What is The Most Widespread Type of Coffee

Comparing the Most Widespread Types of Coffee: Battle of the Beans

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Do you ever wonder which is the most liked coffee? After all, with so many varieties, one can always be in confusion. Common varieties of coffee like Robusta, Arabica, and Liberica are available around the globe. However, some are more commonly found than others. In this article, we go through the most widespread type of coffee along with its benefits and specialties.

This brings us to the question: What is the most widespread type of coffee?

Arabica coffee is the most widespread type of coffee. It accounts for 60% of the world’s coffee production. It is followed by Robusta coffee which accounts for 39% of the world’s coffee production. Hence Robusta is the second most popular coffee. Other coffee types like Liberica and Excelsa are not that commonly found but are among the top 4 most prevalent kinds of coffee.

Why is Arabica Coffee So Popular?

Arabica coffee is famous because of its attractive fragrant qualities, flavors, and the fact that it has half the caffeine levels found in Robusta coffee. Arabica coffee is also called gourmet coffee.

Arabica coffee variants were discovered many decades ago, around the 18th century. Since then, Arabica has become one of the most popular coffee varieties.

It is also popular because of the countless health benefits. Arabica coffee contains chlorogenic acid. This is a chemical molecule found primarily in vegetarian and vegan diets. Chlorogenic acid is a kind of polyphenol that shields the heart against high cholesterol levels. Diabetics will benefit from Arabica coffee since it helps to stop insulin resistance. In addition to that, if you want to lose weight but do not want to cut off coffee, Arabica coffee is the perfect option for you as it does not contain any excessive fats.

Where are Arabica Coffee Beans Found?

Arabica beans are called mountain coffee because they grow best in mountainous regions in Asia and Africa. Arabica coffee comes from the beans of the Ethiopian-bred Coffea arabica plant. This is the finest quality bean available in the world. Apart from that, Arabica coffee comes in a variety of flavors. Arabica coffee varieties account for 60 percent of global coffee production. It is produced in several nations between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer.

Arabica Coffee | The Most Widespread Type of Coffee

We will discuss the different attributes of Arabica coffee and see why this coffee is so popular. Check out the following table for a better understanding.

All About Arabica Coffee

Taste and Aroma

Sweet to tangy

Origin

Ethiopia and Arabia

Plant

  • Dark Green leaves
  • Flat seeds
  • Cherries mature in 7 to 9 months
  • Self-pollinating

Growing Conditions

  • Required temperature – between 15 and 24 degrees Celsius
  • Required Altitude – 2000 to 6000 ft above sea level
  • Required yearly precipitation – 1500 to 3000mm

Composition

  • Carbs
  • Water
  • Amino acids
  • Lipids
  • Caffeine

Taste and Aroma

Arabica coffees come in a wide variety of flavors. The spectrum varies from sweet to tangy. Some types have a citrus-like taste to them, while others taste more like caramel. There are all sorts of undertones in Arabica coffee beans, depending on their origins and growing conditions. Arabica beans smell like and look like berries when unroasted. Their roasted aroma is characterized as perfumy, with sweet and sugary undertones.

Arabica coffee is significantly superior to other types of coffee, as evaluated in terms of its flavor. It is much less acidic and is smoother than Robusta coffee and other coffee varieties. Americano is sometimes prepared with Arabica coffee beans.

Origin

When coffee reached from Ethiopia to Arabia in the 7th century, it was given the name Arabica or Coffea Arabica. Arabica is thought to be the first coffee species to be farmed, with a history extending back to 1,000 BC.

The Plant

Arabica coffee has a big bush with dark-green leaves. The leaves are usually oval-shaped, while the unroasted beans (cherries/berries) are round in shape.   The Arabica cherries mature in 7 to 9 months and typically comprise two flat seeds. These flat seeds are later roasted to form coffee beans. A peaberry is developed when only one bean matures. The Arabica bush can reach a height of 5 meters, although most commercial farmers keep it at around 2 meters.

Arabica plant pollinates itself. As a result, the plant retains its species-specific traits. It has fewer mutations, resulting in more steady growth. This indicates the bean has a range of unique qualities that make it stand out from the other coffee species.

A coffee plant with green cherries

Growing Conditions

The recommended mean temperature for adequate growth of Arabica beans is between 15 and 24 degrees Celsius. Coffee requires 1500 to 3000 mm of yearly precipitation with Arabica coffee requiring lower rainfall than other types. Arabica coffee plants thrive in hot and humid climates near the equator. This is why regions like Ethiopia and India produce some of the most excellent Arabica coffee. Guatemala, Colombia, and Brazil are the world’s top Arabica coffee producers. The best Arabicas are grown at altitudes somewhere between 2,000 and 6,000 feet above sea level.

