Arabica coffee beans are the most widely produced coffee species, grown in Yemen for over 1,000 years. They have a lower caffeine content and are self-pollinating, while Robusta coffee has a higher caffeine content and is cross-pollinating. Arabica coffee plants mature in about seven years and thrive in moderate temperatures and rainfall. Java is considered to have the perfect climate for growing Arabica coffee. The history of Arabica coffee is disputed, but it is widely believed to have originated in Arabia or Ethiopia. Only Arabica and Robusta coffee beans are suitable for human consumption, with Arabica being considered the superior variety.
The Arabica coffee bean, from the plant variety called coffea Arabica, is hailed by many as the first coffee species cultivated. It has grown in the southwestern regions of Arabia for over 1,000 years, mainly in Yemen. Arabica coffee beans account for approximately 75%-80% of the total amount of coffee produced worldwide each year.
Robusta coffee is the other most widespread species and differs from the Arabica coffee bean in that its flavor is considered less desirable and its caffeine content is higher. The Arabica coffee bean produces a product with a lower caffeine content than any other commercially produced coffee species. Another distinguishing factor between these two popular varieties is that Arabica coffee plants are self-pollinating and Robusta is a cross-pollinator plant.
From the moment of planting, an Arabica coffee plant fully matures in about seven years. The plant thrives in a climate where rain falls evenly throughout the year, with total measures about 40 to 59 inches (about 1m to 1.5m). Coffea Arabica thrives in moderate temperatures, around 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius), and can tolerate the occasional cold spell as long as it doesn’t drop below freezing. The best altitude at which it flowers is between 4,265 feet (1,300 m) and 4,921 feet (1,500 m).
The growing seasons of Arabica coffee plants vary from region to region. Java, an island off the coast of Indonesia, is considered to have the perfect climate and growing conditions. Arabica coffee is planted and harvested there all year round. In less pristine conditions, such as those in parts of Brazil, there is a specific growing season and the plants can only be harvested during the winter months.
The history of Arabica coffee varies according to the sources cited. Most historical accounts support the fact that Arabia was the cradle of the commercial coffee trade. The story prevails that a goat herder named Kaldi discovered coffee in the Arabian peninsula after noticing that his goats became more energetic after eating the raw beans of a coffee plant. The scientific community, however, can trace the first coffee plant to Kaffa, which is now Ethiopia, a country in northeastern Africa. It was reportedly flown from there to Yemen, where it was distributed around the world.
There are more than 40 species in the coffea family and they are grown all over the world. Of these species, only two, the Arabica and Robusta types, produce beans suitable for roasting, brewing and human consumption. Of these two types, the Arabica coffee bean is unquestionably considered the king of beans.
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