The Best Coffee Species

Here’s our take on the best coffee species:

• Robusta – grows more quickly and has a higher yield. Unfortunately it produces beans with inferior flavors, however, a little robusta in an espresso blend, especially a carefully cultivated and processed robusta, can enhance body and crema (the foam layer at the top of a properly pulled espresso shot).
• Arabica – this species has hundreds of cultivar varieties, many of which have the potential to produce absolutely incredible coffee. Arabica coffee plants grow best at very high altitudes and in the shade of other trees – which therefore allows their cherries to ripen slowly and evenly.
• Cultivars – Some of the oldest Arabica cultivars are typica, bourbon and kent. There are hundreds others too, many of which have the potential to be turned into quite incredible coffee. Some, such as SL28 and SL34, are less beautifully named, but equally respected in the coffee world.

Tags: Arabica, Best Coffee, Coffee Species, Cultivars, Robusta