Drinking coffee seems to have become a tradition for Indonesians. Almost everyone today has a hobby of drinking coffee. Not just for its fresh taste and aroma, drinking coffee has become a lifestyle for young people.
Most of the coffee produced and exported worldwide is Arabica coffee. That’s for obvious reasons, namely that most people prefer the taste. But what is Arabica coffee anyway ? In the previous article, we have discussed Robusta coffee, this time it is the turn of Arabica coffee that we will peel the information.
Don’t mistake the name, this Arabica bean comes from Ethiopia. Arabica is one of the most popular types of coffee worldwide. At least 70 percent of the world’s coffee consumption comes from Arabica coffee. Arabica beans come from the Coffea Arabica plant. The seeds can be found inside ripe dark red or reddish purple berries.
Arabica seed planting
Arabica beans are mostly grown in Latin America, with Brazil being the largest producer. Coffea Arabica plants are more difficult to grow compared to Robusta beans. The cause is Arabica
are much more sensitive and more susceptible to pests and changing weather conditions.
Arabica beans can grow in tropical climates with warmer temperatures. However, Arabica bean plants are suitable for growing at altitudes of around 3,000 feet and on hillsides. Arabica bean plants are very sensitive, and should not be located in areas with high or low temperatures, as this will interfere with fruit growth. The optimum air temperature for Arabica growth ranges from 18 – 23 degrees Celsius, rainfall of 1,600 – 2,000 millimeters/year, and dry months of 3 – 4 months (Sylvain, 1955).
In addition, Arabica bean plants take seven years to mature and be ready for harvest. But you have to be careful when harvesting them, as they can easily fall off the stalk. This is why Arabica beans tend to be more expensive and are considered superior to Robusta beans.
Read also: The Ins and Outs of Robusta Coffee, Let’s Explore Together!
Arabica bean flavor
Arabica beans vary in flavor depending on the region, Arabica can taste sweet or even fruity but can also have a cereal-like flavor or a nutty taste. Arabica tends to have higher acidity with a slightly bitter flavor than Robusta beans.
Arabica beans tend to have light and fruity tones and can also sometimes have sugar and berry flavors, which makes them suitable for milky drinks. Compared to Robusta beans or other Arabica and Robusta blends, one hundred percent Arabica beans will tend to have a milder flavor.
A cup of Arabica coffee can be described as aromatic and rich in flavor. Therefore, when you buy Arabica coffee at a coffee shop, you will see a variety of flavors on the packaging, such as floral, fruity, citrus, buttery, chocolate, caramel, and others.
Read also: 3 Coffee Bean Processing Methods, Resulting in Unique Flavors
Dry process on Arabica can enhance the natural sweetness and can produce a slightly fermented flavor, while the washed process can produce a slightly fermented flavor. washed process can produce a cleaner flavor. In addition, wet-hulling or monsoon processing can produce Arabica with very low acidity.
The higher the roasting level, the less natural the flavor. Low roasting levels in coffee produce flavors that tend to be complex, with floral to fruity flavor characteristics. Darker roasting of coffee will result in a bitter taste.
Also read: How to Store Roasted Coffee Beans Well to Stay Fresh
Caffeine in Arabica beans
When we compare Robusta to Arabica, Arabica beans contain less caffeine (almost half) than Robusta beans. The smaller amount of caffeine in Arabica coffee beans also contributes to the less bitter taste we can find in Arabica-type coffee.
In addition to the caffeine content of Arabica beans being lower than Robusta beans, it turns out that the sugar content in Arabica coffee beans is twice as high as that of Robusta beans. That’s what makes coffee made from Arabica beans have a sweeter taste and is favored by many people.
Conclusion
From the explanation above, it turns out that Arabica seeds are very different from Robusta seeds. Starting from growing conditions, flavor, shape, size, to caffeine in Arabica has also been discussed in this article. After knowing the information about Arabica beans, we now know the reason why Arabica coffee is the most consumed coffee in the world.
Although Arabica represents 70 percent of the world’s coffee consumption, it is less per year than Robusta, hence, coffee experts consider it to be the highest quality type of coffee. Besides being more expensive than Robusta coffee, Arabica coffee is harder to grow and more susceptible to disease.
JIf you are a coffee producer from various regions, do not hesitate to open a shop on the KopiKita platform, so that coffee lovers from all over Indonesia can taste your coffee production. Apply for a business to the KopiKita platformnow by filling out the following form .
Are you a coffee lover? It’s time to visit the KopiKita platform to find coffee from various regions in Indonesia at the best price!
