Arabica coffee makes up more than half of the global coffee market. if you want to know what is the most widespread type of coffee, this is it. It has the right amount of acidity and sweetness that could cater to prevalent preferences.
Not too bitter, not too strong: this is what makes the Arabica the most common variety of coffee beans. It is chocolatey, nutty, and isn’t too crazy for even the most conservative coffee drinkers.
What is the most widespread type of coffee bean?
Not everyone is a fan of the bitterness of coffee. On the other hand, a lot of us love sweet flavors. These are the top two reasons why Arabica beans are the most in demand.
Coffee is the most in-demand beverage globally, and coffee consumption only continues to grow. With coffee, the possibilities are endless.
A type of coffee bean can produce various coffee flavors. At the same time, different brewing methods and recipes can give you a different coffee experience every time.
📢Fact:
We get coffee by brewing coffee beans. These beans are roasted seeds of cherries harvested from the coffee plant.
Exactly. I never expected that coffee would look like cherries!
Source: https://www.thespruce.com/grow-coffee-plants-1902614
Four common varieties of coffee beans are produced from different types of coffee plants. Each coffee bean has its distinct flavors.
Here are coffee beans ranking for you and what flavors to expect for each type of bean.
- Arabica. Arabica has a hint of berries and fruits. It is a bit acidic but is sweet, mild, and has a better mouthfeel.
It is best used for iced coffee, lattes, or iced espressos. Arabica is best for those who are just starting to make coffee a part of their routine.
You can use it for standard coffee brewing methods such as French press, pour-over, and your trusty drip coffee machine.
- Robusta. The robusta coffee bean can taste earthy. It has lower acidity but can be quite bitter.
It can be pretty strong compared to arabica coffee and delivers a rubbery and grain-like, and nutty aftertaste.
With regards to production, Robusta differs very much from Arabica in the sense that the Robusta plant is less demanding to tend to, with its higher yield and its resistance to insect infestation.
It is best for speciality coffee that needs bolder flavors such as espressos, Vietnamese coffee, and cold brew.
- Excelsa. Excelsa coffee beans are quite fruity, sour, and dark. It can be quite strong and bitter too.
Excelsa coffee beans are often used as extenders. You will find it more as part of a blend so it can add depth and complexity to the flavor.
The strong taste of excelsa can be off-putting to drink on its own. But all the fruitiness and strength add an intricate flavor to the blend.
- Liberica. Liberica coffee beans are smoky, nutty, and floral. It doesn’t have as much coffee flavor as the other coffee beans. I guess that explains how it is the least favorite on the list.
The spicy undertones and strong taste can be too much for most people. It can be quite unique so you will either hate it or love it.
Liberica coffee beans could make a very good ristretto or espresso.
Source: https://trulyexperiences.com/blog/types-of-coffee-beans/
Arabica beans and their demand makes them the most common coffee beans. This bean is collected from the Coffea Arabica plant and accounts for 75% of coffee production in the world.
This means that the majority of coffee lovers are likely to be familiar with the aroma and flavor of Arabica beans.
This type of bean originated from Ethiopia and its current largest exporter is Brazil.
The production of Arabica beans is more expensive than its nearest competitor, Robusta. Arabica beans are quite demanding to grow and farm.
The Arabica plant requires it to be planted at higher altitudes approximately 1 kilometer above sea level.
It thrives best in humid areas with temperatures preferably around 15°C and 24°C. It also requires lots of TLC due to its susceptibility to fungi and pests. Yikes!
📢Fact:
Coffee trees are subjected to harsher growing conditions in low-elevation coffee regions. Coffee ripens more quickly as temperatures rise and rainfall decreases, resulting in beans with flavors ranging from simple and bland to earthy or murky.
These very specific farming requirements bring a higher flavor quality profile that is favored by more people.
The coffee brewed from these beans has less caffeine and less acidity. Yet with twice as much sugar and fat as Robusta.
These characteristics of Arabica beans allow for greater varieties of flavors and make it the most common variety of coffee beans. Its popularity and widespread usage are not surprising at all.
What are the most common coffee drinks?
Now that we’re done discussing coffee bean rankings, let’s talk about which coffee drinks are the most popular.
The first time coming into a coffee shop could be intimidating for those new to the coffee scene.
Check out the list of the most common coffee drinks below that newcomers could refer to as a guide:
1. Espresso
Espresso is a concentrated syrupy drink. It is made by brewing coffee by seeping nearly boiling water into finely ground coffee beans.
It is best to use darker roasts for espresso because light roasts are more likely to be under-extracted and taste sour.
It would be great to use robusta beans for espresso to get a lot of crema. But since it will be used as a base for other drinks, arabica can also be a safe choice.
Although espresso is referred to as a shot, you’re not supposed to chug it down in a single gulp. You should sip espresso slowly to appreciate its full, rich flavor.
Most people enjoy a shot or two of espresso on its own, but sugar or another sweetener can be added. This drink is also the base for a lot of European coffee recipes.
2. Americano
Americano is one of the more popular espresso-based beverages.
It is one of the easier coffee drinks to prepare, where water is poured over a shot of espresso. During World War II, European baristas catered to the American soldiers’ taste by adding water to espresso.
Adding water makes a smoother, less concentrated flavor as opposed to the usual espresso.
