Coffee Arabica Varieties

Here is a comprehensive list of major Coffea arabica varieties, each with a brief description, focusing on their origin, flavor profile, and notable traits:

1. Typica

• Origin: Ethiopia → Yemen → Java → Latin America
• Description: One of the original Arabica varieties, Typica is the genetic base for many other varieties. Known for its excellent cup quality, it produces sweet, clean, and well-balanced coffees with complex acidity and subtle fruit and floral notes.
• Notable Trait: High-quality cup but lower yield and more susceptible to diseases.

2. Bourbon

• Origin: Yemen → Bourbon Island (Reunion) → Latin America & Africa
• Description: A foundational variety like Typica, Bourbon is highly regarded for its high cup quality, with sweet, complex flavors, well-rounded acidity, and a medium body. Its genetic descendants include many other varieties.
• Notable Trait: Higher yield than Typica but still susceptible to diseases.

3. Caturra

• Origin: Brazil (mutation of Bourbon)
• Description: A natural dwarf mutation of Bourbon, Caturra offers high productivity, good cup quality with bright acidity, and a medium body. It is widely grown in Latin America.
• Notable Trait: Compact plant, making it easier to harvest and suitable for high-density planting.

4. SL28

• Origin: Kenya (Scott Agricultural Laboratories)
• Description: Known for producing some of Kenya’s finest coffees, SL28 has a rich, complex flavor profile with bright acidity, fruity notes (such as blackcurrant and berry), and a full body. It’s also drought-tolerant.
• Notable Trait: Prized for cup quality, though susceptible to coffee leaf rust and other diseases.

5. SL34

• Origin: Kenya (Scott Agricultural Laboratories)
• Description: Similar to SL28 but with higher yield and better adaptation to wet conditions. SL34 delivers exceptional cup quality, featuring bright acidity, sweet fruity flavors, and a rich body.
• Notable Trait: Greater resistance to wetter environments but still susceptible to rust.

6. Gesha (Geisha)

• Origin: Ethiopia → Panama (famed from Panama)
• Description: Renowned for its exceptional cup quality, the Gesha variety offers floral, jasmine-like aromas, complex acidity, and a tea-like body. Its unique profile has made it highly sought-after in specialty coffee markets.
• Notable Trait: Exceptional cup quality but low yield and requires specific growing conditions.

7. Pacamara

• Origin: El Salvador (cross between Pacas and Maragogipe)
• Description: Pacamara is known for large beans and a wide variety of cup profiles, ranging from fruity and floral to chocolatey and spicy. The variety often displays a creamy body and complex acidity.
• Notable Trait: Large bean size and highly variable cup profiles depending on cultivation conditions.

8. Catuai

• Origin: Brazil (cross between Mundo Novo and Caturra)
• Description: Catuai is widely grown in Latin America due to its productivity and disease resistance. It produces a balanced cup with good acidity and sweetness, often with chocolate and nutty notes.
• Notable Trait: High yield and adaptability to different environments.

9. Mundo Novo

• Origin: Brazil (natural hybrid between Typica and Bourbon)
• Description: Mundo Novo is a popular variety for its productivity, vigor, and disease resistance. It produces a balanced cup with medium acidity and sweetness, often with chocolate and mild fruity flavors.
• Notable Trait: High yield and good disease resistance.

10. Villalobos

• Origin: Costa Rica
• Description: A lesser-known variety, Villalobos has adapted to the volcanic soils of Costa Rica and is recognized for its sweet, fruity, and balanced cup, with bright acidity and a clean finish.
• Notable Trait: Known for its adaptation to acidic soils.

11. Maragogipe

• Origin: Brazil (mutation of Typica)
• Description: Known as the "Elephant Bean" for its unusually large beans, Maragogipe offers a distinct cup profile with delicate acidity, floral and fruity notes, and a tea-like body.
• Notable Trait: Large bean size but often low yield and low disease resistance.

12. Sarchimor

• Origin: Central America (cross between Timor Hybrid and Villa Sarchi)
• Description: Sarchimor varieties combine the disease resistance of the Timor Hybrid with the good cup quality of Villa Sarchi. It often produces balanced cups with mild acidity and pleasant sweetness.
• Notable Trait: Resistance to coffee leaf rust and good yield.

