Most coffee lovers are familiar with Arabica coffee beans and have seen “100% Arabica beans” plastered all over single-origin coffee bags. You may be wondering what exactly this means, why it’s important, and if there are other types of beans.
Fear not: we’re going to answer all of these questions below! We’re taking a look at the four different kinds of coffee beans in this article, what flavors they produce in your cup and the differences between the coffee bean types.
Table of Contents
What Are Coffee Beans?
You’re probably pretty familiar with what coffee beans look and taste like, but where do coffee beans come from? You may be surprised to find out that they’re the seeds from coffee cherries.
This coffee plant is usually grown in specific climates around the world. The trees bear fruit after about four years of growth and vegetation. Each coffee cherry typically contains two seeds, which will eventually become coffee beans that will be dried and roasted to create the coffee beans with which you’re familiar.
First, the fruit is wet- or dry-processed. In wet coffee processing, the cherry’s flesh is removed, and the seed is left to dry in the sun. The name comes from the “processing” happening when the fruit is still wet or has moisture. In dry processing, the entire cherry is dried in the sun before the fruit’s flesh is removed. Dry processing usually imparts some fruitiness or acidity into the bean.
The beans are then roasted at high temperatures, ground into coffee grounds, and used to brew coffee!
Related: 20 Clever Coffee Filter Substitute Options
What Are the Main Types of Coffee Beans?
There are four different types of coffee beans, each of which comes from a different strain or “species” of the coffee tree. The four bean types are Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa.
1. Arabica (Coffea Arabica)
Arabica beans are more than likely what you have been drinking most of your time as a coffee lover. Arabica beans make up about 70% of the world’s coffee production, and it’s by far the most common high-quality coffee type to find in bags of coffee.
Arabica coffee is known for moderate caffeine content and a smooth, well-balanced flavor. The mouthfeel is usually a bit creamy, and the coffee these beans produce has little acidity and a reasonably perceptible sweetness to it.
Arabica trees can only be grown at high altitudes, require more rainfall than the other species, and are more susceptible to disease and growing complications. As such, they are significantly more expensive than different types of coffee beans.
Arabica beans are available just about anywhere coffee is sold, including major retail chains. Avoid cold brew coffee when trying Arabica coffee beans. The quality decreases if cold or when creamer is added. It is better served hot, freshly brewed with the drip coffee or pour-over method.
2. Robusta (Coffea Canephora)
Robusta coffee beans are far less prevalent than Arabica beans, but they’re still heavily produced around the world. They make up an estimated 25-30% of all coffee bean production worldwide. If you’re following along with our math, that means that nearly all coffee produced in the world is Arabica or Robusta.
Robusta coffee beans can have a much higher caffeine content than Arabica beans, and they are much cheaper because they’re easier to grow, can thrive in harsher climates, and are generally heartier plants.
You may be wondering: why not drink Robusta for the most cost-effective caffeine kick possible? Taste an all-Robusta coffee, and you’ll find out! Robusta beans may deliver more caffeine, but they also are infamous for an overly bitter taste and burnt flavor.
This coffee is enjoyed by some countries like Italy and France, which are used to robust, almost rubbery-tasting coffee, but most Americans don’t enjoy it much. However, it’s used to make instant coffee, and the beans can be blended with Arabica beans to bring the overall cost of a coffee down while maintaining most of the desirable flavors from the smoother-tasting beans.
Robusta beans are less common and might be a bit more difficult to find than Arabica beans, but you shouldn’t have too much trouble locating a 100% Robusta coffee.
3. Liberica (Coffea Liberica)
Chances are, if you’ve heard of any types of coffee other than Arabica, Liberica coffee isn’t one of them. Liberica and Excelsa beans combined are estimated to make up less than 5% of all coffee production worldwide. However, they are rather delicious and may surprise you with their flavor profile.
Liberica has its place in the history of coffee. This varietal was widely used in the 1890s when 90% of the world’s Arabica stock was wiped out by coffee rust. As the Arabica bean made a comeback, Liberica beans became widely forgotten.
