Coffee beans Education

A coffee bean is a seed of the coffee plant and is the source of the coffee we drink every day. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit often referred to as a cherry. Even though they are seeds, they are referred to as 'beans' because of their resemblance to true beans. The fruits - coffee cherries or coffee berries - most commonly contain two stones with their flat sides together. The two most important varieties of coffee plant are the Arabica and the Robusta! 75-80% of the coffee produced worldwide is Arabica and 20% is Robusta. Arabica beans consist of 0.8-1.4% caffeine and Robusta beans consist of 1.7-4% caffeine!

The two varieties differ in taste, growing conditions and price. Arabica beans tend to have a sweeter, softer taste, with tons of sugar, fruit, and berries. Their acidity is higher, with that winey taste that characterizes coffee with excellent acidity. Robusta, however, has a stronger, harsher taste, with a grain-like overtone and peanut aftertaste. They contain twice as much caffeine as Arabica beans, and they are generally considered to be of inferior quality compared to Arabica. Some Robusta varieties however, are of high quality and valued especially in espresso making for their deep flavour and perfect crema.