Why High Grown Arabica Coffee Beans Is Your Next Big Obsession
High Grown Arabica Coffee Beans
buy arabica coffee beans near me coffee beans possess distinct flavor profiles. Contrary to their lower elevation counterpart, Robusta, which has a greater resistance to pests and diseases, Arabica is more susceptible.
High-grown arabica is a sought-after variety in premium coffee shops and specialty roasters. But what makes this type of coffee so popular? Scientists have discovered the reason the reason is altitude.
High Altitudes
With a rich history that spans from Ethiopia and Yemen to lower Africa and lower Africa, coffee has made its way into the hearts of many, forming an enormous portion of the world's production today. While low-elevation coffee can be commercially viable and populates the instant coffee sold in grocery stores, true enthusiasts seek out specialty arabica that is grown at higher altitudes to produce more of a complex flavor.
Mountainous regions in the world's leading coffee producing countries, like Central and South America, Southern Asia, some Pacific Islands and mid-to-southern Africa provide the ideal conditions to grow high-quality arabica beans. These high-elevation regions are frost-free and offer a pleasant climate with a perfect average annual temperature of 64-73 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cool mountain temperatures slow the growth cycle of the coffee plant, allowing it to mature at a slower pace. This allows the coffee beans to absorb various flavors from their environment and impart them with distinctive characteristics. The extended maturation helps to keep the coffee bean borer, which is a tiny beetle that feeds on the beans. It also helps keep out the coffee leaf miner, a moth, which blocks photosynthesis and reduces productivity.
The combination of these elements contributes to a superior taste and flavor profile compared to lower-elevation coffees. Coffee grown higher up has higher levels of sweet flavors, such as citrus, fruit, and vanilla. It's also more astringent and smoother than coffee that is grown lower down. Roasters prefer this bean because of its sweetness, fullness of flavor and consistency.
High-grown arabica is called strictly high-grown or strictly hard bean. This means that the coffee was grown at a higher altitude than 4000 feet. Typically the beans are cultivated on volcanic soil and are shade-grown or organically cultivated, adding to their already impressive flavor characteristics. Since these beans grow and mature slower than those with lower elevation, they tend to be heavier, resulting in a stronger and more robust coffee with a more intense and consistent flavor. This unique quality makes SHG and SHB arabica the preferred type of coffee for roasters seeking to create a unique cup.
Cool Climate
The tropical zone spanning the tropical regions of Cancer and Capricorn, known as the coffee belt is home to the world's premier coffee-growing regions. High-quality arabica coffee beans are grown in these mountains where the low altitudes and cool climate provide the ideal conditions for the plant to flourish.
Arabica plants can withstand a wide range of climate conditions. However, their greatest growth occurs in subtropical regions with cool night temperatures and warm daytime temperatures. This unique climate allows the plant to develop unique flavors that express the freedom of. It's these tastes that make the coffee we drink so distinctive.
While the low-elevation coffees that line the instant coffee aisle at your local supermarket can grow quickly, aficionados and experts alike recognize that these varieties are more bitter and less flavorful than specialty coffee beans grown at higher altitudes. In fact the majority of the coffee consumed around the world is high-elevation coffee.
The finest high-grown vintage arabica coffee beans coffee beans are usually located between 3000 and 6,000 feet. The combination of high altitude, cool climate, and fertile soil is what makes these beans so distinctly delicious.
Coffee farmers are always searching for the perfect soil conditions that encourage the growth of top-quality arabica coffee plants. The soil should be humus-rich and have a texture that drains well. This kind of soil is perfect for arabica cultivation, since it aids in maintaining healthy roots and to minimize the risk of developing plant diseases.
In addition to a soil that has the proper humus content, coffee farms also prefer a cool climate with a distinct dry season. These conditions allow the plants to mature more slowly, which results in a denser and more flavorful coffee.
Well-drained soil
Contrary to the low-elevation varieties that are cultivated for mass production and lined the aisles of supermarkets the high-quality arabica coffee beans are coveted by coffee lovers for their unique and exquisite flavor. The coffee trees are sheltered by tall canopy trees and the rich volcanic soil that is nutrient-rich creates the ideal conditions for the growth of these unique beans. The soil allows the roots to absorb the nutrients they require, but it also drains quickly, preventing stagnant pools of water that hinder root growth and oxygen intake.
The Arabian coffee plant has a long taproot, and fibrous roots that are shallow, which spread outwards from 3 to 4 feet. (0.9-1.2m). The cherry's flowers are tiny delicate, fragrant and white. These drupes are two-seeded and ready to ripen when they turn they are purple or red. The plant's ability to self-fertilize, and does not require cross pollination in order to produce fruit.
The cool climate at higher altitudes slows the coffee plant's growth cycle, allowing the beans to mature more slowly and develop more complex flavors. This results in a coffee that is richer and more complex, with a much more intense flavor than coffees that are produced at lower altitudes.
At high altitudes the temperatures are lower and the air is more humid. The cool climate is ideal for the sensitive development of the coffee plant and it helps suppress the spread of pests and diseases that plague lower-elevation plants.
Because of the unique soil and climate characteristics high-altitude coffee farms are able produce much more beans than low-elevation farms. You can find these top beans in specialty cafes as well as in premium coffee roasters.
If you are planning to grow your own arabica plant, pay attention to the requirements of your particular plant and select an appropriate soil mix that is in line with these requirements. Avoid commercial mixes that may be too heavy in the ingredients and do not allow the roots of your fair trade arabica coffee beans plant to thrive. Incorporate compost or other organic matter to improve the retention of water, without creating a concrete-like texture. Water your plant once the soil dries out to the touch, avoiding excessive or inadequate watering, which can cause root rot.
Unique Flavors
The unique flavor profile of arabica beans makes them highly sought-after. They are more affluent and sophisticated than other coffees that have notes of caramel, chocolate fruit and flowers. The attention to detail that is taken during cultivation and roasting results in a smoother, sweeter taste. These beans also contain less caffeine and acidity than other varieties and are therefore less bitter and easy to drink.
Arabica beans grow in the world's mountainous regions that are part of the Coffee Belt, a tropical band that spans 30 degrees north and south of the Equator. The finest beans are grown in this region. The coffee plants are planted in volcanic and other fertile soils. They produce small fruit that are known as coffee cherries.
These cherries have two seeds within them. The seeds are separated from the fleshy outer layer when they mature and are then roasted and ground arabica coffee beans to create a cup of coffee. Arabica coffee beans are a premium variety because they tend to be more expensive than other varieties and possess a distinct flavor.
The altitude at which arabica beans are grown is one of the main factors that influences their quality and taste. The cooler climate and the fertile volcanic soils make arabica beans taste better than those that are grown at lower elevations. The higher altitudes also have a positive effect on the maturation of coffee beans. The cooler temperatures slow the growth of the beans, giving them time to mature.
Each region has its own distinctive flavors and characteristics. For instance arabica beans originate from Central America tend to have an even composition and a light body, while those from Ethiopia and Kenya are popular for their savory sweet flavors. These distinctive flavor profiles are due to the fact that each region and country has its own distinct soil type. Some soils are enriched with water and give a rich chocolaty taste. Some have a sand texture that makes the coffee taste less sweet.