reintroduce Excelsa as a commercial crop in South Sudan (2).

Excelsa coffee trees grow at a medium altitude, usually between 3,200 and 4,000 feet – much lower than the best Arabica coffee beans. They are resistant to several diseases that affect other coffee species, including coffee leaf rust and nematodes. These features make it an attractive crop for coffee growers, but the trade-off is that the trees are tall and bushy, requiring regular pruning that can be very labor-intensive. Excelsa trees are sometimes grown among Robusta crops to act as a windbreak.

Related: World Coffee Map.

What Does Excelsa Coffee Taste Like?

The unique taste of Excelsa coffee shares characteristics with high and low-altitude coffees. A cup of excelsa has sweet, fruity, and tart qualities but is simultaneously strong and dark. Producers often use it to add depth of flavor and a fuller body to coffee blends. 

So why aren’t these beans more popular? When produced poorly, as has been historically the case, the flavor profile is bland and uninteresting. The aroma can be very strong and unpleasant, sometimes reminiscent of jackfruit (3).

How Much Caffeine Is In Excelsa Coffee?

Excelsa coffee is naturally low in caffeine compared to Arabica and Robusta. There are between 0.86 and 1.13 grams of caffeine per 100 grams of Excelsa beans. For reference, the same amount of Arabica beans has between 1.2 and 1.5 grams, while Robusta has roughly double, at 2.2 to 2.7 grams.

How Does Excelsa Compare To Arabica And Robusta?

Arabica and Robusta beans make up the vast majority of commercial coffee crops, accounting for more than 90% worldwide – of which about two-thirds is Arabica. 

Arabica is prized for its sweet and complex flavor profile and is often sold as single-origin or specialty coffee. However, it requires particular growing conditions and can be prone to disease. 

Robusta has historically been considered lower quality, offering less sweetness and more earthy flavors. Its high caffeine content and strong flavor make it ideal for adding to blends. The main advantage of Robusta is that it’s easier to grow. Robusta coffee plants thrive at lower altitudes and are more resistant to pests and diseases.

Excelsa suffers from a lack of awareness and market infrastructure and thus makes up only a small fraction of the global coffee market. It is currently most popular in the Philippines, where its unique woody taste plays a strong part in the coffee culture. But with improvements to production and processing, Excelsa coffee beans offer a lot of potential. They combine some of the complexity and fruit flavors of Arabica with the hardiness of Robusta.

You can check out my guide to different types of coffee beans for more information.

Final Thoughts

My guess is we’re going to see a growing demand for Excelsa in the near future. The unique flavor profile of Excelsa coffee combined with its relatively moderate growing needs make it an attractive choice for coffee producers and consumers alike – particularly given the current challenges in the Arabica coffee industry. If you’re up for an exciting coffee experience, pick up a bag to try today!