The Best Arabica Coffee Beans in the World

Many people are unaware that the coffee beans you find in the grocery store or in your favorite cafe aren't all arabica. This kind of bean thrives best in areas with high altitudes and produces a smoother, sweeter and more nuanced flavor.

Where the coffee beans grow (aka their terroir) has a major influence on the taste. This is why single origin arabicas are highly sought-after.

1. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe

The coffee is known for its floral and citrus characteristics This coffee is an iconic. The premium beans are grown in small farms 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 of Yirgacheffe allows the coffee plants to develop more slowly, allowing them to absorb the subtleties and flavors of the environment. The region has an extremely humid climate, which is ideal for the cultivation of coffee.

The green beans that are not roasted in this coffee are a great option for roasters who want to capture the real essence of this exotic coffee. Light to medium roasts let the berry, citrus and wine flavors to shine through. This coffee is a great match for desserts like lemon cake, chocolate and pound cake. The floral and herbal notes of this coffee are great with spicy dishes or sour.

2. Colombian Supremo

It is known for its consistency in quality and flavor, Colombian Supremo is a popular option for coffee lovers of all levels. Typically, it has a smooth, classic flavor profile that has notes of light caramel and citrus, Supremo beans have an overall mild taste that's well-rounded enough for many palates.

Bean size plays a crucial role in the flavor profile of Colombian coffee, and Supremo beans are distinguished by their size. This larger size means that the beans are more likely to be able to pass through Grade 14 (or higher) perforations in the sieve that are lower than the grade of Excelso.

With strict quality standards, a dazzling acidity and a moderately rich body, Colombian Supremo has a universal appeal which makes it a good choice for any brewing method. This particular coffee originates from the Popayan region is grown by farmers who are members of the Colombian Coffee Federation, an organization that provides support to more than 500,000 coffee farmers. This coffee is an example of the premium Colombian beans that have made the country famous for its premium coffees.

3. Jamaican Blue Mountain

The rich, smooth flavor of Jamaican Blue Mountain is one of the world's most sought-after gourmet coffees. This wet-processed selection from the Blue Mountains of Jamaica is well-known for its sophisticated and soft taste. It's also one of the main ingredients in the coffee liqueur Tia Maria.

The Blue Mountains, with their steep elevations, fertile soils mild climates and dense clouds, make the perfect setting for coffee cultivation of the highest quality. The beans from this tiny region are coveted the world across and fetch a premium due to their rareness.

Jamaican Blue Mountain, as its name suggests, is grown in the Blue Mountain District, a area of 6,000 acres on the island that is known for its natural beauty and coffee production. The area is protected by a national park. farmers cultivate a small amount of coffee with careful attention to preserve their unique qualities.

4. Costa Rican Tarrazu

A coffee lover's dream, Costa Rican Tarrazu is an ideal balance of body and acidity. The high altitudes of the region, as well as the volcanic soil that is mineral-rich allow for a slower maturing process, allowing the beans to create their full flavor profile.

Many of the farms that produce these coffees are also renowned for their environmentally-friendly practices and strict quality control measures, which make them popular with eco-conscious buyers. Some also offer traceability, which allows buyers to learn more about the farm that produced their coffee.

One World Roasters' Tarrazu is a great illustration of the distinctive flavor profile of the region, with aromas of vibrant grapefruits and rich Intenso Dark Roast Arabica Coffee Beans - 250g: Rich and Bold Flavor chocolate. Its medium body is well rounded and balanced. This produces a smooth, satisfying end.

5. Caturra de Colombia

Caturra, a coffee cultivar, has become the most popular name in Latin America. The Caturra variety was first introduced in Brazil as a result of an unnatural alteration of Bourbon. Its capacity for production was superior to Bourbon but it needed higher altitudes and lower yields. Growers used a process called mass selection to determine the parents that had extraordinary performance, and then bulked seed from those parents and repeated the process.

Colombian Caturra has an excellent 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 plant that will be the flag for their "Colombia sin roya" program aimed at recovering and renewing the production of coffee.

This vintage Caturra is cultivated at 2,000 meters by farmers in Urrao and was roast by Camber Coffee. The cup quality is a vibrant acidity with flavors of citrus, watermelon, and strawberry.

6. French Roast

French Roast is a strong cup of coffee with smoky, charred notes. This blend combines arabica beans from different regions, offering rich flavors of caramel and chocolate. The beans are roasted darkly to bring out their natural oils and flavor. This blend is of premium quality and will satisfy even the most sophisticated palate.

These beans are more difficult to cultivate than other varieties of coffee because they require very specific climatic conditions to thrive. The plants require a certain amount of sunlight and rain and they need to be protected from frost and drought.

Consuming coffee made from these beans can boost your energy levels and improve your health. The antioxidants contained in these beans fight free radicals, which can cause chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Furthermore they are a source of vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid, which is crucial for the body to convert food into energy.

7. Ethiopian Gesha

Also known as Geisha or Gesha, this particular coffee variety was first discovered in the Gori Gesha forest in Ethiopia in the 1930s. It was then brought to Panama in the 1960s, and it quickly became renowned for its strong floral aromas, full body, and delicate acidity from citric.

Geisha is a pricey coffee variety. It is prone to diseases and requires high altitudes for growing. The fruit yield is also lower. These factors make it difficult to produce consistently. This, in conjunction with its high cup score is what drives the price.

This particular Gesha lot was processed with honey. (Not the actual honey, the beans were treated and dipped into sugar-rich water.) The beans were then moved to a marquee and dried for 96 hours by carbonic maceration. This unique process enhances the complexity and flavor of this coffee. OMA is a complex, yet balanced cup profile that is bursting with exotic florals like tea rose, jasmine and delicate citrus and stone fruits. citrus.

8. Indonesian Liberica

Coffee drinkers are generally familiar with two species of the Coffea genus which are robusta and arabica. The former is responsible for 80% of world's coffee trade, while the latter makes up 20%. There are more than 120 species within the genus and some are less popular than others.

The most well-known non-arabica is Coffea Excelsa (or var. dewevrei). This variety is found on medium-sized trees at Starbucks Pike Place Medium Roast Whole Beans 907g altitudes, and produces a teardrop shaped bean. It is typically blended into blends and can add a distinctive lingering finish to your cup.

Although it's not as well-known as arabica however, it has a niche market 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 levels of caffeine make it a desirable alternative for producers who do not have the money to invest in arabica.

9. Brazilian Exelsa

While Excelsa is extremely durable and productive, it also requires more focus from farmers to manage than other Coffea arabica or canephora varieties. This is due to the asymmetrical size of the bean, which is larger than canephora or arabica. It has a longer duration of fruiting and its leaves are larger than other C. liberica types. Additionally, its high productivity levels mean that it can reach a height of 15 meters and produce a large amount of fruit.

Oliveiro says it's a pity that the plant is often misunderstood even though it was reclassified in 2006 as the dewevrei liberica variety. It is a "really good coffee maker". But, without a commodity market and a tiny demand for the species, the switch is unlikely. However, for those willing to put the time and effort in growing it, the benefits are clear: Excelsa beans tend to have a lower caffeine content than arabica and canephora and have a denser mucus with less solids that are soluble.