What Are The Two Main Types Of Coffee Beans

When it comes to our morning coffee, most of us just want it to be hot and ready as fast as possible, right?

Once roasted, ground, and brewed freshly in our cup, it’s hard to even think that there are dozens of different varieties of coffee beans. We just want to enjoy that first sip sending jitters all over our bodies.

Anyway, there are only two main types of coffee that really matter: arabica and robusta. These are the two main types of coffee cultivated for drinking.

What Is Arabica Coffee Beans?

Arabica coffee is a type of coffee made from the beans of the Coffea arabica plant.

The origins of Arabica coffee beans

Arabica originated in the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia and is the most popular kind of coffee worldwide – making up 60% or more of coffee production worldwide.

Arabica got its name in the 7th century when the beans went from Ethiopia to lower Arabia, where their beans were brewed into a delicious beverage for the first time.

In Ethiopia, the beans were being crushed and mixed with fat to be eaten as a stimulant by the Oromo tribe.

The beans became the “coffee” we know today once they arrived in Arabia. It was described as a brewed beverage for the first time by Arab scholars who said it helped them prolong their work hours. From there, its popularity begins to spread around the world.

What does Arabica coffee taste like?

Arabica has a sweet, soft taste, with lots of sugar, berries, and fruits and with higher acidity.

This variety is grown at higher altitudes and can be more difficult and costly to grow. That’s the reason these plants produce a high-demand bean that sells for a higher price.

Most of the coffee beans you see at the grocery store, market, coffee shop, and cafe – are arabica coffee. Some brands will mix arabica and robusta coffee beans, especially espresso blends. But the majority is arabica coffee.

What Is Robusta Coffee Beans?

Robusta coffee is a type of coffee made from the beans (seeds) of the Coffea canephora plant. Robusta coffee beans are second in popularity after the Arabica coffee beans.

The origins of Robusta coffee beans?

Robusta originated in central and western sub-Saharan Africa. It is the second most popular coffee in the world, making up 40% of the world’s coffee production.

Robusta coffee is primarily grown in the Eastern Hemisphere, mainly in Africa and Indonesia. The largest producer is Vietnam.

Coffea robusta has become a synonym of Coffea canephora which has two main varieties, C. c. robusta, and C. c. nganda. These varieties are commonly referred to as robusta coffee.

It’s often used in instant coffee and espresso blends. So when it comes to making coffee at home, the method you’ll want to choose to bring out the best in Robusta beans is espresso.

What does Robusta coffee taste like

Robusta however has a stronger and harsher taste accompanied by a grain-like tinge and peanut-like after-taste. It possesses twice the amount of caffeine as Arabica but is certainly inferior to it.

Robusta can be grown at lower altitudes, in hotter climates, and with less moisture. Since Robusta has fewer growing restrictions and has a generally less desirable flavor, it is usually sold for a lower price than Arabica beans. Most mass-market commercial beans are of the Robusta variety.

Final Words From Me

Ultimately it’s a question of personal taste. One thing that makes a difference in choosing the type of coffee is the amount of caffeine. Robusta has twice as much caffeine as arabica.