13. Catimor

• Origin: Central America (cross between Timor Hybrid and Caturra)
• Description: Known for its high yield and disease resistance, Catimor produces coffee with decent cup quality, often with balanced acidity and sweetness, though some strains can be less complex in flavor.
• Notable Trait: Resistant to rust and has high productivity.

14. Villa Sarchi

• Origin: Costa Rica (mutation of Bourbon)
• Description: Villa Sarchi is a dwarf variety similar to Caturra. It is known for producing coffee with bright acidity, good sweetness, and fruity or floral notes.
• Notable Trait: Compact size and good adaptability to higher altitudes.

15. Ethiopian Heirloom Varieties

• Origin: Ethiopia
• Description: Ethiopian coffee is often sourced from wild or semi-wild heirloom varieties. These varieties are known for their diverse and complex flavor profiles, ranging from fruity and citrusy to floral and spicy. Ethiopian heirloom varieties contribute to some of the most distinctive cups in the world.
• Notable Trait: Incredibly diverse and often high in acidity, florals, and fruitiness.

16. Timor Hybrid

• Origin: Timor Island (natural hybrid between Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora)
• Description: The Timor Hybrid is significant for its resistance to coffee leaf rust and other diseases. It has served as a parent variety in many breeding programs. While its flavor profile can vary, it generally produces balanced, mild cups.
• Notable Trait: High disease resistance and resilience in harsh climates.

17. Ruiru 11

• Origin: Kenya (cross between Catimor, SL28, and SL34)
• Description: Developed to combat coffee diseases like coffee leaf rust and coffee berry disease (CBD), Ruiru 11 maintains a good cup profile, often with fruity, bright acidity similar to SL28 and SL34, though slightly less complex.
• Notable Trait: High disease resistance and good yield.

18. Batian

• Origin: Kenya
• Description: Batian was developed as a high-yielding, disease-resistant variety with excellent cup quality. It typically has a clean, well-balanced flavor profile, with good acidity and body.
• Notable Trait: Resistant to CBD and coffee leaf rust.

19. Kent

• Origin: India
• Description: Kent is known for its resistance to coffee leaf rust and produces coffee with a balanced flavor profile, often with medium acidity, sweetness, and a full body.
• Notable Trait: Developed for disease resistance in India, widely grown in southern India.

20. Blue Mountain

• Origin: Jamaica (mutation of Typica)
• Description: Famous for its smooth, mild flavor with balanced acidity, Blue Mountain coffee is highly sought after. It is grown in Jamaica's Blue Mountains and produces a clean, sweet cup with floral and nutty notes.
• Notable Trait: High altitude and unique growing conditions lead to distinct flavor profiles.

 

21. Jackson

• Origin: Rwanda and Burundi (mutation of Bourbon)
• Description: Known for its resistance to coffee berry disease (CBD) and moderate productivity. Jackson produces coffee with good acidity, sweetness, and fruit-forward flavors, typical of Bourbon-descended varieties.
• Notable Trait: Resilient in high-altitude conditions, with good cup quality.

22. Moka (Mocha)

• Origin: Yemen
• Description: Moka is a small-bean variety, renowned for its distinctively rich, chocolatey flavors, often with fruity or wine-like notes. It is one of the oldest cultivated coffee varieties.
• Notable Trait: Unique flavor profile with pronounced chocolate and fruit notes.

23. K7

• Origin: Kenya
• Description: Developed for resistance to coffee leaf rust and adaptability to Kenya's growing conditions. K7 produces good quality coffee with notable acidity, sweetness, and complexity, though less prized than SL28 or SL34.
• Notable Trait: Moderately resistant to diseases and adapted to diverse environmental conditions.

24. Pacas

• Origin: El Salvador (mutation of Bourbon)
• Description: A natural mutation of Bourbon, Pacas offers good cup quality with balanced acidity and sweetness. Its smaller stature makes it easier to harvest, similar to Caturra.
• Notable Trait: Compact growth and good adaptability to high altitudes.