Liberica coffee beans are even more temperamental than Arabica beans and need very specific climates to thrive. The small areas where these beans are grown aren’t enough to make this coffee species mass-produced and readily available on shelves.
These beans make coffee that is fruity and has a bright acidity. They mimic some of the lighter and brighter Arabica beans, like lightly roasted Kenyan or Ethiopian coffees with citrusy notes. Liberica beans can also have a somewhat woody taste, but it depends on where they come from and if they have a darker roast.
You may be able to find Liberica beans online or – rarely – at a specialty coffee shop if you’re interested in trying them. Still, they are rarer than the normal Arabica and Robusta species.
4. Excelsa (Coffea Excelsa or Coffea Liberica Var. Dewevrei)
Excelsa coffee beans are the fourth and final type. They technically are the same species as Liberica beans, but they are categorized as their own coffee type because of their differences. They are, however, about as uncommon as standard Liberica beans.
Excelsa beans have the same growing limitations as Liberica beans, making them unsuitable for mass-production and commercial roasting.
These beans have a similar fruitiness and acidity to Liberica coffee, but they introduce some tartness into your coffee cup. They’re known for offering qualities of both light and dark roast coffee notes, making them unique in the coffee world. They can be fruity and acidic while still highlighting chocolate, caramel, and toffee notes.
If you’re interested in trying coffee made from Excelsa beans, you’ll have to try your luck with online coffee retailers or specialty coffee shops. Your best bet is finding a coffee market or online store that specializes in rare or exotic coffees.
What Is the Best Type of Coffee Beans?
This is a difficult question to answer because every coffee connoisseur has different preferences. While strong, bitter Robusta coffee may appeal to some coffee drinkers, others may only be able to tolerate – let alone enjoy – a sweeter, more balanced cup of coffee made from Arabica beans.
Ultimately, the best type of coffee beans for you is the one that you enjoy the most. If you’re just looking for caffeine and don’t care much for the taste or flavor nuances of specialty coffee, then the bean type doesn’t matter all that much. If you’re looking for specific flavor profiles in your cup of coffee, the best kind of bean will be the one that matches your personal taste.
How to Choose What Types of Beans to Buy
The better question is how to choose the kind of coffee bean that appeals to you and your coffee needs. If you’re looking for convenience when you buy coffee or want the most options available, Arabica beans are your best bet because they’re widely available. If you’re looking for the cheapest coffee possible or the coffee with the most caffeine, Robusta beans will suit you best; just be ready to add cream and sugar if you don’t like a bitter, earthy taste.
While convenience and cost are critical, most coffee drinkers choose their coffee for taste as well, and the flavor is where one particular coffee plant type will stand out most to you.
Arabica coffees have a well-balanced flavor profile with little acidity. If you live in the United States, Arabica beans are what you sometimes think of as “regular coffee.” There are tens of thousands of options available, and they can range from delicate fruitiness to full body, bold chocolate, and toffee tasting notes.
If you enjoy some bitterness and burnt flavors in your coffee, Robusta beans will suit you best. They’re usually full of intense flavors and offer the most robust tastes to your cup.
If you’re looking for more exotic or unique flavors in your coffee, Liberica or Excelsa coffee beans might be the best choice for you if you can find a seller that offers them. Liberica beans are light and fruity with a woody undertone, while Excelsa beans can provide flavors of lightly and darkly roasted coffee beans at the same time.
Exploring the Four Coffee Types
Now that you know what the four kinds of coffee beans are and the flavors each one offers, you’re tasked with finding your favorite one! You never know what type of coffee bean you’ll enjoy the most, so some exploration is in order.
We recommend starting with some Arabica and Robusta coffees and trying out multiple kinds from different roasters to get an idea of which will make great coffee for you. Then, do some research online or at local coffee roasters and see if you can get your hands on Liberica and Excelsa coffee beans. They’re harder to track down, but you may find that you prefer their flavor profiles more than the two more common species.
Once you figure out the best coffee type for you, continue exploring within that species. Different coffee berries, origins, roast profiles, and blends can offer some variation and keep your interest in coffee piqued!