![]() ![]() They’re short and durable, mature more quickly than average, and produce richly flavorful beans. These plants take some of the best attributes of the parent varieties. In the late 1950’s in Brazil, scientists selectively bred the Catuai variety, a hybrid of Mundo Novo and Caturra. The cherries mature slowly, but production is high and the flavors are of especially high quality at upper altitudes. Mundo Novo is a natural hybrid of typica and bourbon that was also discovered in Brazil in the 1940’s. It also produces mature cherries faster than most other varieties. It requires extensive care, but rewards the farmer with a large yield and great flavor. The Caturra variety is a natural mutation from bourbon that was discovered in Brazil in 1937. Bourbon (burr-bone) plants generally produce 20-30% more coffee than Typica, but the cherries are at greater risk of falling off the trees in harsh weather. Typica coffee plants tend to produce excellent tasting coffee, but the yield is on the low side. These two are at the top of the family tree. Read: The Golden Ratios in Coffee Brewing Common Coffee VarietiesĪlmost all arabica coffee varieties we know and love stem from two original varieties: Typica and Bourbon. And some plants are cultivated in labs until the right varieties are formed to meet certain criteria, such as disease resistance, yield, or flavor. Some of the plants cross-pollinated in the wild to create hybrids. Out of modern varieties, some plants mutated on their own, creating new varieties. ![]() The original varieties were formed naturally in the wild through ancient mutations, just like all other plants. Where Do Varieties Come From?Ĭoffee varieties are created in a variety of ways. Cultivar is correct if you’re speaking to a botanist. So, varietal is always incorrect when you’re talking about coffee beans. If you’re a botanist, you reserve the word variety for wild plants and use the word cultivar for crops created by human activity, such as plant breeding. Read: How To Read Coffee Packaging Like A Pro It’s a varietal wine because it’s made from a single grape variety. For example, a wine made from merlot variety grapes is considered a varietal wine. The varietal is how you would identify a product of a variety. It’s how you identify the genetic makeup of a specific plant. What’s going on? Are they different? Let’s make this as simple as possible.Ī variety is the plant classification that falls beneath species. Some companies say coffee variety, some say varietal, and some say cultivar. Variety, Varietal, Or Cultivar?īefore we go any further, we’ve got to dispel a point of confusion. Varieties are the key to the survival of coffee as we know it. And new research is saving coffee production in Africa today as droughts get longer and more intense. Variety research saved coffee production in South/Central America in the 80’s and 90’s when the disease “leaf rust” was destroying farms by the hundreds. Some produce great yields, some have unique flavors, and some grow better in certain climates. However, yes, varieties are extremely important on the global landscape. Read: Here's Why Some Coffees Are Very Expensive If you see one of those on the menu, try it. Most arabica varieties taste very similar, but there are a few that really stand out, like the rare, high-dollar geisha variety. Well, to be honest, varieties typically don’t mean much to regular coffee lovers. I’ll break these varieties down for you, tell you about the most common ones, and tell you why they even matter in the first place. So, I understand that they can be a little confusing. You’re likely to see them on coffee bags or cafe menus, but most baristas and roasters won’t explain them unless you ask. They’re coffee plant varieties, the genetic classification that falls beneath species. ![]() No, these aren’t weird names from sci-fi novels. ![]()
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