Arabica Coffee Varieties: Part 2 (RR25)

Roast and Reason: A Coffee Podcast

There are many varieties of the Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) plant. Just like different apples or different wine varieties, coffee varieties look different and produce coffee that tastes different.

In the early 18th century Arabica coffee plants were taken from their native Ethiopia and planted throughout the world. When this happened the genetic and phenotypic diversity narrowed dramatically. The first Arabica coffee variety planted outside of Ethiopia, Typica, remains the most common variety today. However, there are a handful of common varieties, each with their own unique story and flavor profile.

This episode will discuss Typica, Bourbon, Maragojipe, Caturra, Catimor, Catuai, Timor Hybrid, Mundo Nuovo, Jamaica Blue Mountain, Kona, and Geisha varieties.

This is part 2 of a two-part series on Arabica coffee varieties. In this episode we will discuss the individual varieties of coffee. How do coffee buyers identify the different varieties when visiting coffee farms? How are the common coffee varieties similar and how are they different? What are some classic flavor characteristics of each variety? Check out this episode to find out!