Coffee is a relatively simple beverage to make. For the most part, all you have to do is select your favorite type of beans, steep them in freshly boiled water, and enjoy. The flavors are delicious, the sensation is comforting, and the after effects are energizing.
But what if we told you that coffee is much more complex than most of us make it out to be? And what if we told you that the history of growing and breeding coffee is super intricate?
Well, it is. The world of coffee is a lot more complex than you might think. And it’s delightfully interesting!
Coffee has been enjoyed by millions of people for centuries. Depending on who you talk to, its origin story may differ. But there seems to be one legend that is passed along more so than others.
As the story goes, a goat herder named Kaldi first discovered coffee somewhere along the Ethiopian Plateau. Well actually, his goats did. After eating the berries, Kaldi noticed that his goats became too energetic to sleep for the night.
Intrigued by the energizing berries, Kaldi informed the Abbot at his local monastery. The Abbot, also intrigued, decided to make a tea with the berries that Kaldi had brought him. And like the goats, the Abbot was pleasantly energized throughout the entirety of his evening prayers.
After sharing their discovery with others, the news of these mysterious, energizing berries began to spread. As the word spread, so too did the berries, leading to a journey that would eventually bring the berries all across the globe.
Now that you know coffee’s origins, it’s time to dive into the list of the best kinds of coffee plants to grow!
Here are several types of coffee plants that you might want to consider growing. They make excellent houseplants!
1. Arabica coffee
Coffea arabica, otherwise known as mountain or java coffee, is indigneous to Ethiopia and other neighboring parts of East Africa. Arabic coffee is mainly cultivated in the highlands, hence the name. It is happiest between 600 and 1,200 meters above sea level.
Because of the high altitudes, Arabica tends to grow more slowly than other types. The maturation time for Arabica cherries ranges between 9 and 11 months.
Arabicas are considered to be one of the most exquisite coffee types in the world. However, not all Arabica beans are high quality. Only 5% of harvested Arabica beans actually meet the quality standards.
Arabica beans have about 12 milligrams of caffeine per gram. Compared to other coffee bean types, like the Robusta, this is relatively low.
Arabica is often described by connoisseurs as complex, balanced and fruity. And depending on the specific type, the flavors tend to be mild, and rather acidic. The favored way to make coffee with Arabica coffee beans is to either drip or pour it over.
Nowadays, Coffea arabica is also grown in India, parts of Latin America, and Papua New Guinea. But how did it become that way?
The Ethiopian Coffea arabica was first transported out of Africa to Yemen. From there, it was later transported all over the world. And depending on where it went, and with who, decided if it was a ‘typica’ or ‘bourbon’ cultivar of coffea arabica.
2. Typica coffee
Typica trees trace their lineage to Yemen after arriving from Ethiopia at some point in the 15th century. In Yemen, certain typica plants were selected and brought to India via Dutch merchants. Later, it was brought to Java, and other parts of the Western hemisphere, like Haiti and the Caribbean.
Typica plants are conical trees with narrow leaves, and long, slender berries and seeds. Typica plants are understood to have lower productivity than other types, and are more sensitive to pests and disease.
Coffees Related to Typica
- Amarello de Botucatu
- Arabigo
- Bergundal AKA Garundang
- Blawan Paumah
- Blue Mountain
- BMJ
- Criollo
- Chickumalgur
- Guatemala
- Kona
- K7
- K20
- Pache Comum
- Pache colis
- Pluma Hidalgo
- San Bernardo AKA Pache
- San Ramon
- Sidikalang
- Sumatra
- Villalobos
3. Bourbon coffee
Bourbon cultivars also originated in Ethiopia and were brought to Yemen. Afterwards, instead of being transported by the Dutch, bourbon plants left Yemen with the French, and were brought to an island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, called “Ile Bourbon”.
Bourbon trees are generally rounder and ‘shrubbier’ than Typica trees. They have border leaves, and produce more spherical fruits and seeds.
Coffees Related To Bourbon
- Arusha
- Bourbon Chocolá
- Cera
- French Mission
- Ibairi
- Jackson
- Jackson 2/1257
- Mibirizi
- Mayaguez
- Orange Bourbon
- Pink Bourbon
- Red Bourbon
- Semperflorens
- Yellow Bourbon
4. Robusta coffee
Robusta coffee, or Coffea canephora, is indigneous to central and western sub-Saharan Africa and is one of the parents of Arabica. Robusta is also known as lowland coffee because it is grown between 300 and 800 meters above sea level.
