Coffee beans are the seeds of the coffee fruit, used to brew coffee beverages after processing and roasting. There are over 125 known coffee varieties worldwide, but the two most common are Arabica and Robusta.
Main Types of Coffee Beans
Despite the many different coffee varieties, Arabica and Robusta are the two most commercially valuable and widely consumed.
- Arabica Coffee: Often called tea coffee. The beans are elliptical in shape, with a wavy groove in the middle.
- Flavor: Known for its delicate, slightly acidic (mild acidity), fruity notes, and intense aroma.
- Caffeine Content: Significantly lower than Robusta.
- Popular Sub-varieties: Catimor, Moka, Bourbon, Typica, Caturra.
- Robusta Coffee: Also called robust coffee. The beans are usually smaller than Arabica, rounder, and have a straighter, shallower groove in the middle.
- Flavor: It has a strong, bitter taste, low acidity, and a high caffeine content (almost double that of Arabica).
- Characteristics: Often used for traditional Vietnamese filter brewing or in coffee blends.
Besides these two main types, there are others such as Liberica coffee (jackfruit coffee) with much larger beans and Culi (Peaberry) coffee, which has a distinctive round shape and usually has a strong bitter taste.
Choosing Quality Coffee Beans
- Choose fresh beans: Green (unroasted) coffee beans can be stored longer, while roasted beans should be used within a few weeks to ensure the best flavor.
- Check for purity: Choose clean, 100% pure coffee beans, without any additives, to ensure health and natural flavor.
- Determine the brewing method: Some coffee beans, such as Culi Robusta, are ideal for drip brewing, while Moka or Culi Arabica are better suited for espresso machines.
