Coffee beans are the actual seeds of the coffee plant, which are found inside the berries on the coffee tree. Once harvested and roasted, these can then be brewed to make coffee.

When it comes to types of coffee beans, there are two main species, Arabica and Robusta. These two varieties of beans make up ninety-five percent of the worlds coffee. Arabica is by far the most widely used, accounting for a little more than seventy percent of the worlds coffee production. Arabica is considered by most to be the superior bean, as it produces a smoother blend of coffee which is more flavorful than the coffee brewed from Robusta beans. Arabica beans require more cultivation than Robusta beans, as they are susceptible to pests and frost, and can only be grown in areas which normally do not freeze.

Robusta beans are much hardier, and can grow in areas where Arabica cannot. The coffee produced from Robusta beans is not as smooth as that from Arabica, can often have a bitter taste, and has almost double the caffeine content. Because they can be grow anywhere in the world, including colder climates, Robusta beans are much cheaper than Arabica. These beans account for approximately twenty percent of the world’s coffee. Often, you will find coffee distributors creating a blend of Robusta and Arabica beans. This allows them to still have the smooth Arabica flavoring, but without having to pay for an all-Arabica blend.

The remaining ten percent of coffee found in the world comes from a handful of other species which are much localized, being available only in the areas where they are grown and not typically being found in the export market.

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