Arabica coffee is now grown in coffee-friendly places all over the world. These regions primarily include tropical climates and at high altitudes, from Africa through Latin America, Indonesia, and Brazil.

Composition

An arabica coffee bean contains carbs, water, amino acids, lipids, and caffeine, among other things.  The oils in the bean or on the bean’s surface are mainly composed of lipids. The oils are what give coffee its flavor, aroma, and texture. Each of the components changes drastically when roasted. Although the nutritional content of Arabica coffee varies due to a number of factors, the following table provides a good idea of the nutritional values of Arabica Coffee.

Arabica Coffee Nutritional Content (1 Cup 8 oz. – 100% Pure Coffee)

Content

Nutritional Value

Calories

2.4

Fat

0.1 grams

Protein

0.3 grams

Potassium

116 mg

Sodium

4.7 mg

Brazilian Arabica Coffee Benefits

Brazilian Arabica coffee is high in antioxidants. These antioxidants help to prevent and fight cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses. Thus, by drinking Brazilian Arabica coffee, you can reverse damage to cells by free radicals. It also helps to boost your immunity and improve your heart health.

Brazilian Arabica coffee is also great for people with intestinal and stomach problems. It helps to reduce the chances of high blood cholesterol levels. While most coffee contains kahweol and cafestol which increase cholesterol levels, Brazilian Arabica coffee helps to keep the levels normal. Apart from that, this coffee is low in calories and will help in promoting healthy body metabolism and keep you at your best. With low acidity levels and very low caffeine content, Brazilian coffee is perfect for individuals who feel stomach problems and nausea with coffee.

Try out the Brazilian Arabica Coffee today!

ECG made using coffee beans

Is Arabica Coffee Strong?

Arabica coffee can be strong but Robusta coffee is stronger than Arabica coffee in terms of taste. Arabica coffee gives a sweeter and more sugary taste while Robusta gives a strong and bitter taste.

Other Types Of Coffee Beans

The story does not end with Arabica coffee beans. While Arabica beans are the most widespread kind of coffee, there are also other varieties. Let us discuss the three other coffees, namely Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa.

Related – Strongest Types of Coffee

Robusta Coffee

After evaluating the market trends, we have evaluated that Robusta coffee is also a widespread type of coffee. It is a coffee manufactured from the Coffea canephora plant. Robusta crop is a sub-Saharan African plant that evolved in central and western Africa. It is the world’s 2nd most common coffee accounting for 40% of global coffee production. Robusta is substantially more bitter than Arabica in terms of taste because it contains around double the caffeine in Arabica. Robusta coffee also has half as much sugar as Arabica. Hence, it is not on the sweeter side. It is relatively less fragrant and less acidic. Robusta coffee beans have a higher caffeine level than Arabica beans, ranging from 1-1.5% to 2-2.7%.

Liberica Coffee

The fragrance, strong taste, and smokey flavor of Liberica coffee have made it the third most popular kind of coffee. The chocolaty and smoky taste is enhanced by flowery and spicy tints as well. Liberica beans are also prized because of their scarcity. If we evaluate it in quantitative terms, these coffee beans make up 2% of total caffeine consumption worldwide.

The difficult cultivation and roasting/processing of these coffee beans is one reason for their uniqueness. The Liberica beans have a breathtaking aroma and are shaped like water droplets. The leaves and cherries of Liberica coffee plants are generally substantially larger than other types of coffee and the leaves of a Liberica plant can expand up to 30 cm in width.

We recommend you try to change your regular coffee to Liberica Coffee and see how it tastes.

Excelsa Coffee

The last kind of coffee is Excelsa coffee. It is the fourth most common kind of coffee. Excelsa coffee is a rare and robust species that was identified in Africa around the turn of the twentieth century. Excelsa coffee plant was thought to be a separate species from the Coffea genus. It wasn’t until 2006 that it was formally classed as the Liberica Dewevrei type.

Excelsa coffee thrives at elevations of 1,000 to 1,300 meters above sea level. Unlike Arabica and Robusta, Excelsa is a tree-like plant. This implies that it needs vertical space to thrive as it is not a shrub. When Excelsa coffee is grown and processed properly, it can produce a complex and fascinating cup profile. Excelsa coffee contains less caffeine and has a milder smell than arabica and robusta coffees, yet it still has a profound flavor profile.

Most Widespread Coffees – Ranked (Most Popular to Least Popular)

Type of Coffee

Ranking

Arabica Coffee

Ranked #1

Most Popular Coffee in the World

Robusta Coffee

Ranked #2

Liberica Coffee

Ranked #3

Excelsa Coffee

Ranked #4

Conclusion

While Arabica is the most widespread type of coffee, other types of coffee are also popular. Some might say that nothing beats the taste of Arabica coffee while others may have a different perspective. If you like coffee that has a sweet touch to it, Arabica coffee can be your best friend!

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