Types of Arabica Coffee

The different types of Arabica coffee beans, all of which are known for their different flavors and attributes, are called cultivars. Contrary to a popular misconception, the word "Cultivar" does not refer to the region in which the coffee is grown instead, it refers to botanical variety which arises when different species or sub-species are interbred.

Some of the most popular cultivars are mentioned below, some of them you might ever heard , some of them will be the new :

• Bourbon: There are many variants of bourbon and like Typica, a lot of cultivars were created from Bourbon. Originally developed by the French in 1708, and cultivated on an island in the Indian Ocean called "Bourbon". Bourbon has broader leaves and bigger cherries than Typica, but like typica, it is also a conical shaped plant. Bourbon produces 20 - 30% more fruit than Typica and it produces a more robust tasting brew.
• Caturra: Discovered in Rio De Janiero, and named after the town in which it was discovered, this cultivar is a mutation of coffee Bourbon. Although it was discovered in Brazil, it thrives better in Colombia and South America to produce a vibrant brew with a zesty essence. Like coffee Bourbon, it has broad waxy leaves with wavy edges however, it is shorter and thick and bushy in appearance. Although Caturra has a higher yield than Bourbon, it produces a lighter brew and requires a lot of care in order to thrive.
• Typica: This cultivar can be grown in any coffee producing region and is the cultivar from which a lot of other cultivars were created. Typica coffee trees have a main trunk with secondary trunks that grow out slightly slanted. The lateral branches form an angle of about 50- 70° with the vertical stem to give the tree an overall conical shape. Although typica coffee trees are low yielding, they nonetheless produce a delicious brew.
• Catuai: This cultivar was created through a cross between Caturra and Mundo Novo. Like Caturra, Catuai is a short and bushy looking plant with a high yield. Catuai requires a lot of attention and fertilization to thrive, and it yields yellow or red cherries that produce a robust brew.
• Mundo Novo: This cultivar was created in the 1940's as a result of the crossing of Bourbon coffee and Typica coffee. It is high yielding and resistant to many diseases however, it matures a bit later than other types of papua arabica coffee
• Blue Mountain: This cultivar came about as a mutation of Typica coffee and is known for its resistance to the coffee berry disease. Blue Mountain coffee thrives at high altitudes and is commonly grown on the Blue Mountains of Jamaica after which it is named. It has a mildly sweet flavor, and a very inviting aroma.