Best Coffee

Trying to establish which is the best coffee is like asking which is the best property to live in, which is the best place to vacation in, or what are the best clothes to wear. In other words, “best” is relative to your own circumstances, tastes, like and dislikes, and to a huge extent, how rich or poor you are. And when it comes to the best in coffee, there are now so many varieties that most coffee drinkers are spoilt for choice. In fact you can even have a drink of a different coffee according to the time of day.

The fact that coffee is now drunk in all parts of the world, and by so many people – billions of cups a year worldwide are consumed – is strong testimony to how popular this beverage is. Over the decades it has suffered shortages, has risen in price, has been the subject of a number of health scares, yet it continues to be as popular as it ever was.

Two main species of coffee plants are grown, with a number of other varieties. From the most highly regarded of these main two types comes arabica coffee. Arabica coffee beans are generally the ones grown mainly in Latin America (Brazil is the largest of all coffee producers), as well as parts of east Africa, and parts of Asia. In the world of coffee the highest quality blends consist of 100% Arabica beans.

Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora), is the second of those two main species. It is cultivated in parts of Africa, some in Latin America, and in South East Asia. Robusta has a higher caffeine content than arabica. It is usually easier to grow in less demanding conditions than its arabica counterpart, and for this reason it is lower in price. Robusta has a tendency to be more bitter in taste, with less flavor. Because of its lower cost it is often used in commercial coffee blends in place of arabica. Premium robusta is sometimes used in specialty espresso blends, but makes up only a small percentage of the finished product, maybe 5%-15%.

Varietals of both coffees are often known by the region in which they are grown, such as Colombian, Java, and Kona which is grown in Hawaii.

Coming back to the question of which is the best coffee. Go on price, taste, and exclusivity, and most coffee drinkers would say that arabica is the best you can get. On the other hand, for those who like their caffeine kick, and prefer the slightly more bitter, musty taste, along with the lower prices, then robusta is their choice. In short, “best” is relative, with us all having our own preferences based on a number of different factors.