25. Obata

• Origin: Brazil (cross between Timor Hybrid and Villa Sarchi)
• Description: Obata is a rust-resistant variety that offers a balanced cup with mild acidity, medium body, and chocolate and nutty notes. It is widely grown in Brazil and Latin America for its high yield and disease resistance.
• Notable Trait: Rust-resistant and produces good-quality coffee.

26. Bourbon Pointu (Laurina)

• Origin: Reunion Island (mutation of Bourbon)
• Description: A rare, naturally low-caffeine variety with a distinct slender bean shape. It produces delicate, tea-like cups with mild acidity and sweetness, often with floral and fruity undertones.
• Notable Trait: Naturally low caffeine content and elegant flavor profile.

27. Icatu

• Origin: Brazil (cross between Bourbon, Mundo Novo, and robusta)
• Description: Known for its strong disease resistance and high yield, Icatu can produce good-quality coffee with mild acidity and a sweet, nutty profile. This variety is often used in breeding programs due to its robustness.
• Notable Trait: High yield and resilience to diseases like rust.

28. Jember (S795)

• Origin: India (cross between Kent and wild Timor Hybrid)
• Description: Jember is widely grown in India and Indonesia for its resistance to rust and its good cup quality, often with spicy, earthy flavors and moderate acidity. It has spread throughout Southeast Asia.
• Notable Trait: Rust-resistant and adapted to high altitudes.

29. Rume Sudan

• Origin: Sudan (Ethiopian origin)
• Description: Rume Sudan is known for its resistance to disease and its potential to produce high-quality, complex cups. It often exhibits fruity and floral notes with bright acidity.
• Notable Trait: Strong disease resistance and potential for high-end specialty coffee.

30. Santana

• Origin: Brazil (cross between Mundo Novo and Caturra)
• Description: Santana is known for its high productivity and resistance to diseases, with good quality beans that produce a mild, balanced cup profile with notes of chocolate and nuts.
• Notable Trait: High-yield and good disease resistance.

31. Hibrido de Timor (Tim Tim)

• Origin: Timor Island (natural hybrid between Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora)
• Description: Hibrido de Timor is the parent of many disease-resistant varieties, offering a moderate cup quality. While its flavor is not as complex as other Arabica varieties, it is prized for its disease resistance.
• Notable Trait: High disease resistance, including rust.

32. Sarchimor (various sub-varieties)

• Origin: Central America (cross of Villa Sarchi and Timor Hybrid)
• Description: The Sarchimor family includes several sub-varieties bred for disease resistance and high productivity, with decent cup quality. Sarchimor beans generally produce a mild, balanced cup with medium acidity.
• Notable Trait: Strong resistance to coffee leaf rust.

33. Centroamericano (Hybrid F1)

• Origin: Central America (cross between Ethiopian heirloom and hybrid parentage)
• Description: A high-yielding F1 hybrid variety developed for resistance to diseases and climate change resilience. It offers excellent cup quality, often with bright acidity, sweetness, and fruit-forward flavors.
• Notable Trait: High cup quality and resilience to climate change effects.

34. Honduras

• Origin: Honduras (a cross between Catimor and other hybrids)
• Description: Developed for disease resistance and high yield, the Honduras variety produces good-quality coffee with moderate acidity, sweetness, and mild fruity notes.
• Notable Trait: Resistant to diseases like coffee leaf rust and produces good-quality beans.

35. Maracaturra

• Origin: Nicaragua (cross between Maragogipe and Caturra)
• Description: Known for its large beans (similar to Maragogipe) and high-quality cup, Maracaturra offers fruity, floral, and spicy notes with bright acidity and a creamy body.
• Notable Trait: Large beans and complex cup profiles.

36. Tupi

• Origin: Brazil (cross between Mundo Novo and Bourbon)
• Description: Tupi is valued for its rust resistance and productivity, producing beans with a balanced cup profile, featuring mild acidity and sweet, nutty notes.
• Notable Trait: Disease-resistant and good yield.

37. Kona Typica

• Origin: Hawaii (descendant of Typica)
• Description: Grown in the Kona region of Hawaii, this Typica descendant is known for its smooth, rich body, medium acidity, and subtle fruity and nutty flavors.
• Notable Trait: Highly prized for its unique flavor, influenced by Hawaii’s volcanic soil.

