Arabica coffee beans grown in the United States

Follow the caf é (Wechat official account vdailycom) and found that Beautiful Cafe opened a small shop of its own.

Due to the rising price of coffee on the world market, the Lao Coffee Association hopes that coffee growers will increase their income this year. It is reported that the current price of Arabica coffee is about 3200 US dollars per ton, while that of Robusta coffee is 1400 US dollars per ton. Arabica coffee sold for only $2500 a tonne last year, while Robusta coffee costs about the same as this year.

At the beginning of last year's coffee harvest, the price of coffee cherries was only 1700 Kip / kg, and the export price of coffee mung beans was 3000 Kip / kg.

Coffee growers across Laos are preparing to harvest coffee crops for domestic sale and export. Many countries are investing in coffee farms, such as Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and India. Most Lao coffee crops are exported to Taiwan, Italy, Japan, Spain, Poland, Germany, the United States, France, Belgium, Sweden, Thailand and Vietnam. However, due to fluctuations in coffee prices in the international market, the price and export volume of Lao coffee have been declining.

According to the Lao Coffee Association, Laos exported 30000 tons of coffee in 2013, valued at US $72 million; in 2014, exports fell to 26000 tons, valued at US $60 million; and in 2015, exports further dropped to 23000 tons, valued at US $50 million.

In many places where coffee is sold, it is not difficult to find words like 100% Arabica beans, and even canned coffee has a style called Arabica coffee, which makes one wonder: what are Arabica coffee beans?

In fact, Arabica beans are the name of the coffee tree variety (species).

Arabica and Robusta are two different coffee varieties, which currently account for the vast majority of coffee bean production in the world. There are three main differences between Arabica coffee and Robusta coffee: 1. Differences in planting conditions. two。 The flavor and characteristics are different. 3. The difference between market price and use. Planting condition difference

The planting conditions of Arabica coffee are harsh, requiring higher elevations (2000 meters above sea level), fertile soil fertility, adequate moisture, proper sunshine conditions and shade. Arabica coffee species are less resistant to diseases and insect pests and are vulnerable to damage. In addition, the annual output of coffee trees per unit area is also relatively low. Arabica coffee currently accounts for 75% of the world's coffee production, of which only 10% of Arabica coffee quality can be classified as boutique coffee (Specialty coffee). Robusta coffee, commonly known as thick and strong beans, can be grown at low elevations (200 to 800 meters above sea level). It has strong resistance to diseases and insect pests and is not vulnerable to agricultural diseases. the annual output of coffee trees per unit area is relatively high, and it is harvested in large quantities by machine. generally speaking, the cost of production is much lower than that of Arabica coffee.

Different flavors and characteristics

Arabica coffee has a varied and broad potential flavor. Arabica coffee produced in different regions, different elevations and different climates usually has its own characteristics and can show a completely different flavor. Arabica coffee smells like grass when it is not roasted. When properly roasted, Arabica coffee shows fruity (light roasting) and caramel sweetness (deep roasting). Generally speaking, Arabica coffee has a better aroma and flavor than Robusta beans. Robusta coffee usually has an ordinary, rigid, and pungent flavor, and because the vast majority of robusta coffee in the world is grown in low altitude areas (India has planted a small number of high-altitude, high-quality, washed robusta coffee beans, its price is higher than most Arabica coffee beans) the flavor produced by different regions and climates does not vary much, and lacks personality. When unbaked, it smells like raw peanuts. Cheap robusta coffee beans are usually roasted with a taste between wheat tea (medium baked) and rubber tires (deep roasted). It is difficult to show a fine flavor.

Difference between market price and use

High-quality Arabica coffee requires a complicated process of hand picking, selection and fine processing, so the most expensive and best coffee beans in the world are Arabica coffee. Robusta caffeine is low-cost and is usually used to produce instant coffee and canned coffee. A small number of better quality robusta coffee are also used in blending (mixed with Arabica coffee) espresso beans.

There is another important difference: caffeine content, Robusta coffee contains about twice as much caffeine as Arabica coffee, which is why drinking some canned coffee is prone to palpitations and insomnia.

After seeing the difference between Arabica coffee and Robusta coffee, we must finally emphasize:

Arabica coffee is not the same as good coffee and Robusta is not absolutely cheap coffee!

Arabica coffee accounts for 75% of the world's coffee output, and the quality of Arabica coffee varies greatly, from good to bad. In recent years, a few countries (such as India) have devoted themselves to improving the quality of robusta coffee. They have planted robusta in high altitude areas, given the most careful care, and carefully washed the coffee. As a result, they have got very high-quality robusta coffee beans! Top Robusta beans are not cheap either, getting rid of the old impression that Robusta are cheap beans! So the quality of coffee beans can no longer be judged by the crude and outdated ancient criterion of Arabica beans.