Coffee Beans – A Wide Variety

What are commonly referred to as coffee beans are in fact seeds taken from the cherries produced on the small, bush-like trees of coffee plants. These plants are unique in that they produce fruit that is ripe and unripe simultaneously. Laborers who work collecting coffee beans have an exceptionally busy season during the harvest of those beans. The beans used to make coffee are picked from the ripe fruits. The plants are of different species depending upon where they have been grown and picked. Coffee beans are generally categorized as Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, or Excelsa.

Arabica

The plant scientifically named Coffea Arabica produces Arabica beans. These coffee plants are natives of both Yemen and Ethiopia. In most cases, one hectare of land used to cultivate Arabica coffee plants can yield up to one thousand beans in a single harvest. The Arabica plant can be recognized by its leaves that have a light green color that are thin and have a wavy outline. The amount of caffeine found in Arabica beans is less than that of other commercially grown coffees. The flavor of Arabica coffee is distinct, known for its caramel aftertaste, slight acidic flavor, and rich aroma.

Robusta

Coffea robusta, the coffee plant from which come Robusta coffee beans, was first discovered in the late 1800ís in the Congo. This coffee plant, which grows out like an umbrella, also has thin leaves like the Arabica plant, but its leaves have a wavier outline. The Robusta coffee plant grows easily in a mild environment and thus coffee harvesters like to use it. As a result, between twenty five and forty percent of the coffee consumed around the world comes from the Robusta coffee bean.

Although Arabica beans are considered to be of a higher quality than Robusta coffee beans, more beans can be harvested from a hectare of land of Robusta plants than one of Arabica plants. In addition, certain varieties of Robusta beans actually produce specialty coffee with a stronger flavor than that of Arabica beans. Most commercially produced coffee and instant coffees come from Robusta beans.

Liberica

Liberica coffee can be recognized by its distinct aroma and luscious flavor. These characteristics allow Liberica coffee to compete well with Arabica coffee. The Liberica coffee plant tends to appear growing in small groups of plants and produces large berries. For these reasons, most Liberica beans are not grown on the mass scale that other beans are. This coffee plant, with comes from Liberia, is not in high demand but still is harvested in Western Africa and Malaysia.

What are commonly referred to as coffee beans are in fact seeds taken from the cherries produced on the small, bush-like trees of coffee plants. These plants are unique in that they produce fruit that is ripe and unripe simultaneously. Laborers who work collecting coffee beans have an exceptionally busy season during the harvest of…