A Simple Guide to Find All About Coffee Beans and How to Choose the Perfect Ones

In many countries worldwide, coffee is considered the most popular drink because of its heavenly taste and health benefits. Many people depend on their morning cup of coffee to start their day refreshed and full of energy. There are several coffee beans and numerous ways of making coffee worldwide, like espresso, cappuccino, latte, Turkish coffee, and many more. 

However, there are four main types of coffee beans. If you are a fan of coffee and would like to know more about the main types of coffee beans, read on as we will provide you with a simple guide to find out all about coffee beans and how to choose the perfect ones.

Four Main Types of Coffee Beans

The coffee bean is the pit found in the coffee plant that is taken out and roasted. There are four main types of coffee beans: Robusta, Excelsa, Liberica, and Arabica. However, Robusta and Arabica are the most popular types. 

1.Robusta

Robusta coffee beans are originated in sub-Saharan Africa and mainly found in Indonesia and Africa. They have more caffeine in them than Arabica coffee beans, and sometimes they are mixed into coffee blends. As for its taste, Robusta coffee is a bit bitter.

2.Arabica

Arabica coffee beans originated in Ethiopia. It is probably named Arabica beans because of how popular it was in the 7th century in Arabia, which is actually Yemen in the present day. They are not cheap because they are hard to grow. Unlike Robusta coffee, Arabica coffee has a smooth taste and is not bitter at all. 

3.Excelsa

The Excelsa coffee bean is a Liberica variant. It is mainly found in Southeast Asia; it is lighter in caffeine than the other types and has a fruity flavor. Excelsa coffee beans are sometimes mixed in blends to add complexity.

4.Liberica

Liberica coffee bean took its name from Liberia, as it is native there. As for its taste, it has a floral aroma and a smoky flavor. It is not common in the USA and Europe but popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Make Sure the Beans Are Fresh

The first thing you want to make sure of is the freshness of the beans. Always look for the roast date on them and stay away from ones without printed dates. Moreover, here is a tip for you, packages with “best before” printed on them most probably are not fresh. If the roast date is not printed on the packaging, most probably the coffee beans are not fresh, so the date is hidden from buyers.

Choose a Brewing Method

After making sure that the beans are fresh, choose the brewing method. Do you prefer Espresso roast or filter roast? Espresso roast brings out the flavor of roasted beans as it roasts the beans at higher temperatures and a longer time. On the other hand, Filter roast uses different brewing devices that roast the beans at a lower temperature, resulting in a sweeter taste. So, you better try both methods using different fresh coffee bean types to choose the one that your taste buds will prefer. 

Single Origin and Blend

Single-origin coffee means that the coffee is from a specific geographic location but a blended mix of different coffee beans from different locations. Some people prefer their coffee black, while others like to add milk to their cup of coffee. Therefore, if you want to add milk, choose a blend. On the other hand, if you prefer back coffee, choose a single origin. 

Washed or Unwashed Coffee

Even if you buy two bags of the same coffee beans, if each bag was processed with a different method, the taste of each bag will differ from the other. Therefore, read on the package if it is wet-processed (washed) or natural (unwashed). Unwashed processed coffee means that the cherry was still on the bean while it was drying, and that is why it has a fruity flavor and intense aroma. 

On the other hand, washed processed coffee means that the outer pulp was removed and put in fermentation tanks before getting washed and dried out. The washed processing method results in complex acidity and unmistakable taste.

As you can see, there are different types of coffee beans and several ways to process and roast them. Your favorite cup of coffee would depend on your personal preferences and your taste buds. Do you prefer dark or light roast? Do you like to add milk to your coffee, or prefer it black? However, all coffee types and brews have one thing in common: they all taste like heaven.