Confused about the different types of coffee beans and roasts available?

You’re not alone.

Even though coffee is one of the most loved and consumed beverages in the world, not many coffee drinkers understand how much difference the choice of beans used makes.

Variation according to the type of bean

Different types of coffee beans come from different type of coffee trees. Now these beans aren’t actually beans, but rather they are seeds from cherries borne by the trees.

The flesh from these cherries is removed and discarded and the seeds are taken for further processing. The seeds at this point are grey-green and are regarded as green coffee.

The cherries come from the trees of genus Coffea. There are two major species of trees that bear the seeds for coffee, Coffea Arabica and Coffea Canephora.

Arabica Beans from Coffea Arabica

Over 60% of the world’s coffee production comprises of Arabica coffee beans. In fact, if you are sipping coffee in a cafe, it’s very likely that your cup of coffee is made from arabica beans.

These beans are mostly used to brew regular coffee since they are considered to be superior than Robusta beans and have a richer taste since they also contain 60% more lipids (fatty acids) than Robusta.

Arabica beans are also grown at high altitudes where they can receive plenty of rainfall as well as enough shade. The trees are no taller than 6 feet and are easy to prune and harvest but Arabica beans are more prone to diseases and need to be farmed with great care.

Robusta Beans from Coffea Canephora

Robusta coffee beans have more than twice the caffeine content in Arabica beans. However this also makes them more bitter which can make drinks unpleasant.

On the other hand Robusta beans are extremely tolerant to almost all kinds of weather conditions and are practically immune to disease. Without a doubt, Robusta beans are easy to cultivate and take care of. Nonetheless these beans still need to be grown in very hot places where rainfall is irregular.

Since Robusta beans have lower quality taste-wise (than Arabica), it is typically used to make instant coffee…. and now you know why instant coffee and regular coffee taste different!

Blends

Arabica beans are hard to cultivate and require great care, so it can get pretty expensive. To cut costs, Arabica beans are generally mixed with Robusta beans while grinding.

Variation according to the intensity of roasting

The degree of roasting coffee beans determines how it tastes. Before roasting, the beans are soft and green with little to no taste. After roasting, the beans transform into the aromatic and crunchy beans that we know as coffee beans.

Different kind of coffee beans when roasted to the same level may also taste different due the variation of their origin.

Light Roasted

Light roasted coffee beans are light brown in color and retain more caffeine. They are lighter in comparison to dark roasts and have no oil on the surface. Lightly roasted beans have the brightest color and the highest level of acidity.

Medium Roasted

Medium roasted coffee beans are darker in color than light roasts. At this level, the beans get their typical coffee qualities: aroma and flavor. Medium roasts have a balanced acidity and caffeine content and make rich coffee when brewed properly.

Like light roasts, they have no oil on the bean surfaces but medium-dark roasts may have traces of oil breaking out on the surface.

Dark Roasted

When you see coffee beans that are very dark brown or almost black in color, you should know they are the dark roasted coffee beans. They have oil creeping out on the surface and the original flavor of the coffee is dampened by the roasting process.

Although there is substantially very less amount of caffeine left, these coffee beans will still have a bitter and smoky taste due to all the roasting.

Blends

Why stick with one kind of roasted bean when you can mix it up?

Many people mix different amount of light, medium, and dark roasted coffee beans while grinding to get a different taste. Having said that, there are no real guidelines as such and you have to experiment to get the taste that you want.

Ready to take coffee making classes?

Do you consider yourself a true coffee aficionado but still use instant coffee? Let your love for coffee be justified and your taste buds be pleased by learning how to brew coffee the right way!

Join us today at Kaffeine Coffee School and learn how to become a barista by calling us at 977-1-4413425.