What Are the Different Types of Coffee?
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash.
If you are just stepping foot into the world of coffee, it might seem like every cup of coffee tastes just like the rest. This is especially true when it comes to black drip coffee. After all, drip is known for its bitter and strong tasting notes. So if we told you that there’s a lot of variety in the coffee industry, you might be wondering, “Well, what are the different types of coffee?”
Today, we would love to enlighten you and give you some insight into the many different types of coffee. We’ll start with the three distinct types of coffee beans and follow up with insight into the three main kinds of coffee roasts. By the end of the blog post, you will have a better grasp on the various different types of coffee that are available!
What Are the Different Kinds of Coffee Beans?
When it comes to coffee beans in particular, there are three main categories: arabica, liberica, and robusta. In no particular order, let’s dive deep into the three types of coffee beans and all of the ways that they differ from one another.
Arabica Beans
Arabica coffee beans are the most popular, with nearly sixty-percent of all coffee beans in the world falling into the arabica category. With the origin of arabica coffee beans being Arabia, the title of this category of beans makes perfect sense.
Growing most abundantly in parts of the world where rainfall is frequent and droughts are sparse, arabica beans are native to Bravil. However, even though it seems like arabica beans are aplenty, these coffee beans are destroyed by environmental factors quite easily, seeing as they are not very strong in the face of ugs and other contaminants.
As such, coffee farmers know that they have to plant far more arabica coffee seeds than they anticipate harvesting because many of these beans will shrivel up and not make it through the entire growth cycle due to their natural propensity for disease-based illnesses. Even so, arabica beans are a valued treasure all over the world. People fall in love with the sweetness of arabica coffee beans.
Liberica Beans
If you find yourself stumbling upon liberica coffee beans, count your lucky stars because it is incredibly rare to come across liberica beans. The main reason for this is the mere fact that liberica coffee beans cannot grow just anywhere.
Of the three main types of coffee beans, liberica beans require very specific environmental conditions. For instance, these coffee beans can only grow in hot climates with incredibly low altitudes. Most commonly found in Africa, the two locations that are the most optimal for liberica bean growth include Malaysia and West Africa.
If you ever have the chance to try liberica beans, don't pass up the offer because it might just be your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Expect to experience an aromatic flavor that incorporates floral scents and wood-like aromas.
Robusta Beans
If the name is any indication of how resilient robusta beans are, then they have to be the strongest coffee bean type out there. As the second most popular coffee bean type in the world, robusta beans follow right behind arabica beans on a global scale.
While arabica beans are very subtle and sweet, robusta beans are very powerful and intense. The flavor profiles of robusta beans are often aligned with a bitterness that is noticeable but also enjoyable. Bitter tasting notes are never bad news when it comes to coffee.
What Are the Various Types of Coffee Roasts?
As you can imagine, the coffee roast of a particular bean refers to the way the bean was roasted before being packaged and distributed. There are three categories of coffee roasts, including light, medium, and dark.
Coffee beans are categorized into one of these three groups based on the bean's caffeine level and overall acidity. Let's take a look at the three types of coffee roasts in detail so you can further understand what sets these three coffee roasts apart!
Light Roast
Light roast coffee sounds very innocent, but don’t let the “light” part of the name fool you. Even though lightness indicates something simple and sweet, light roast coffees pack a mean punch. Surprisingly enough, light roast coffee is the most caffeine-dense type of coffee roast. Light roast coffee is as acidic as coffee beans can get!
Medium Roast
With a name like medium roast, this middle ground coffee option is pretty straightforward. In terms of caffeine, medium roasts are more caffeine-dense than dark roasts but they contain less caffeine than light roasts.
In other words, medium roasts sit right in the middle between light and dark. It probably comes as no surprise that medium roast coffee is less acidic than light roast blends but more acidic than dark roast coffee. In other words, medium roast coffee beans are right in the middle.
Dark Roast
Similar to the way light roast sounds like a very calm and low-caffeine coffee roast option, dark roast coffees can be deceptive. It is logical to assume that dark roast coffees should be your go-to if you need a serious caffeine boost, but in fact, the opposite is actually true. Dark roast coffee beans and blends are the least acidic.
Where to Buy Different Types of Coffee
Now that you have learned all about the different types of coffee beans and roasts, you might be wondering where you can find an array of coffee beans to try. Look no further than Altruistic Joe! From year round blends to seasonal roasts and everything in between, we have you covered.
Keep in mind that different types of coffee pair best with different brewing methods. Make sure you look into the best brewing method and overall process for the type of coffee you plan to make at home.
As always, Altruistic Joe is committed to offering great coffee that you can feel good about! If you have any questions about our products or you would like help selecting the right beans for you, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help!