GUIDE · BEANS
Types of Coffee Beans
Almost all coffee comes from four commercial bean species: arabica, robusta, liberica, and excelsa. Arabica and robusta dominate the market, while liberica and excelsa are rarer. Each brings a different flavor, body, and growing range.
- Species
- Four commercial
- Market leaders
- Arabica + robusta
- The rarities
- Liberica + excelsa
The beans
Arabica
Arabica is the most widely grown coffee and the standard for specialty cafes. It tends to taste sweeter and more complex, with brighter acidity and notes that range from fruit to chocolate. It grows best at higher altitudes and is more delicate and demanding to farm, which is part of why it costs more.
Robusta
Robusta is hardier and higher-yielding, grown at lower altitudes where arabica struggles. It carries noticeably more caffeine and a stronger, more bitter, earthy taste, which is why it turns up in a lot of instant coffee and in espresso blends, where it adds body and a thicker crema.
Liberica
Liberica is rare and distinctive, with large, irregular beans and a bold, smoky flavor that can turn fruity or woody. It is grown mainly in parts of Southeast Asia and West Africa and has a devoted following in the regions where it is common, though you will rarely meet it elsewhere.
Excelsa
Excelsa, often grouped as a variety of liberica, grows mostly in Southeast Asia. It leans tart and fruity with a lighter body, and is frequently used in blends to add a layer of complexity and a distinctive back-note rather than being brewed on its own.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What are the main types of coffee beans?
The four commercial coffee species are arabica, robusta, liberica, and excelsa. Arabica accounts for most of the coffee sold worldwide, robusta is a distant but significant second, and liberica and excelsa are specialty rarities you will only meet occasionally.
What's the difference between arabica and robusta?
Arabica is smoother, sweeter, and more aromatic, with brighter acidity, and grows at higher altitudes. Robusta is hardier, more bitter and earthy, and carries markedly more caffeine. Arabica dominates specialty coffee, while robusta shows up in instant coffee and adds crema and body to espresso blends.
What are liberica and excelsa coffee?
Liberica and excelsa are the two rarer commercial species. Liberica has large, irregular beans and a bold, smoky, woody character; excelsa, often treated as a type of liberica, is tarter and more fruity. Both are grown mainly in Southeast Asia and are usually blended for their distinctive notes.
Which coffee bean has more caffeine?
Robusta has considerably more caffeine than arabica. That extra caffeine is part of what gives robusta its stronger, more bitter taste and its reputation for a harsher cup, where arabica stays smoother and sweeter.
Which beans are used for espresso?
Espresso can be pulled from any beans, but arabica is the base of most quality espresso for its sweetness and clarity. Many traditional espresso blends add a portion of robusta for extra body, a thicker crema, and a bolder, more intense shot. It comes down to the roaster's style.