With a wide variety of coffee beans to choose from, you might be wondering what Arabica coffee is. Arabica coffee is a type of coffee made from Arabica coffee beans.
Arabica coffee originated in the highlands of southwestern Ethiopia and is the most popular coffee in the world, accounting for 60% or more of the world’s coffee production.
With time, Brazil became the largest producer of coffee in the world and today, around 70% of Brazilian coffee produced is of the Arabica type. Because of good infrastructure in coffee trading, Brazil quickly became the world’s largest coffee exporter in the world and many Arabica coffee importers developed in different regions of the world importing high-quality Arabica beans from Brazil.
Where Does “Arabica” Gets Its Name From
It is called “Arabica coffee” because in the 7th century, these coffee beans flowed from Ethiopia to the lower parts of Arabia. In Ethiopia, these beans were crushed and mixed with fat to be used as stimulants for the Oromo tribe. But once they reached Arabia, “coffee” was born.
It was the first time that Arab scholars wrote about making a drink and said it could help them extend their working hours. From there, coffee spread all over the world. If coffee beans are brewed into a delicious beverage for the first time in the Arab region, it is easy to understand why it is called Arabica and why it is also called Arabica coffee.
What Does Arabica Coffee Taste Like?
High-quality Arabica coffee should be slightly sweet with flavors of chocolate, nuts, and caramel. You may also notice hints of fruits and berries. There will be a slight acidity and a bit of bitterness. Cold brewed coffee can bring out the sweetness of Arabic coffee even more, and the roast you choose will affect the degree to which you notice these flavors.
Bean planting area and soil composition also affect the aforementioned flavor balance. Properly storing coffee beans to keep them fresh is a good way to maintain these delicious flavors. Most of the coffee beans that you see in grocery stores, markets, coffee shops, and cafes are Arabica coffee. Some brands will blend Arabica and Robusta coffee beans, especially espresso. But most of it is Arabica coffee.
Typical Growing Regions of Arabica Coffee
Arabica likes to grow in humid conditions. It needs a temperature between 15 ° C and 24 ° C and likes to grow in the shade. It usually grows at an altitude of more than 1,900 feet (600 meters) above sea level. It likes to be planted on slopes and matures around 7 years.
Arabica coffee is grown in Brazil, which grows to about 30 to 12 feet in the wild. When used commercially, it can reach about 5 meters in height, but is generally kept at around 2 meters to aid in harvesting.
The flowers are small and white, with the scent of jasmine, sweet and beautiful. Seeds are found within the berries that grow on this shrub-like plant. Like blueberries, the fruits of the Arabica coffee plant do not ripen at the same time, so it is best to pick them by hand. If they are harvested before they are fully ripe, the result is poor quality coffee.
When removing the Arabica coffee beans from the berries, the “sheepskin fur” and “silver skin” should also be removed.
Interesting Facts About Arabica Coffee
There are two basic types of coffee, Arabica and Canephora. Of these two species, the Arabica species produces, Bourbon, Typica and Ethiopian varities. Typica is the oldest coffee plant and is believed to have originated in Ethiopia. Bourbon originates from the Typica variety and has a slightly sweet taste.
The Canephora species produces Robusta beans. Robusta is sometimes mixed with Arabica coffee due to its high caffeine content, so it can be used in espresso. Robusta has almost twice the caffeine of Arabic coffee!
Most Arabica coffee is handpicked, and it is possible for the average person to pick up to 90 pounds of coffee in a day.
Arabica coffee grows at higher altitudes. These high-altitude areas create a lower temperature environment, so the flavor gradually slows down as the plant grows more slowly and matures.
Arabica coffee beans have the highest antioxidant content. If you need to start your day in a healthy frame of mind, drink a cup of Arabica coffee and take antioxidants every day!
That’s all about Arabica coffee. As mentioned earlier, with time Brazil grew to become one of the largest producers of Arabica coffee beans in the world. Many importers from around the world imports Arabica coffee today and we, being one of the leading Arabica coffee importers, stock and distribute some of the highest-quality Arabica coffee beans.
So, if you want to taste the pure delight of high-quality Arabica coffee, you can always connect with us.