38. Parainema

• Origin: Honduras (hybrid variety)
• Description: A rust-resistant variety that produces coffee with a bright acidity, complex fruit flavors, and good body. It is gaining popularity in Central America for both quality and resilience.
• Notable Trait: High resistance to rust and excellent cup quality.

39. Catigua

• Origin: Brazil (a cross of Catuai and Timor Hybrid)
• Description: Developed for high resistance to rust and other diseases, Catigua offers a balanced cup with medium body, mild acidity, and sweet, chocolatey flavors.
• Notable Trait: Strong resistance to diseases and good adaptability.

40. Eugenioides

• Origin: East Africa
• Description: While not commonly grown for commercial coffee production, Coffea eugenioides is one of the progenitors of Coffea arabica. It has been used in breeding programs due to its low caffeine content and unique flavor potential, often described as sweet and delicate.
• Notable Trait: Low caffeine and unique genetic background

41. Mauritania

• Origin: East Africa
• Description: A wild coffee species native to East Africa, Coffea mauritiana has limited commercial cultivation but is part of conservation and genetic research due to its unique traits.
• Notable Trait: Potential for disease resistance and genetic diversity in breeding programs.

42. Arusha

• Origin: Tanzania (mutation of Bourbon)
• Description: Known for its good cup quality with fruity and floral notes, Arusha is often grown in East Africa, particularly Tanzania. It shares many characteristics with Bourbon.
• Notable Trait: Produces high-quality coffee under specific growing conditions.

43. Hawaiian Kona

• Origin: Hawaii (descendant of Typica)
• Description: Grown in the Kona region of Hawaii, this variety produces smooth, balanced coffee with moderate acidity, nutty flavors, and a clean finish. It is one of the most famous specialty coffees in the U.S.
• Notable Trait: Renowned for its distinctive flavor influenced by Hawaii’s volcanic soil and climate.

44. Sidra

• Origin: Ecuador
• Description: Sidra is a hybrid variety known for its exceptional cup quality, combining floral and fruity flavors with high sweetness and bright acidity. It is often compared to the Geisha variety in flavor profile.
• Notable Trait: Highly prized for its unique cup quality and bright acidity.

45. Mibirizi

• Origin: Burundi and Rwanda (related to Bourbon)
• Description: Mibirizi is a traditional variety grown in the highlands of East Africa, offering bright acidity and complex, fruity flavors. It is closely related to Bourbon and is an important regional variety in Rwanda and Burundi.
• Notable Trait: Known for excellent acidity and fruity flavors.

46. S795

• Origin: India (cross between Kent and Timor Hybrid)
• Description: A popular variety in India and Southeast Asia, S795 is known for its resistance to coffee leaf rust and good cup quality, with balanced acidity, body, and notes of spice and chocolate.
• Notable Trait: Rust resistance and good productivity.

47. Red Bourbon

• Origin: Yemen → Latin America (mutation of Bourbon)
• Description: Red Bourbon is widely regarded for its sweet, fruity flavors, bright acidity, and balanced body. It is one of the original Bourbon varieties and is still cultivated in many parts of Latin America and Africa.
• Notable Trait: High-quality cup and sweet, fruity flavors.

48. Yellow Bourbon

• Origin: Brazil (mutation of Bourbon)
• Description: A natural mutation of Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon produces yellow cherries and is prized for its balanced, sweet flavors, often with caramel and chocolate notes.
• Notable Trait: Balanced sweetness and unique yellow cherries.

49. Cuscatleco

• Origin: El Salvador
• Description: Developed in El Salvador, Cuscatleco is resistant to rust and other diseases. It produces a well-rounded cup with mild acidity, balanced body, and subtle fruit flavors.
• Notable Trait: High resistance to rust and decent cup quality.

50. Lempira

• Origin: Honduras (derived from Catimor)
• Description: Lempira is a rust-resistant variety widely planted in Honduras. It produces coffee with mild acidity and medium body, often with nutty and chocolate flavors.
• Notable Trait: High disease resistance and suitable for commercial production.

