From Arabica to Excelsa: learn to taste the coffee bean
1 h Calm
Where your bean comes from determines how your cup tastes. Discover four varieties and instantly drink much more mindfully.
The flavour of your coffee doesn't start with the machine, it starts with the bean. Arabica or Robusta, Liberica or Excelsa: each variety has its own origin, character and caffeine level. Once you know those differences, you'll taste a cup in a completely different way.
In this playbook you'll walk through the four best-known coffee beans. You'll discover where they come from, what makes them unique and which flavour notes to expect. Pour yourself a cup and try to recognise what's in your bag of beans.
Arabica is the most widely drunk bean at around sixty percent. Originally from south-western Ethiopia, it grows at altitude and is sweet and smooth with notes of fruit and berries.
Robusta accounts for around forty percent, is stronger and more bitter, and contains almost twice as much caffeine. It is grown mainly in Africa and Indonesia.
Liberica is rarer and comes mainly from the Philippines. The beans are larger and asymmetrical, with a floral, fruity flavour.
Excelsa is grown in small quantities in Southeast Asia and adds depth to a blend with its fruity, spicy notes. Try tracking down a bag that contains it.
Suggestion: Check the packaging of your coffee to see which variety is in it.Related playbooks
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by PlayTryBe team