A Comprehensive Guide to the 4 Types of Coffee Beans: Profiles and Characteristics

If you’re an avid coffee drinker, you’ve probably wondered just how many different types of coffee beans there are and what makes them unique. There are four different types of coffee beans: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. What exactly is a coffee bean? A coffee bean is a seed found inside a coffee plant’s fruit (called the cherry). The coffee cherry is unusual because we don’t eat the fruity outer part; instead, we take the pit out and roast it.

1. Arabica Coffee Beans (Coffea arabica)

Arabica beans are the most popular coffee beans, making up about 60% of the world’s coffee. These tasty beans originated centuries ago in the highlands of Ethiopia and are considered the most high-quality variety. In terms of growth, Arabica beans need extra shade, water, and high altitude to grow correctly. These plants are more susceptible to plant diseases and must be developed at the height of at least 2,000 feet. They’re also smaller plants, measuring between 8 and 15 feet when fully grown.

Regarding their flavor, Arabica coffee beans are known for their smooth, complex flavor and distinct lack of bitterness. Depending on where they’re grown, Arabica beans can offer many different tasting notes, from earthy Indonesian to floral Ethiopian. These beans also contain 60% more lipids and almost twice the amount of natural sugars than Robusta beans do. Brewed Arabica beans have characteristically heavy aromas with smoother tastes and less caffeine, typically containing about 1.5% caffeine.

2. Robusta Coffee Beans (Coffea caniphora)

The second most popular type of coffee bean is Robusta. This bean originated in sub-Saharan Africa and is now grown primarily in Africa and Indonesia. Robusta beans are larger and more rounded than the other bean varieties. These plants typically grow much more prominent than Arabica plants, measuring between 15 and 20 feet. Robusta beans are typically hardier because they can grow at lower altitudes and resist diseases.

Many people think that Robusta coffee is harsher and more bitter. It often has a strong smell and a flat, almost burnt taste. Robusta beans also have significantly more caffeine than Arabica beans. Due to their robust flavors and caffeine levels, many espresso drinkers favor Robusta beans. However, some unusual varieties can be earthy and spiced without a hint of bitterness.

3. Liberica Coffee Beans (Coffea liberica)

Native to central and western Africa – specifically Liberia – Coffea liberica is prized for its piquant floral aroma and bold, smoky flavor profile. This hardy species is frequently mixed with other varieties to add body and complexity. It’s also tolerant of hot, humid climates and does well at low altitudes. Growing from a much larger plant than Arabica or Robusta, most Liberica cherries tend to be irregular in shape and closer to Robusta in size and general appearance. The bean makes up roughly 2% of the world’s coffee supply and is now produced mainly in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

4. Excelsa Coffee Beans

While there are four types of commercially-viable coffee, Excelsa is one of the varieties often grown in specific geographical regions. Thanks to its archipelagic nature and tropical weather, the Philippines has ideal climactic and soil conditions to grow all four varieties, including Excelsa. Merchants in these regions aim to export these varieties to major coffee-consuming countries like Japan, the US, and Canada to support local farmers and build a global reputation as a coffee origin.

Comparison of Main Coffee Bean Varieties

• Arabica: 60% market share, high altitude growth, smooth and complex flavor, 1.5% caffeine.
• Robusta: High caffeine, hardy and disease-resistant, harsh and bitter flavor, grows at low altitudes.
• Liberica: 2% market share, piquant floral aroma, smoky flavor profile, tolerant of hot and humid climates.
• Excelsa: Commercially viable, grown in tropical mountainous and lowland regions.