51. Ophir

• Origin: Costa Rica
• Description: A lesser-known variety developed in Costa Rica, Ophir is gaining attention for its good productivity and potential for high-quality cup profiles with floral and fruity notes.
• Notable Trait: Promising cup quality and productivity.

52. Coffea stenophylla

• Origin: West Africa (Sierra Leone, Guinea)
• Description: Although not widely cultivated, Coffea stenophylla is a wild coffee species known for its natural resistance to diseases and potential to produce coffee with high-quality flavor, including chocolate and fruit notes.
• Notable Trait: Naturally resilient to heat and drought, with good cup potential.

53. Batian

• Origin: Kenya
• Description: Developed by Kenya’s Coffee Research Institute, Batian combines good cup quality with resistance to coffee leaf rust and coffee berry disease. It has bright acidity and complex fruity flavors.
• Notable Trait: Disease resistance and good cup quality.

54. Parainema

• Origin: Honduras (Catimor group)
• Description: Parainema is a rust-resistant variety that produces high-quality coffee, often with a bright, fruity flavor profile and complex acidity. It is becoming popular in Honduras and other Central American countries.
• Notable Trait: Rust resistance and excellent flavor.

55. Obata

• Origin: Brazil (cross between Timor Hybrid and Villa Sarchi)
• Description: A rust-resistant variety with a balanced cup profile, featuring mild acidity, medium body, and chocolate and nutty notes. Obata is commonly grown in Brazil and Latin America.
• Notable Trait: Rust-resistant and high-yielding.

56. F1 Hybrid Varieties (Centroamericano, H1, H3)

• Origin: Central America (cross between heirloom varieties and hybrids)
• Description: F1 hybrids are developed to combine high cup quality with disease resistance and climate adaptability. These varieties are gaining popularity for their high productivity and potential for superior cup profiles with bright acidity and complex sweetness.
• Notable Trait: High genetic vigor, disease resistance, and premium cup quality.

57. Eugenioides

• Origin: East Africa (wild species)
• Description: One of the parent species of Coffea arabica, Coffea eugenioides is known for its low caffeine content and potential for unique cup profiles. It is used in breeding programs to introduce new traits into Arabica varieties.
• Notable Trait: Low caffeine content and interesting genetic traits for breeding.

58. Villa Sarchi

• Origin: Costa Rica (mutation of Bourbon)
• Description: Villa Sarchi is a dwarf Bourbon variety that produces good-quality coffee with a bright, balanced acidity and fruity or floral notes. It is adapted to high-altitude cultivation.
• Notable Trait: Compact growth habit and good adaptability to higher altitudes.

59. Tupi

• Origin: Brazil (cross between Mundo Novo and Bourbon)
• Description: A rust-resistant variety developed in Brazil, Tupi is known for its high productivity and good cup quality with balanced acidity and sweetness, often with nutty or chocolate notes.
• Notable Trait: High productivity and disease resistance.

60. Sierra

• Origin: Colombia (cross between Caturra and Timor Hybrid)
• Description: Sierra is another rust-resistant variety from Colombia, offering good cup quality with mild acidity and medium body. It is well-suited to higher elevations.
• Notable Trait: High disease resistance and adaptability to different environments.

61. Bourbon Mayaguez (BM)

• Origin: Rwanda (mutation of Bourbon)
• Description: Known as BM varieties, these are descended from Bourbon and are widely grown in Rwanda. They exhibit good resistance to local pests and produce coffee with a bright acidity and fruity, complex flavors.
• Notable Trait: Adapted to Rwanda's growing conditions, producing good-quality specialty coffee.

62. Nyasaland

• Origin: Malawi (mutation of Typica)
• Description: Also known as "Malawi Typica," this variety was introduced to Malawi in the late 19th century. It produces coffee with a balanced body, moderate acidity, and fruity or floral notes.
• Notable Trait: Closely related to Typica, with a distinct adaptation to East African climates.

63. Coffea racemosa

• Origin: Mozambique
• Description: Coffea racemosa is a wild coffee species native to Mozambique. It has a naturally low caffeine content and produces coffee with mild, delicate flavors. It is not widely cultivated but is of interest for breeding programs aiming to create low-caffeine hybrids.
• Notable Trait: Naturally low caffeine and potential for genetic diversity.

