The Different Types of Coffee Beans
Introduction
Who knew that such a simple cup of joe could vary so much in taste and quality? Whether you’re looking to buy the best coffee beans or want to know how to make the perfect cup, knowing your beans will help you get the most out of your brew. Before we get into the details, let’s first discuss the different types of coffee beans and what makes them unique.
Arabica vs Robusta
Arabica and Robusta beans are two types of coffee beans that are often found in your favorite coffee shops.
Arabica beans originate from Ethiopia, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Central America.
Robusta beans are grown primarily in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. They’re often cheaper than Arabica beans because the crop can be harvested twice per year versus just once a year for Arabica beans.
However, the taste is different because Robusta has a harsher taste with higher caffeine content. It also lacks the fruity flavors found in Arabica.
The major difference between these two beans is their caffeine content: Robusta contains about 2-3 times more caffeine than Arabica beans do!
So if you’re sensitive to stimulants like caffeine, you might want to go with an Arabica bean since they contain less of it.
The fruit flavor isn’t the only difference between these two kinds of coffee: there’s also the price! Robusta beans tend to cost less due to their production cycle.
They grow quicker so farmers don’t have to wait as long before harvesting them again which results in a larger harvest size! On average, one pound of Robusta costs $0.90 whereas one pound of Arabica costs $2-$5.
Where to Buy Arabica Coffee Beans
- Milo’s Fresh Roasted Coffee-Specialty Grade-Whole Bean & Ground Coffee-100% Arabica
- illy Coffee-Arabica Selection-Whole Bean Brazil-Single Origin-Intense with Notes of Caramel-100% Arabica
- Lavazza Espresso Italiano-Whole Bean Coffee Blend-Medium Roast-Authentic Italian-100% Arabica
Where to Buy Robusta Coffee Beans
- Strong Coffee-Whole Bean Coffee-Made from Organic-Vietnamese Beans-Gourmet-Pure Robusta Coffee
- Farm Fresh Java-Very Strong Coffee-Robusta Bean Coffee
- Vietnamese Coffee-DALAT-Dark Roast-100% Robusta
Light, Medium, and Dark Roasts
Light Roasts are created when the beans are roasted until they reach a temperature that’s less than the boiling point. This is the lightest roast and produces a sweeter, fruitier taste.
Medium Roasts are created by roasting the beans to just below the boiling point, which gives them an earthy, smoky flavor. Light Roasts can be made into Medium or Dark Roasts with additional roasting time.
Dark Roasts have been roasted for so long that they’re at or near their boiling point, which creates a very deep taste and aroma from the oils inside of them.
Where to Buy Light Roast Coffee Beans
- Real Good Coffee Company – Whole Bean Coffee – Breakfast Blend Light Roast Coffee Beans
- Lavazza Organic-Whole Bean Coffee Blend-Light Roast
- Amazon Fresh-Just Bright-Whole Bean Coffee- Light Roast
Where to Buy Medium Roast Coffee Beans
- Lavazza Super Crema-Whole Bean Coffee Blend-Medium Espresso Roast
- Amazon Fresh-Colombia Whole Bean Coffee-Medium Roast
- San Francisco Bay Coffee-Breakfast Blend-Whole Bean-Medium Roast
Where to Buy Dark Roast Coffee Beans
Fully Washed vs Natural Process
Fully Washed coffee beans are the most common type of coffee bean. The process to produce them is mechanical and chemical. Fully washed coffees have less acidity and a milder flavor, as the process removes much of the natural flavors that give each variety its distinct taste. This type is typically more affordable than other types.
Natural Process coffee beans are usually what you get when you order your drink at a cafe or restaurant. The process to produce these beans goes through some chemical washes, but it also stays more true to nature by not removing many of the natural flavors that give each variety its own distinctive taste, which means they tend to be more expensive than fully washed coffees.
Single Origin vs Blends
Coffee beans come from all over the world, and each type has its own flavor profile.
Single-origin coffees are beans that come from one country, like Ethiopia or Brazil.
Blends usually combine coffee beans from different countries and regions. Some common blends are espresso, French roast, and Colombian dark roast.
Where To Buy Single-Origin Coffee Beans
- Lavazza Qualità Oro Whole Bean Blend-Central America & African highland
- Guatemala Coffee, Antigua-Whole Bean-Medium Roast
- Kauai Coffee Single Origin Kauai Prime Grade Medium Roast Whole Bean
- Intelligentsia Coffee-El Diablo-Dark Roast Whole Bean
- Stumptown Coffee -Medium Roast Organic Whole Bean Coffee – Holler Mountain
Where to Buy Blend Coffee Beans
- Caribou Coffee Lakeshore Blend-Keurig K-Cup Pods, Medium Roast
- Starbucks Ground Coffee-Medium Roast Coffee-Breakfast Blend
- Starbucks Blonde Roast K-Cup Coffee Pods – Veranda Blend for Keurig Brewers
- San Francisco Bay Coffee-Whole Bean-Medium Roast-Breakfast Blend
- Copper Moon-Whole Bean Coffee-Dark Roast-Sumatra Blend
Conclusion
Knowing your coffee beans will help you get the most out of your brew. Arabica and Robusta beans are two types of coffee beans that are often found in your favorite coffee shops.
Robustas contain about 2-3 times more caffeine than Arabica beans do! Coffee beans come from all over the world, and each type has its own flavor profile. Light Roasts can be made into Medium or Dark Roasts with additional roasting time.
Blends combine coffee beans from different countries and regions. Some common blends are espresso, French roast, and Colombian dark roast.
