After reading this article, you will never buy coffee again without checking its label until you find the phrase: 100% Arabica coffee.
The Arabica coffee, along with the robust, is the coffee variety most consumed in the world. Both types of coffee are distinguished among hundreds of varieties of beans, due to the production facilities they present.
What is Arabica Coffee?
Arabica coffee is the main variety cultivated to obtain coffee, both by age and by production levels, since it covers 70% of world production.
The coffee tree or Arabica plant grows between 9 and 12 meters high, in humid areas with a warm climate located between 500 and 2400 meters of altitude. And it is capable of producing a kilo of coffee per year.
The best quality beans are grown in strips located between 1000 and 2000 meters above sea level. Although at the same time it is the crop most threatened by climate change.
It could be said that its production goes around the world since the main producing countries of this variety are: East Africa, Colombia, the United States, Brazil, Vietnam, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras.
¿ Differentiating robust Arabic? Once ground, there is little difference you can detect. However, with the whole Arabica grain, it is more elongated and flat, while the furrow that runs through it has a curved shape, like the letter “s”.
Origin of Arabica coffee
Arabica coffee is native to East Africa, the area where Ethiopia and Yemen are located. Do you remember the anecdote of the goat herder named Kaldi?
It goes like this: around 800 AD, in Ethiopia, the shepherd noticed that the goats were energetic and spirited when consuming red fruits from what today we know the coffee tree, of the Arabica variety.
This is the first and oldest review of coffee, which over time went from being consumed as a fruit to being infused until it found the drink that today awakens almost everyone: coffee.
Benefits and characteristics of Arabica coffee
The coffee made with the Arabica variety has a balanced, smooth, and highly aromatic flavor. With a flavor profile that varies between chocolate, floral, caramel, fruity and bright acidity.
It is considered the best coffee beans, among its main benefits we find:
- The level of caffeine concentration around 1.7% offers health benefits that you might not have imagined. In fact, today, coffee is included in the diets of athletes and fitness performance.
- The moderate consumption of Arabica coffee has diuretic effects and activates the digestive system.
- Minimizes the risk of heart disease, diabetes and prevents cancer.
- Activates the nervous and neuromuscular systems.
- Decrease pain.
- Stimulates metabolism
- Reduces appetite
Varieties of Arabica Coffee
- Typica or Criollo: originally grown in Africa and later adapted perfectly to American and Asian soil. It is highly appreciated for its clean, acidic and sweet infusion.
- Bourbon: Recognized as a mutation of the typica, it is found in Africa and Latin America.
- Caturra: cultivated in Brazil, it is derived from Bourbon.
- Gesha or Geisha: It owes its name to the Ethiopian city of Gesha, today its cultivation is very popular in Panama.
- Jamaica blue mountain: It is recognized as one of the best varieties of Arabica Coffee in the world.
Finally, I am of the opinion that Arabica coffee is by far the best variety, both in its classic and gourmet versions.
Reason enough so that it is not missing in the pantry or home inventory, to try with the type of coffee maker you prefer.
Varieties of Arabica Coffee
- Typica or Criollo: originally grown in Africa and later adapted perfectly to American and Asian soil. It is highly appreciated for its clean, acidic, and sweet infusion.
- Bourbon: Recognized as a mutation of the typical, it is found in Africa and Latin America.
- Caturra: cultivated in Brazil, it is derived from Bourbon.
- Gesha or Geisha: It owes its name to the Ethiopian city of Gesha, today its cultivation is very popular in Panama.
- Jamaica blue mountain: It is recognized as one of the best varieties of Arabica Coffee in the world.
Finally, I am of the opinion that Arabica coffee is by far the best variety, both in its classic and gourmet versions.
Reason enough so that it is not missing in the pantry or home inventory, to try with the type of coffee maker you prefer.
Tell me your opinion about Arabica coffee from the area where you live, describe the flavor profile, and compare it with the description I have given you. I would love to share it here and on social media