4 main types of coffee beans explained

For most coffee drinkers, we’ve mainly come across two types of coffee beans: Arabica and Robusta. You can learn all about them on our previous blog here!  

Did you know that there are more types of coffee beans out there? In fact, there are four main types of coffee beans: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsa, each varying in terms of their origin and flavour profile. Let us break them down for you!

Arabica

Arabica beans are the most widely cultivated beans in the coffee world, composing a whopping 60% of the global coffee production. Renowned for their versatility, Arabica beans boast the widest variety of origins and blends, making them a staple in coffee culture worldwide. These beans are grown at high altitudes and need to be in areas with steady rainfall and plenty of shade.

Characteristics of Arabica beans

Flavour profile – Sweet, soft taste with hints of fruit, sugar and berries. They have higher acidity, giving them a bright and complex flavour. 

Physical characteristics – These beans are oval-shaped with a curved crease, larger than Robusta beans. 

Caffeine content – Arabica beans have lesser caffeine than Robusta, resulting in a milder flavour and reduced bitterness. 

Arabica beans are prized for their versatile flavours and a favourite among coffee enthusiasts worldwide. 

Robusta

Robusta beans are the 2nd most cultivated beans. As the name suggests, it’s hardy and immune to a variety of diseases. These beans are more acclimated to hot climate with irregular rainfall, and can grow at several altitudes. 

Characteristics of Robusta beans

Flavour profile – Smoky, fruity and floral. They are more full-bodied and less complex. Despite that, they also exhibit chocolatey and cacao-forward taste notes.  

Physical characteristics – These beans are small, round and smooth-textured with a straight crease down the middle. 

Caffeine content – As with their name, these beans are higher in caffeine content compared to Arabica and can provide an invigorating flavour. 

Robusta beans are primarily used for espresso blends due to their high caffeine content and bold, bitter flavour profile. 

Liberica

Liberica beans are considered harder to come by. Originally from Liberia, West Africa, they are now predominantly cultivated in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. 

Known for their resilience compared to Arabica and Robusta beans, Liberica beans present multiple challenges in harvesting. Harvesting Liberica beans also requires manual and specialised labour, further contributing to the difficulty. 

Characteristics of Liberica beans

Flavour profile – Sweet, bold, smoky and woody flavour with hints of floral and fruity notes. It is full-bodied and often features undertones of dark chocolate and earthy richness. 

Physical characteristics – The beans are significantly larger than Arabica and Robusta beans with a thicker irregular-shaped outer shell.

Caffeine content – This coffee bean strain often has lower caffeine content compared to Arabica beans despite its bold flavours. 

Liberica beans are most notably used in the famous Kopi Luwak (Civet Cat Coffee). 

Excelsa

Excelsa coffee is a unique and lesser-known variety of coffee that is primarily grown in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam. It shares similar harvesting challenges to the Liberica beans and is often kept by farmers for their own consumption or added into Arabica blends. 

Characteristics of Excelsa beans

Flavour profile – It has a unique combination of tart, fruity notes close to the flavours of dark berries and tropical fruits. Additionally, it has a subtle hint of smokiness and dark roast. 

Physical characteristics – The beans are slightly tear-shaped with a relatively thick outer skin and can vary in colour from light to dark brown. 

Caffeine content – Excelsa beans contains a moderate amount of caffeine, typically falling between the caffeine levels of Arabica and Robusta beans. 

Excelsa beans are typically used in the Vietnamese iced milk coffee.

Infuso Black Brew 

While the type of coffee bean influences the flavour of your coffee, factors such as roasting methods and bean origins also play crucial roles. Infuso Black Brew uses 100% Arabica beans, sourced from three coffee origins—Ethiopia, Brazil, and Laos. This combination results in smooth, sweet, and chocolatey notes, making it an easy-to-drink coffee for any time of the day.