64. Nemaya

• Origin: Central America (cross between Catimor and Villa Sarchi)
• Description: Nemaya is a rust-resistant variety that produces coffee with balanced acidity and sweetness. It is mainly grown in Central America and is prized for its disease resistance and productivity.
• Notable Trait: Rust-resistant and good adaptability to high altitudes.

65. Geisha 1931

• Origin: Ethiopia → Panama
• Description: This specific lineage of Geisha was rediscovered in Ethiopia in 1931 and later brought to Panama, where it became famous for its exceptional floral and jasmine-like notes. It represents the original Geisha variety and is known for producing some of the most sought-after specialty coffees.
• Notable Trait: Prized for unique floral and fruity flavors, particularly in high-altitude regions.

66. Harrar

• Origin: Ethiopia (wild heirloom)
• Description: Harrar is a famous Ethiopian heirloom variety known for producing dry-processed coffee with a distinct wild and fruity flavor, often with blueberry and chocolate notes.
• Notable Trait: Produces bold, winey coffees with intense fruit flavors.

67. K7 (Kenya)

• Origin: Kenya
• Description: K7 is known for its ability to adapt to wet and cold environments while retaining good cup quality. The variety offers resistance to coffee leaf rust and produces coffee with moderate acidity, balanced body, and fruity flavors.
• Notable Trait: Grows well in variable climates, particularly in Kenya.

68. Sudan Rume

• Origin: Sudan (wild Ethiopian type)
• Description: A traditional variety found in the Boma Plateau of Sudan, Sudan Rume is known for its resistance to diseases and high cup quality. It exhibits bright acidity and complex fruity notes, and it has been used in breeding programs to introduce disease resistance into other varieties.
• Notable Trait: High-quality cup potential with strong disease resistance.

69. Marsellesa

• Origin: Central America (Catimor hybrid)
• Description: Marsellesa is a rust-resistant hybrid developed for Central American growers. It produces a well-balanced cup with moderate acidity, sweetness, and floral or fruity undertones. The variety has shown adaptability to high-altitude environments.
• Notable Trait: High resistance to coffee leaf rust and consistent productivity.

70. Bourbon Amarillo

• Origin: Brazil (mutation of Bourbon)
• Description: A natural mutation of Red Bourbon, Bourbon Amarillo (Yellow Bourbon) is known for producing yellow cherries and a cup profile with balanced acidity and sweetness, often with caramel and nutty notes.
• Notable Trait: Unique yellow cherries and well-rounded flavor profile.

71. H3 Hybrid

• Origin: Central America (F1 hybrid)
• Description: H3 is an F1 hybrid developed for resilience and productivity while maintaining high-quality cup characteristics. It typically produces bright, fruity, and sweet flavors with high acidity, making it popular in the specialty coffee market.
• Notable Trait: High genetic vigor and excellent cup quality, with resistance to rust.

72. Lempira

• Origin: Honduras (derived from Catimor)
• Description: Lempira is a rust-resistant variety widely planted in Honduras. It produces coffee with mild acidity and medium body, often with nutty and chocolate flavors.
• Notable Trait: High disease resistance and good adaptability.

73. Sigarar Utang

• Origin: Indonesia
• Description: Developed in Indonesia, this variety is known for its rust resistance and adaptation to the unique growing conditions of Indonesian islands. The coffee it produces has mild acidity and a full body, often with spicy or earthy flavors.
• Notable Trait: Well-suited for Indonesia’s climate and disease challenges.

74. Kenya Ruiru 11

• Origin: Kenya (cross between Catimor and SL varieties)
• Description: Developed to combat coffee berry disease and coffee leaf rust, Ruiru 11 maintains good cup quality with bright acidity, fruity notes, and a medium body. It is a popular choice in Kenya for its productivity and resilience.
• Notable Trait: High disease resistance and good cup quality.

75. Blue Mountain

• Origin: Jamaica (mutation of Typica)
• Description: Blue Mountain is one of the most famous coffee varieties in the world, grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. It is known for its smooth, mild flavor with balanced acidity, body, and delicate sweetness.
• Notable Trait: Highly prized for its unique flavor, often commanding premium prices.