When it comes to coffee beans, it's easy to think of them as one and the same. But did you know there are actually four distinct species of coffee beans, each with their own unique taste?
You've probably heard of the big two: Arabica and Robusta (which make up over 90% of global production). But there are two lesser known varieties, Liberica and Excelsa, which are rarer and more unique in flavour.
In this guide, we'll cover the different types of coffee beans and their different flavour profiles - so you can shop with confidence and learn more about your morning brew.
Arabica
Arabica coffee beans make up roughly 60% of global production and are believed to be the first species of coffee to be cultivated. They originate from the highlands of Ethiopia (hence the nickname 'The birthplace of coffee'), preferring to grow in tropical climates at higher altitudes. Nowadays, Arabica beans are grown in a variety of countries, including mountainous regions of Latin America, Africa and Asia.
They thrive in nutrient dense soil (often volcanic regions), as well as a balance of sunlight and shade. Overall, they are more difficult to grow than other types of coffee beans - requiring more energy, resources and careful handling. As a result, they are more expensive.
Arabica coffee beans contain half the caffeine content of Robusta, around 1.2% to 1.5% of caffeine per unroasted bean. Additionally, they have a higher sugar content, which contributes to their overall flavour.
What do Arabica beans taste like?
Arabica coffee beans have a bright, nuanced taste - often with fruity, nutty or citrus notes and a smooth mouth-feel. This is due to the higher sugar content and lower caffeine level compared to Robusta beans, which often have a more earthy, bitter taste.
Additionally, where a bean is grown plays a big part in it's final taste. Arabica beans from Latin America are known for their chocolate, caramel notes, whilst Africa Arabica's have a notable citrus, floral taste. This is due to the unique growing conditions at play.
If you want to experience Arabica coffee for yourself, we recommend Roof of Africa - an 100% Ethiopian Arabica coffee, or our Daily Grind coffee, which contains a blend of Arabica beans from Central America and Ethiopia.
Robusta
Robusta beans are the second most globally produced coffee type and often seen as a counterpoint to Arabica beans. Originating from Central and Western Africa, they grow at lower altitudes in warm, humid climates. They are known for their hardy nature, high yields and pest resistant qualities, which makes them much easier to grow than Arabica beans and therefore much cheaper to buy.
Nowadays, Robusta coffee is grown across the globe with Vietnam being the biggest producer. Other high producing countries include India, Indonesia, Brazil and Uganda. Robusta beans tend to be smaller and rounder than Arabicas, however they have twice the amount of caffeine, which contributes to their harsher, more bold taste. This is because caffeine acts as a natural pesticides, which protects the plants from the increased environmental pressures (such as pests and predators) found at lower altitudes.
What do Robusta beans taste like?
Robusta beans are known for their strong, earthy taste, making them a popular choice in bold Italian style roasts or instant coffees. You may recognise their spiced, punchy flavour or woody, chocolatey notes.
On the flip side, they can come across as overly bitter, burnt, smoky or even rubbery, which can polarize some drinkers - this is a result of their high caffeine content and lower sugar levels. To counter this, they are often carefully combined with Arabica beans to balance out the overly harsh notes, whilst providing a bold, full-bodied taste.
If you want to try 100% Robusta coffee for yourself, we recommend Walk on the Wild Side - a strong, dark coffee with bitter chocolate notes, which showcases the unique flavour profile of Indian Robusta beans.
Liberica
Liberica coffee beans are considered rare, making up roughly 1% of global coffee production (hence why you may have never heard of them!). Originating from West Africa, they grow on very tall trees (up to 20 metres high) and are harvested on ladders. They have a unique tear-shaped bean, which is larger than both Arabica and Robusta beans.
Nowadays, Liberica beans are mainly cultivated in Southeast Asia, most notably the Philippines and Malaysia - preferring a tropical climate and lower elevation. Whilst it is a resilient, disease resistant variety, it contains a high sugar level meaning it has to be processed quickly to avoid fermentation (which can cause undesirable flavours to develop).
Liberica beans have a lower caffeine content, more similar to that of Arabica coffee, which contributes to their unique and distinctive taste. Due to their rarity and limited production, they are seen as a premium coffee with a high price tag.
What do Liberica beans taste like?
Liberica coffee beans have a unique taste and are often considered polarizing amongst drinkers. They are known for their woody, earthy taste with notes of jackfruit, cacao or dark berries. However, they are also know for a 'cardboard-like' or overly fermented taste, with low production numbers making it hard to find consistently high quality beans.
Excelsa
Excelsa beans are the most recently discovered species of coffee, falling under the Liberica family. Whilst its origins lie in Central Africa, it is primarily cultivated in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam and the Philippines. Excelsa coffee can thrive in hot, harsh environments with unpredictable rainfall - making them a climate resistent alternative to Arabica beans.
With the majority of coffee producing countries lying along the equator, global warming is leading to increasingly difficult growing conditions. Due to these challenges, we may see more regions cultivating Excelsa, as a way to maintain production levels and protect livelihoods. Additionally, new growing regions may emerge, where previous varieties could not be cultivated at scale.
Similarly to Liberica coffee, Excelsa beans grow on a tree instead of a shrub (like Arabica and Robusta beans.) They have a low caffeine content, which contributes to its unique flavour profile.
What do Excelsa beans taste like?
Excelsa coffee beans have a complex taste, combining brighter, acidic notes with deeper, spicy flavours. They are often described as tasting of mango or pineapple, mixed with darker plum notes and a chocolatey, woody base.
Excelsa beans are rarely used on their own, instead being blended with more common Arabica or Robusta beans to create a more complex and distinctive taste.