Coffee! The savior of tired moments, the drink that attracts us with its fragrance and taste! Coffee has been in our lives for 1200- 1300 years, but it feels as if it was one of the oldest drinks in human history. So much so that coffee is grown in around 70 countries. In recent years, interest in coffee has also increased in our country. But, how many of us really know what we are drinking? How many coffee bean types are there and what are their characteristics? Let us offer you an incisive look into the issue..
Main types of coffee beans
First of all, there are 3 main types of coffee beans. The names of these coffee beans are Robusta, Liberica and Arabica. There are also sub-types of these beans. But these are the main bean types. These types of beans take on different flavors while they are being processed and harvested.
- Liberica: Liberica is a low yield type of coffee compared to Arabica and Robusta.
- Robusta: This type of coffee, which contains 2.5% more caffeine than other types, has a pretty strong taste.
- Arabica: This coffee bean with low caffeine and a smoother taste is aromatic and delicious. 80% of the coffee in the world is produced from these types of beans.
We have covered so far three main types of beans. Now it’s time to learn the characteristics of these coffee beans according to countries. Because tens of factors, such as temperature and height, affect the flavor of the coffee beans.
Vietnam – Robusta
We can say with some degree of confidence the only thing not affected by the war in Vietnam was coffee. In Vietnam, people prefer the Robusta coffee bean with a strong taste. In fact, Vietnam can be said to be the native land of Robusta. Vietnam is among top coffee exporters in the world.
Indonesia – Robusta & Arabica
Indonesia, which we frequently hear associated with interesting coffee types, produces 660,000,000 kg of coffee per year. Although quality and taste pale in comparison to Brazil and Colombia, it has an important place in global coffee production.
Brazil – Arabica
As you know, Brazil is one of the top coffee producing countries. In Brazil, 2,594,100 tons of coffee was produced in 2016. Among the reasons for the coffee grown in Brazil being so tasty are the wide production areas and the premium quality of the product. The coffee produced in Brazil is often preferred because it has low acidity.
India – Arabica & Robusta
Arabica and Robusta coffee beans are grown abundantly in India. The much renowned coffee beans grown in the south region of the country are known for their soft taste and high levels of acidity.
Colombia – Arabica
Colombia, which claims a fair share of coffee production with 810,000,000 kg per year, is just behind Brazil in terms of taste with its Arabica coffee bean. Among the delicious coffee types of Colombia are Extra and Supremo.
Ethiopia – Arabica
The coffee culture in Ethiopia dates back to the 800s A.D. Even historical findings show that the homeland of coffee is Ethiopia. According to a rumor, goats eating coffee beans in ancient times used to be observed by the dervishes. And the dervishes boiled the juice of the fruit the goats ate and drank it. Ethiopia, which produces 384,000,000 kg of coffee per year, has prized coffee trees that yield delicious coffee.
Uganda – Arabica & Robusta
Ugandan coffee resembles African coffee in terms of its aroma and wine-like acidity. But it is not as popular as Kenyan or Ethiopian coffee. Most of the coffee produced is exported which contributes significantly to the economy. Among the important types of coffee produced in Uganda is Bugishu.