The Robusta plants tend to be more studier and more ‘robust’ than Arabica plants, hence the name. Because of its robustness, Robusta cis extremely adaptable to changing conditions, pests and disease.
Robusta plants have a shorter ripening period than Arabica plants, of just about 6 months. This means that Robusta plants can be harvested more than one time per year.
Flavor wise, Robusta coffee beans are woody, nutty and earthy tasting. They produce a full-bodied flavor, and are generally more bitter than Arabica beans, and have fewer aromas. And as you might assume, the caffeine content of Robusta beans is 2-4%, or twice as high as Arabica beans.
Robusta beans are popular for making espresso because it’s less oily, and is therefore better at making crema. Due to its caffeine content, Robusta beans are great for espresso, and single-serve pour overs rather than large batches of drip coffee. They are also commonly used in blends of instant coffee. The famous Vietnamese coffee comes from these types of coffee beans.
5. Eugenioides coffee
Eugenioides, scientifically known as Coffea eugenioides, is indigenous to the highlands of East Africa, where it grows in countries like Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the other parent plant to Arabica, along with its partner Robusta.
Eugenioides is known for being extremely rare. Nowadays, its primary production location is in Colombia where it grows between 1,900 and 2,000 meters above sea level. Because of its small following, and the world-wide fanaticism over Arabica, Eugenioides has become known in some circles as the “abandoned species”.
Compared to Robusta and traditional Arabica varieties, Eugenioides has the least amount of caffeine. Because of its low levels of caffeine (which is often responsible for the bitterness in coffee), eugenioides boasts very bright, and unique flavor characteristics. It is often sweeter than other coffee varieties, and has been described to possess flavor notes such as toasted marshmallows, lemon drops, cereal milk and sesame snaps.
Eugenioides plants are smaller than other types of plants, and are notorious for being extremely hard to cultivate. They grow in the understory of other surrounding plants, and mature to be about 2 to 3 meters in size. It yields only 150 grams of unmilled coffee per tree, which as you might assume, drives up the price per bag.
6. Liberica coffee
Similar to the Eugenioides plant, the Liberica is less well known. Liberica or coffea liberica is indigenous to Western parts of Africa, such as Sierra Leone and Liberia. Nowadays, Liberica is grown in parts of Southeast Asia as well, in countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
In the 1890s, when coffee leaf rust killed off over 90% of the world’s Arabica plants, the Philippines (a U.S. territory at the time) turned to the Liberica plant to bounce back. This shift from one coffee bean to the next had massive benefits for the Filipino economy.
However, shortly afterwards, in a disagreement over independence between the U.S. and the Philippines, the U.S. cut off exports including coffee from leaving the Philippines. This decision is one of the main reasons why Liberica is less well known today, despite a rather large comeback in the late 90’s.
Compared to other coffee types, Liberica beans contain more caffeine. This results in a more bitter taste, unlike for example, the sweeter Eugenioides beans. For that reason, Liberica beans are often blended into other beans, and rarely sold by themselves.
Liberica beans are larger than other beans, and are asymmetrical. The liberica coffee bean is said to have strong aromas consisting of floral and fruity notes. The taste on the other hand, is smokey and full bodied.
Which Coffee Plant is the Best?
The world has seen many different species of coffee plants. All of which are delicious in their own unique ways. But, we have to be honest. There is no other coffee plant that reigns supreme besides the Arabica plant.
Arabic coffee is by far, the most popular and widely grown and consumed coffee plant on the planet. In fact, Arabica coffee by itself represents about 60% of the world’s coffee production.
But when it comes down to what you buy, and brew into your cup, well, that’s entirely up to you. Try different types of beans, explore various brewing methods, and most importantly, have fun with the process!
FAQs
How many types of coffee plants are there?
There are over 100 species of coffee plants, but the two most commercially cultivated species are Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (commonly known as Coffea robusta).
What type of coffee grows best?
Coffea arabica is often considered the superior species for coffee production due to its superior flavor profile and lower caffeine content compared to Coffea canephora (robusta). Arabica coffee plants require higher elevations and cooler temperatures to thrive.
What are the two main types of coffee plants?
The two main types of coffee plants are Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (also known as Coffea robusta). Arabica coffee is known for its superior flavor and smoother taste, while robusta coffee is often used in blends for its higher caffeine content and resistance to pests and coffee berry disease.
See more: How to grow coffee plant
*image by Wirestock/depositphotos