Don’t confuse it with the long black coffee though. The long black is also espresso-based like the Americano. However, the difference is that espresso is poured in after the water.
3. Black Coffee
Black coffee is perhaps one of the most common caffeinated beverages on this list. It is arguably the most common coffee drink and you’re going to find it easy to prepare. You can make it with your eyes closed! (not really)
All you need to do is just brew coffee however you like and skip any other additives. If you are using pour-over or drip, I would recommend using arabica beans and light roasts.
Being a simple drink, black coffee brings you a lot of benefits. Black coffee for weight loss is even better than enzyme coffee for weight loss or adding baking soda to coffee.
4. Cappucino
A cappuccino is another coffee drink made with espresso. It originated in Italy and is traditionally made with steamed milk foam.
Originally made by Italian monks called Capuchins, this recipe is prepared with equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and thick foam.
Since it is an espresso drink, it is best to use dark roast to make it.
5. Latte
A Latte is prepared by adding steamed milk into espresso and adding a dollop of milk foam on top.
It can be enjoyed hot or iced, which pretty much makes this espresso-based drink a popular favorite. Some refer to this drink as an Americanized version of cappuccino.
I can have a smoother and gentler mouth feel. Other variations add different flavoring syrups like lavender, white chocolate, blueberry, and many more.
6. Flat White
Flat White is another espresso-based drink prepared by adding micro-foamed milk poured over a single or double shot of espresso.
The flat white originated in Australia in the 1980s, where a cappuccino has a noticeably drier foam top than the cappuccino most Americans are familiar with.
In Australia, it is frequently sprinkled with cocoa powder on top. If you want a similar drink with a little more kick, you can try out flat white’s cousin which is magic coffee.
7. Cafe Au Lait
Cafe Au Lait is a traditional French coffee drink made from equal parts strong hot coffee and steamed milk, then topped with little to no foam.
This drink is well-received all across Europe and has a lot of names and derivatives depending on the country, like Cafe con Leche in Spain and Milchkaffee in Germany.
It’s almost like a latte but is made from regular brewed coffee from either a french press or drip coffee maker.
8. Macchiato
Traditional Macchiato offered by most coffee shops is usually topped off with foamed or steamed milk.
Macchiato directly translates to “spotted”, which makes no surprise that this coffee drink is prepared by adding a spot or splash of milk to espresso.
Caramel macchiato is one of the more popular choices in coffee shops and cafes. Luckily you can enjoy this drink at home as long as you have the right ingredients. You can even make your very own salted caramel syrup for coffee.
9. Cold Brew
This coffee drink is prepared by steeping coarsely ground coffee in cooler temperatures for an extended duration.
This is how cold brew is different from iced coffee.
Unlike iced coffee, cold brew stays fresh in the fridge for a longer time. The low temperature and longer periods give this drink its concentration and incredibly strong taste.
10. Frappe
A frappe is an example of an iced coffee. It is essentially a latte prepared by blending in espresso, milk, and sweetener.
You can use any flavoring syrup or even just a simple syrup. They’re all mixed in until it forms a foamy texture. You can also add ice before or after blending the coffee mixture.
As with most iced coffee recipes, the ingredients for frappe can be a bit fattening. So probably, stay away from it now and then?
Some people would think that iced coffee is bad for you. There was even this rumor that iced coffee is illegal in Canada.
What’s the largest coffee chain in the world?
Starbucks is the largest coffee chain in the world. With how it’s almost impossible not to find a Starbucks in any major city, it isn’t at all surprising.
Starbucks was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1971. Today it already has 15,000 locations in the United States alone.
Starbuck’s most popular drinks on its menu are the Frappucinos and Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Other popular coffee chains worldwide include Britain’s Costa Coffee, California’s Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and Canada’s Tim Hortons.
What’s the largest coffee brand in the world?
But if we’re talking about seniority, Nescafe would arguably hold the crown as the most significant coffee brand.
If you look up the world's largest coffee brand, the search results will still tell you that it’s Starbucks. But Nescafe has been around since the 1930s!
The question is “how much instant coffee is drunk worldwide?” Well, almost half of us coffee drinkers around the world prefer instant coffee. For most households, instant coffee is the most accessible and Nescafe is the unbeatable brand of instant coffee.
Nescafe is a brand of Switzerland’s Nestle. It is known across the globe for its instant coffee. In over 180 countries, this brand offers a variety of blends and flavors which makes it popular.
To create their signature blend, NESCAFÉ uses two types of coffee beans: Arabica coffee beans and Robusta coffee beans.
There are pretty much a lot of choices including the Classic and the Nescafe Gold Series, Gold Crema, and Gold Latte.
The most widespread type of coffee is only from two beans!
The most common coffee beans are Arabica which is first in the coffee beans ranking. While the most widespread type of coffee is a blend of Arabica and Robusta.
Arabica’s closest competitor, Robusta, is also favored by many who like their coffee stronger. This is because its caffeine content is twice as much as Arabica. Arabica is the most common among the four main types of coffee beans.
Most of the healthier coffee variants also make use of Robusta beans because it has significantly lesser fat and sugar content.
The two beans are very much like light and day, but blended coffee made from these two types of beans is one of the most popular worldwide.
The answer to the question: “What is the most widespread type of coffee.” the answer would be Arabica and Robusta. Let us know in the comments below about your favorite type of coffee!
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