Arabica Coffee
Arabica coffee is a species of flowering plant in the coffee and madder family Rubiaceae. It is the first species of coffee to have cultivated and is currently the dominant cultivar, representing about 60% of global production. Robusta is the second most popular type of coffee representing about 40% of global production. Coffea arabica is native of Ethiopia, where the major genetic diversity of the species are find.
There are many different coffee bean varieties and types of Arabica coffee beans that form a large family. Some types of coffee beans only grows in specific region, whereas others grows in many coffee growing regions across the globe. The main types of Arabica coffee include: Typica, Bourbon, Caturra, Catimor, Jackson, Kona, Pacamara, Villabos.
Main types of Arabica coffee
- Ethiopian Landrace
- Bourbon and Typica Group
- Introgressed (Catimor/Sarchimor)
- F1 Hybrid
Grown and Harvested
Arabica species flourishes in higher altitudes such as hilly lands. It matured after 7 years. The ideal temperature for an Arabica Coffee plantation is 15-24°C, which makes it sensitive to hotter regions. It grows up to 12 meters in the wild, but cut to 2 meters for commercial plantation to ease the harvesting process.
The leaves are dark green and oval-shaped while bearing the cherries that mature from 7 to 9 months. Each cherry contains two flat seeds or no other than the coffee bean itself. Sometimes only one flat seed developed called a peaberry.
There are two known ways to harvest Arabica
- Strip Pick. The cherries is collectively pick in one take either by hand or machine . In this method, there might be unripe cherries that get pick along with the ripe ones. The unripe cherries will cause a foul in the processing quality; hence coffee producers have to use additional equipment like pulpers and optical sorters to separate the unripe harvests.
- Selective Pick. It allow for a more careful and meticulous approach to ensure that only the ripe ones are pick. While it might take a longer time, the harvester can selectively collect the cherries by hand, reducing the possibility of picking the unripe ones.
Health Benefits Of This Coffee Species
- Protects the cells with anti-oxidant compounds
- Fights the bacteria in the mouth that causes cavities
- Decrease the glucose
- Contain vitamins and minerals
- Low calories
- Less hydration
The coffee beans have different grade quality. There are special varieties of Arabica according to their premium taste which belongs to the gourmet category or known as gourmet coffee. It is cultivate in the regions of Guatemalan, Antigua, Ethiopian Sidamo, Colombian Supremo, and Tarrazú.
