What are the most popular varieties of Arabica coffee?
A small glossary for Arabica coffee varieties.
What are the most popular varieties of Arabica coffee?
Bourbon: the legacy of French colonialism
The Bourbon variety was first planted by French colonialists in the 18th century on an island in the Indian Ocean called Bourbon, from where it took its name. The current variety has mutated over the years, but originates from the trees of the island.
It is cultivated all over the world, especially in South America and in several African countries, while it is a very widespread variety in Brazil. Of course, there are several varieties and crosses of Bourbon, with different qualities and prices, of which Yellow Bourbon is considered one of the finest, as is Caturra, which thrives mainly in Brazil and Colombia. Natural mutations that occurred when Bourbon roots were transplanted to other countries yielded varieties such as Pacamara (El Salvador), Mibirizi (Rwanda) and French Mission (Kenya), which further enhanced the range of Bourbon aromas and flavors. Arabica.
Typica: the authentic, traditional Arabica
As its name suggests, Typica is the most widespread variety of the genus Caffea Arabica. It has a lower yield than other varieties, but if cultivated properly it has a unique quality, intensely sweet character and gives excellent extracts. It is now found in almost every coffee-producing country in the world, and is paired extensively with Bourbon to produce interesting hybrids.
The legendary Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, as well as the Kona Coffee grown in Hawaii, belong to the Typica variety, with their special and sought-after characteristics being mainly due to their unique terroir. In the same family, Typica, belong other fine Arabica varieties, such as Java from the island of the same name in Indonesia and Maragogype from Guatemala, with its large grains and wonderful taste.
Heirloom: special taste from the mystical roots of coffee
The term Heirloom is mainly used for Arabica varieties grown or originated in Ethiopia, although many professionals claim that the term is now misused for marketing purposes as well. The most famous and most sought after Ethiopian varieties, such as Harrar, Sidamo and Yirgacheffe are categorized in the wider Heirloom family, while the same family belongs to the Gesha variety, which although native to Ethiopia is cultivated in Panama and has become one of the most sought after and expensive varieties for fans of the "Third Wave of Coffee".
Crosses and hybrids: the evolution of coffee over time
Of course, we must not forget that coffee is a natural product, produced from plants, in which crosses can be made. From time immemorial, growers used to cross-breed plants in order to make them more resistant to diseases and pests, but also more productive in terms of harvest, while now cross-breeding is done for specific taste characteristics. In this way, hybrids have emerged from the cross between Bourbon and Typica (like the quite popular Catuai), but also crosses between Arabica and Robusta, which are grown mainly in Asia.
If someone told our grandfather, when he was sucking his Greek, that we would need ... a dictionary to understand what our cup has, they would probably not believe us. In the final analysis, however, everything is done for good coffee - the coffee we deserve!
