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Arabica coffee is one of the most widely sold and produced coffee in the entire world. What is so unique about arabica coffee which so many brands use?
This article will solve every query you have related to Arabica coffee.
The most important ritual for most people waking up in the morning is brewing a hot coffee cup. The drink has the power to awaken our senses and prepare us to start our day.
Consuming large amounts of caffeine can never be healthy. Yet, research hints that coffee can help prevent chronic diseases. One must remember to drink coffee in moderation.
There are 30 types of coffee in the world, but these include only the popular ones. There are so many flavours, variations, aromas, and additives that a whole lifetime won’t be enough to taste all of them.
Facts About The Amazing Arabica Coffee
One main aspect that is needed to make flavorful coffee is beans. There are four primary types of coffee beans used for making coffee: Arabica (Coffea arabica), Robusta (Coffea canephora), Liberica, and Excelsa. Out of these, Arabica coffee is the most famous worldwide.
1. Fact of origin:
Arabica was the first species of coffee to be cultivated. This coffee includes 60 percent of global production. It is also referred to as ‘mountain coffee’ and ‘coffee shrub of Arabic’. The taste of arabica appears to be sweeter and has a delicate flavor.
2. Historical fact: Arabica Coffee:
Arab scholars made the earliest mention of Arabica. They claimed that the roasted beans of arabica helped them during working hours. The procedure of making a brew was thus, invented by the Arabs.
It was later borrowed by the Egyptians and Turks, before spreading in every corner of the world.
3. Growing Facts:
Coffee arabica takes approximately seven years to mature. It is produced at a higher elevation or altitude. The arabica beans are farmed in areas above sea level where rain is plentiful.
Thus, Brazil is the number one exporter of Arabica coffee.
The harvesting process needs to be performed with great care. There are two ways to remove coffee seeds from the ripe berries:
- The dry method – This is the oldest and most traditional method where one has to dry the whole fruit or cherry for days. The cherry is individually picked and removed by hand which demands extensive labor.
- The wet method – This method involves machinery and water. The wet method demands less labour as the machine squeezes the cherry to separate the flesh and skid. The beans are removed and placed into large tanks of water.
Most of the Gourmet coffees are high-quality arabica coffee. People can find the best-known coffee beans of arabica in Costa Rica, Guatemalan Antigua, Columbian Supremo, Ethiopian Sidamo, and Jamaican Blue Mountain.
4. Arabica Varieties:
Arabica has two common varieties: Typica and Bourbon.
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1. Typica
Also called Sumatra and Arabigo, Typica is considered to be the first variety of species discovered. Thus, it is regarded as the world’s original coffee. It is believed that Dutch were the first to spread this variety to different parts of the world.
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2. Bourbon
Bourbons are known for their complex and balanced aromas. This variety has several sub-types of excellent quality. The distinct sweetness in Bourbon is a favorite for all coffee lovers.
5. Why Is Arabica Coffee So Popular?
For starters, the consistency of this coffee is preferred by a majority of people. A coffee made from arabica beans has a sweet fragrance, tends to be less acidic, and tastes like chocolate. The coffee is also noted to have hints of fruits and berries.
Arabica does not allow bitterness to overtake coffee. Even if you prefer a strong brew, the coffee appears to be dark yet manages to remain a bit sweet.
Most people drink coffee because of caffeine. However, the caffeine level varies between different varieties of coffee. Thankfully, arabica coffee contains very little caffeine as compared to other coffee varieties. Coffee arabica manages to keep you awake without negatively impacting your health.
5. Difference Between Arabica and Robusta
These two species come from the same family plant, Rubiaceae. However, they differ in several characteristics:
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Taste
While Arabica coffee tastes sweet, Robusta is known for its harsh and strong flavor. Robusta coffee tastes bitter and has rubbery or grainy overtones.
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Caffeine Level
On average, a single Arabica coffee bean contains 1.9 milligrams of caffeine as compared to Robusta coffee which has 2.9 milligrams of caffeine.
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Production
Arabica coffee is produced on higher elevations. Meanwhile, robusta can be grown near sea level. The extra caffeine also acts as an insect repellent and eliminates bugs. Robusta can survive any type of climate as well.
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Price
Due to its easy production, Robusta coffee is half the price of coffee Arabica. Robusta beans or coffee is much cheaper than an average arabica coffee.
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Usage
Robusta coffee is commonly found in instant coffees and traditional Italian espressos. This is because Robusta is not preferable to drink alone due to its strong and bitter flavor.
More than 59 percent of coffee beans, powder, and drinks are made from arabica. This means you can enjoy Arabica coffee alone or blend it with other flavors like vanilla or hazelnut.
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Cultivation
Arabica takes up 75 percent of the world’s coffee production while Robusta marks at 25 percent. You can find high-quality arabica coffee in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Ethiopia, Burundi, Colombia, Brazil, Rwanda, and India. Brazil remains the top producer of coffee arabica.
Robusta is usually cultivated in Vietnam, Indonesia, Africa, and India.
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Lipid and Sugar
Arabica contains 60 more lipids of percentage and twice the sugar content than Robusta. This enhances the taste of Arabica and makes it sweeter than other coffee species.
6. Roasting Facts:
Coffee roasting is a heating procedure that brings out aroma and flavor locked inside the coffee bean. The bean’s roasting or roast level depends upon the method used.
- Lighter roasts are roasted for a short amount of time and retain more caffeine than a dark roast. They have a mild flavour and can be quite overpowering.
- Medium roast provides a strong flavor and a darker color in coffee. This kind of roasted coffee is preferable for coffee lovers as it brings out a smoother consistency, provides depth and improves balance in the drink.
- Dark roast has a bitter flavor but retains complex oils and compounds, making the beverage rich. Dark roast creates an intense flavor of the coffee.
7. Some Interesting Facts About Arabica
- Arabica coffee has a total of 44 chromosomes, while other coffee beans have only 22. The more chromosomes present in a coffee bean, the better the coffee tastes and provides subtle flavoring.
- Arabica comes from the Rubiaceae species, a plant that produces flowers.
- Arabica produces 8000 beans in one pound i.e., you need 4000 berries or fruit to have a few weeks of coffee.
- Arabica is documented in the 7th century.
- Due to global warming and climate change, the production of arabica may be threatened in the future.
- Arabica coffee beans are usually used in gourmet and specialty coffees
Now that you are equipped with the history, method, and facts about Arabica coffee, feel free to share this information with your fellow coffee lovers.
FAQs:
Q. Is Nescafe Arabica coffee?
- NESCAFÉ uses two types of coffee beans to make our signature blend – Arabica coffee beans, and Robusta coffee beans.
Q. Which coffee is very costly in the world?
- Kopi Luwak is the world’s most exclusive and expensive coffee. The reason behind its high price is how it is made. Notably, the name Kopi Luwak is not the name of the coffee but the method of production
Q. Why is Arabica so expensive?
- Arabica is more expensive than robusta. Arabica is more difficult to cultivate because of how sensitive it is to the environment and the fact that it produces less per hectare than robusta. It also tastes better which makes the demand higher. So it’s more expensive than robusta.
Last Updated on by ibtisam72
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