The Excelsa coffee bean: all you need to know!
You might have heard about the Excelsa coffee bean but didn’t taste it? Why is that this bean isn’t as popular as the others like Arabica and Robusta?
The reason is that its very rare and can only be grown in one African country.
Despite all that, its one of the 4 main coffee bean types.
What are Excelsa beans? Where do they grow?
We dive into the history of this coffee bean and talk about how much they have in world consumption and how it ranges to the 3 other main types of coffee beans.
What is the Excelsa coffee bean exactly?
We all know that coffee is brewed from coffee beans. Excelsa is one of the 4 main types of coffee beans in the world.
The Excelsa isn’t as common and known as Arabica or Robusta, who’re more suited for commercial use.
Its botanical name is “Coffea Excelsa” or “Coffea liberica var. dewevrei“.
Production is very little when compared to the 2 giants Arabica and Robusta. It’s becoming one of the rarest coffees in the world.
The Excelsa bean has been classified as Liberica in 2006. This doesn’t mean that it’s the same. In a way, this can still be seen as a separate type.
History of the Excelsa coffee bean?
The bean originates from West-Africa, the country of Chad and is processed and grown around the world, mostly Southern Asia: Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and so on.
It was first discovered in the early 1900’s, other coffees were discovered a lot sooner like the Arabica.
Since 2006, the Excelsa plant is classified as Liberica. Why is it still considered as a 4th main type of coffee bean? Its because there’s still a great difference between Excelsa and Liberica.
This classification is somewhat ‘controversial’ because there are a lot of similarities and differences with Liberica beans.
An Excelsa bean is small and round and a Liberica bean will be much bigger.
Production of Excelsa coffee beans
They grow at high altitudes and the plant can be better described by being a tree. This tree can grow up to 10 m.
Excelsa coffee beans aren’t produced as much. It’s suited for specialty coffee shops.
The demand for this special coffee bean type is very low. This comes because of the more outstanding taste (very earthy and aromatic).
The Excelsa doesn’t need a lot of water and can grow in places where there’s almost little or no rain.
The time it needs is about 12 to 14 months.
The Taste of the Excelsa
As said before, the Excelsa has a quit dominant earthy taste. A taste that doesn’t please a wide range of consumers. Think of it as drinking a Guiness beer compared to other more popular beers.
The strong aroma of the Excelsa isn’t reduced easily. Excelsa will be mostly mixed with other varieties of coffee or be bought and sold by specialty coffee shops.
F.A.Q.
What are Excelsa coffee beans?
Excelsa coffee beans are a variety of the Liberica coffee bean (reclassified in 2006). They grow at very high altitudes and are grown by plants that are almost as big as a tree. One of the advantages is that they don’t need a lot of water to grow. Their taste is very earthy and dominant, making it hard to digest for most people. This is one of the reasons that it isn’t in high demand like Arabica and Robusta beans.
What is the taste of Excelsa?
It has a very dominant earthy taste. A taste that’s not easy to digest like other coffees. It is more suited for specialty coffees. Mostly, they’re used in blends. If you want a unique flavor, this can be a great try.
Where is Excelsa coffee from?
Excelsa coffee originates from the African region around lake Chad. Today it’s grown mostly in Southeast Asia. The dominant taste makes it a great fit for blends. In these regions, Robusta and Liberica is also produced.
Is Excelsa coffee good?
Yes, but you might need to get used to it. This answer is always personal. If you like darker roasts and like to try special coffees, this might be a great one for you to try. The truth is that its mostly used in blends.
Enjoy your coffee!