High Grown Arabica Coffee Beans
Arabica coffee beans possess distinct flavor profiles. Unlike their low-elevation counterpart, Robusta, which has more resistance to pests and diseases, Arabica is more susceptible.
High grown arabica is the sought-after variety in specialty coffee shops and premium roasters. What makes this coffee unique? Scientists have identified the reason behind this: altitude.
High Altitudes
Coffee has a long history, spanning from Ethiopia to Yemen and lower Africa. It is now a major part of the world's production. While low-elevation coffee is commercially viable and populates the instant brews sold in grocery stores, true coffee lovers look for specialty arabicas that are grown at higher altitudes for an even more complex flavor profile.
The mountains of the world's top coffee-producing countries--Central and South America, Southern Asia and a few Pacific Islands, and mid to southern Africa--provide ideal growing conditions for the production of high-quality arabica beans. These high-elevation climates are frost free and provide a pleasantly warm climate with a perfect average annual temperature of 64-73 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cooler temperatures in the mountains slow the growth cycle of the coffee plant and allow it to mature slower. The coffee beans can absorb flavors from the environment, resulting in distinct flavors. The extended maturation also helps to prevent the coffee berry borer, a small aphid that infests and eats the beans, as well as the coffee leaf miner moth, which hinders photosynthesis and decreases productivity.
The combination of these elements contributes to a superior taste and flavor profile in comparison to lower elevation coffees. Coffee grown higher up has a greater concentration of sweet flavors such as citrus, fruit and vanilla. It's also more astringent and smoother than coffee grown lower. The bean's consistency, sweetness, and depth of flavor make it the preferred coffee for roasters who want to make a high-quality cup of coffee.
High-grown arabica is called strictly high-grown or strictly hard bean. This means that the coffee was cultivated at a higher altitude than 4,000 feet. The beans are typically cultivated on volcanic soil, and they are shade-grown, or organically cultivated. This enhances their already amazing flavors. These beans are denser due to their maturation and growth slower than those grown at lower altitudes. This makes for more robust and consistent coffee. This distinctive quality makes SHG and SHB arabica the preferred type of coffee for roasters who want to create a unique cup.
Cool Climate
The tropical zone that spans the tropical regions of Cancer and Capricorn, also known as the coffee belt, is home to the world's premier coffee growing regions. These mountainous regions are perfect for growing high-quality arabica coffee beans because of the cool climate.
Arabica plants can tolerate a wide range of climate conditions. However, their best growth is seen in subtropical regions with cool night temperatures and warm daytime temperatures. This unique climate permits the plant to develop complex flavors that communicate the freedom. These flavors are what make coffee so unique.
While the popularity of instant coffees with low elevation at your local grocery store is growing, coffee lovers and experts agree that these varieties tend to be more bitter and less tasty compared to specialty coffee beans that are grown at higher altitudes. In fact the majority of the coffee consumed around the world is high-elevation coffee.
The finest arabica coffee beans tend to be grown between 3,000 to 6,500 feet above sea level. These beans are so delicious because of the combination of high elevation with cool climate and fertile soil.
Coffee farmers are always on the lookout for the perfect soil conditions that foster the growth of top-quality arabica coffee plants. The soil should be humus-rich and have a smooth texture that drains well. This type of soil is ideal for cultivating arabica because it promotes the growth of healthy roots and helps reduce the risk of plant diseases.
In addition to a soil that has the proper humus content, coffee farms also prefer a cooler climate with a distinct dry season. These weather patterns allow the plants to grow more slowly and produce an even more dense and flavorful coffee.
Well-Drained Soil
The arabica beans that are grown to the highest quality have a complex and sophisticated taste, which is different from the low-elevation species grown for mass production. The coffee plants are protected under tall canopy trees, and the nutrient-rich volcanic soil is ideal for the cultivation of these unique beans. The soil is rich in nutrients and allows the roots to absorb them, but drains quickly so that there aren't stagnant puddles.
Arabian coffee plants have a long taproot as well as small fibrous roots that extend outwards for 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m). The flowers are small, white and sweet and are often referred to as cherries. The drupes are double-seeded and ripe when red or purple. The plant is self-fertile and doesn't require cross pollination to set fruit.
The cooler temperatures at higher elevations slows down the growth rate of the coffee plant, allowing it to mature at a slower rate. This allows the beans to develop more intense flavors. This results in a cup that is richer and more complex, and has a more intense flavor than coffees that are that are grown at lower elevations.
At these higher altitudes, temperatures are more frigid, and the air is more humid. The cool climate is ideal for the sensitive development of the coffee plant, and it helps suppress the spread pests and diseases that attack lower elevation plants.
Due to the particular soil and climate characteristics, high-altitude farms are able to produce more beans than farms that are located at lower elevations. You can find these premium beans in specialty cafes as well as in the finest coffee roasters.
If you are planning to grow your own Arabica plant, ensure that you pay attention to the specific requirements of the plant and use a mix of soil that is compatible with the requirements. Avoid commercial mixes that contain excessive ingredients that could hinder the roots of your plant from growing. Organic matter such as compost or other can be added to the soil to increase the retention of water, but without creating a texture that resembles cement. Water your plant once the soil is dry to the touch. Avoid excessive or inadequate watering, which can lead to root the rot.
Unique Flavors
The unique flavor profile of arabica beans makes them highly sought-after. They are more affluent and nuanced than other coffee types, with notes of chocolate, caramel, fruit and flowers. The careful cultivation and roasting of the beans results in the smoother and sweeter flavor. They also have less caffeine and acidity than other varieties which makes them less bitter and easier to drink.
Arabica beans are grown in the world's mountainous regions that are part of the Coffee Belt, a tropical band that spans 30 degrees north and south of the equator. The finest beans are grown in this region. premium arabica coffee beans are planted in volcanic soils as well as other rich soils which produce small fruit, also known as coffee cherries.
These cherries contain two seeds inside them. The seeds are separated from the fleshy outer layer as they ripen and are crushed and roasted to make a cup of coffee. Arabica coffee beans are a premium variety because they tend to be more expensive than other varieties and also have a more complex taste.
The high altitudes at which arabica beans are grown is one of the major factors that affect their taste and quality. The cool climate, the fertile volcanic soils and the cooler climate makes arabica beans taste better than those grown lower in elevation. Higher elevations influence the process of maturation of coffee beans. This is because the cooler temperatures slow down the beans' growth cycle and gives them the time to mature and develop a savoury and rich taste.
The various regions of coffee production across the globe each have distinctive flavors and distinctive characteristics. The arabica beans from Central America are known to have a balanced and balanced composition, with a light body. Those from Ethiopia and Kenya on the other hand, are renowned for their sweet-savory taste. The distinctive flavor profiles are due to the fact that each region and country has its own unique soil type. Some soils are rich in water and produce a full chocolaty taste. Some have a sand texture that makes the coffee taste lighter.