Why do Varietals Matter?

Imagine you were handed two apples. One is a Granny Smith, and the other is a Red Delicious. They look completely different, taste different, and have a different mouthfeel. However they are both apples. Coffee is similar.

Coffee varietals matter because they play a crucial role in determining the taste and quality of coffee beans. Different varietals have unique genetic traits that affect how the plant grows, how it responds to its environment, and what flavors and aromas it produces. This is why you can find such a wide range of tastes and qualities in coffee, even within the same region.

For example, the Typica variety is known for its sweet, high-quality flavor, while the Bourbon variety is known for its complex acidity. Similarly, some varieties are more resistant to diseases and pests, while others are more hardy and can grow in a wider range of environments.

As a result, the choice of coffee varietals is a critical decision for coffee farmers, as it can impact the yield, quality, and profitability of their crop. By selecting the right varietals for their specific environment, coffee farmers can help to ensure that they produce the best possible coffee, and that they can do so sustainably and profitably.

For coffee drinkers, understanding the different varietals and how they impact the taste and quality of coffee can also help them to make more informed choices about what they drink. Whether you're a coffee aficionado or just someone who appreciates a good cup, understanding coffee varietals is an important part of the journey to discovering the world of coffee.

Here are a few common varietals that may help you:

• Typica

  • The Typica varietal is one of the original coffee varieties, and is known for its high quality and sweet taste. It is characterized by its low yield, with copper-colored leaves and long, oval-shaped seeds. The taste profile of coffee produced from Typica trees is generally complex, with sweet and fruity notes. The plant is known to grow well in the right environment, but is susceptible to disease and pests. It is typically grown at higher elevations, which can contribute to its high-quality taste profile. Overall, the Typica varietal is considered to be a classic and traditional coffee variety, with a long history and reputation for producing excellent coffee.

• Bourbon

  • The Bourbon varietal is known for its complex acidity and ability to produce high-quality coffee. It is characterized as a low-yielding tree with vibrant green leaves and small, dense seeds. The cherries can mature into various colors, including red, yellow, orange, and pink. The variety is believed to have originated as a mutation from the Typica varietal and is now widely cultivated in coffee-growing regions around the world. The complex acidity and nuanced flavor profile make Bourbon a sought-after varietal for coffee lovers and specialty coffee roasters alike.

• Catuai

  • Catuai is a coffee varietal that is a hybrid of two coffee species, Mundo Novo and Caturra. It is known for its high yields, good resistance to disease, and cup quality. Catuai coffee plants are characterized by their compact stature, which makes them easy to manage in coffee farms. They also have high leaf density, which helps to protect the coffee cherries from the sun.

    The coffee produced from the Catuai varietal has a medium to full body, with a well-balanced sweetness and acidity. It is often described as having notes of chocolate, citrus, and nuts, with a smooth and clean finish. This varietal is well suited for both light and medium roasts, and is a popular choice for specialty coffee production.

• Gesha

  • The Gesha varietal, also known as Geisha, is a highly sought-after coffee varietal known for its unique and complex flavor profile. It is characterized by its tall and narrow growth habit, large leaves, and delicate and uniform cherries. The beans are elongated and have a distinctive curved shape.

    The flavor profile of Gesha is often described as floral and fruity, with notes of jasmine, bergamot, and stone fruit. It also has a clean and bright acidity, a unique sweetness, and a long and lingering finish. Gesha coffee is known for its exceptional cup quality and can command high prices in the specialty coffee market.

    The Gesha varietal is believed to have originated in the Gesha village in Ethiopia, but it is now widely grown in other coffee-growing regions around the world, including Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Kenya. It is considered a challenging varietal to grow due to its sensitivity to environmental conditions.

• Marsellesa

  • The Marsellesa coffee varietal is known for its distinctive flavor profile and unique characteristics. It is a relatively low-yielding coffee plant with vibrant green leaves and small, dense seeds. The flavor profile of Marsellesa coffee is known to be complex, with notes of fruit and floral notes. Additionally, it is known for its delicate acidity and bright, clean finish, making it a popular choice among coffee connoisseurs and specialty coffee drinkers. The plants can mature into red, yellow, orange, and pink cherries and are known to be highly resistant to coffee plant diseases like Leaf Rust.
    

• Castillo

  • The Castillo varietal is a hybrid coffee plant known for its resistance to major coffee diseases like coffee leaf rust and coffee berry disease. It was developed in Colombia as a result of the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation's efforts to produce a disease-resistant variety. The plant has a compact and uniform growth habit, producing cherries that are medium in size and a bright red color when ripe. Castillo is known for its good yield and its ability to produce high-quality coffee with a balanced taste profile. It has a medium to high acidity and a mild to medium body, with notes of fruit and nuts in the cup. The Castillo varietal is widely grown in Colombia and other countries in Central and South America.

• Caturra

  • Caturra is a coffee varietal characterized by its short stature, high yield, and bright acidity. The plants are small and compact, making them easy to cultivate and manage, but also susceptible to diseases. Despite its small size, Caturra produces a large number of cherries, making it a popular choice among farmers. The cup profile of Caturra is bright and acidic, with a fruity or citrusy flavor and a clean finish. It is considered a high-quality varietal, but the flavor profile is less complex than some of its relatives, such as Bourbon. Caturra is widely grown in South America, particularly in Colombia and Brazil, where it was originally developed as a natural mutation of Bourbon.

• Parainema

  • The Parainema varietal is known for its resistance to coffee plant diseases such as Leaf Rust, as well as its ability to perform well at lower elevations. It produces a sweet and fruity cup, with a medium to high acidity, and is known for having a balanced body. Parainema trees tend to be high-yielding and can grow well in different climates and terrains. This variety was created through a cross between the Timor Hybrid and Caturra varieties, and has been popular among farmers for its adaptability and disease resistance.