Nav: Home > Coffee News >

Is Yunnan small grain Arabica or Robsta? Does Arabica coffee in Yunnan, China, refer to Katim or Iron Picka?

Published: 2026-02-03 Author:

Last Updated: 2026/02/03, As we all know, our country is also a coffee producing country, and coffee is grown in many provinces. For example, my country's Fujian Province, Hainan Province, Taiwan Province, and Yunnan Province. Although there are so many places where coffee is grown, every time we talk about China coffee, we always think of "Yunnan Xiaoli" as soon as possible! because

As we all know, our country is also a coffee producing country, and coffee is grown in many provinces. For example, my country's Fujian Province, Hainan Province, Taiwan Province, and Yunnan Province. Although there are so many places where coffee is grown, every time we talk about China coffee, we always think of "Yunnan Xiaoli" as soon as possible!

Because it not only accounts for more than 90% of the country's coffee production, but also makes people deeply unforgettable with its profound historical roots and unique flavor attributes, it can't help but arouse many friends 'interest in it. Qianjie offline stores often welcome some friends who want to know about Yunnan Xiaoli. One of the most frequently mentioned questions is: "Yunnan Xiaoli, what kind is it? "

What variety is Yunnan Xiaoli? The first thing we need to know is that Yunnan grains do not refer specifically to a single variety. They are a general term that refers to all Arabica coffees grown in Yunnan. Because Arabica coffee actually refers to Arabica, among the more than 130 coffees under the coffee category, only three have commercial value, they are Arabica, Robsta, and Libica. For the sake of simply calling them, coffee farmers called these three types of coffee according to their size: small grain, medium grain, and large grain. Arabica is the smallest of the three species, so naturally, the name of the small grain species becomes its exclusive. Yunnan small grains refer to Arabica coffee grown in Yunnan, and Arabica coffee is Arabica, so Yunnan small grains refer to Arabica coffee grown in Yunnan. Although Yunnan Small Grain is a general term, the specific objects it refers to are different in different eras, because the main varieties grown in Yunnan have changed. Before the 1980s, the coffee varieties grown in Yunnan were mainly ironpika and bourbon, which were pure Arabica species. Therefore, the Yunnan grains at that time referred to more Arabica species such as ironpika and bourbon grown in Yunnan;

After the 1980s, due to the erosion of leaf rust, a large number of Arabica with pure blood fell. With the help of Nestlé, Yunnan began to plant a mixed-race variety with high disease resistance and high yield-Katim. Then, because Katim gradually became the main planting variety in Yunnan from that moment on, slowly, when it comes to Yunnan grains, everyone thinks more of Katim grown in Yunnan than Iron Picka, Bourbon and other old varieties.

Although Katim belongs to the Arabica species like Iron Picka and Bourbon, there are still certain differences between them in essence.

The difference between Katim and Iron Picka Katim is a mixed-race between Tim and Kadura. The Tim inside is a natural cross between Arabica and Robsta, while Kadura is a variant of Bourbon and pure Arabica. Therefore, Katimonin, which is a mixture of Tim and Kadura, carries a higher proportion of Arabica genes and inherits the number of Arabica chromosomes (44), and is classified as an Arabica species. Because it carries the Luo bean gene, Katim will have higher yields and stronger disease resistance than the pure-blooded Arabica species, and will not have high requirements for the planting environment. At the same time, because Arabica has a high proportion of genes, Katim will not have a single taste like pure-blooded Luo beans, but will have a relatively rich aroma. These characteristics are exactly what coffee farmers need. Therefore, Katim became the main coffee variety grown in Yunnan after the leaf rust storm.

But! Due to the existence of the Luo bean gene, the aroma of katim cannot be as rich and varied as the pure-bred Arabica species. Although pure Arabica species such as ironpica and bourbon do not have high yields, strong disease resistance, and have high requirements on the planting environment, their aroma is usually better. Because of this, after noticing the differences brought by the varieties, many coffee farmers have grown frail old varieties in pursuit of better coffee flavor performance. For example, Qianjie planted iron pickup trucks at Qianjie Manor in Yunnan. Tipeka is one of the oldest varieties in the Arabica species. Most Arabica on the market are derived from the ironpika species, and without exception, they all inherit the high-quality flavor genes of the ironpika species. Because of this, Qianjie chose to plant iron pickup trucks in Yunnan! Even if it has poor disease resistance, low yield, and is not so easy to grow, Qianjie still wants the Yunnan coffee that everyone tastes to present the best flavor.

Everyone can find these two coffee beans above on the Taobao/Tmall bean list on Qianjie. If you are interested in these two varieties and want to taste the differences between different Yunnan small grain flavors, you can still understand it. Qianjie Coffee: China Yunnan·Yunnan Small Grain Country: China Production Area: Yunnan Baoshan Elevation: 1200 meters Variety: Katim Processing Method: Wash Flavor: brown sugar aroma, plum acid, black tea, nuts

Qianjie Coffee: China Yunnan·Qianjie 2013 Country: China Production Area: Lincang, Yunnan Altitude: 1300 meters Variety: Iron pickup processing method: Sun-cured flavor: berries, nuts, brown sugar, oolong tea

Since Qianjie hopes that these two Yunnan coffees can show relatively balanced characteristics and will not have too prominent acidity and bitterness, the degree of roasting is medium. Then the parameters should not be too extreme when brewing. For example, Qianjie used the parameters when brewing these two beans: powder amount used: 15g powder to water ratio: 1:15 Blowing water temperature: 90°C Grinding degree: 10.5 scale of Ek43, 70%~75% sieving rate of No. 20 sieve using filter cup: V60 Extraction time: 2 minutes

Three-stage extraction is adopted: Steaming with two cups of water of the powder for 30 seconds. After steaming, use moderate water flow to fill the water in a large circle to 150ml. When the water level drops to the point where the powder bed is about to be exposed, we inject the third section of hot water. The third section of hot water is 75ml in total, which is injected by using a small water flow around a small circle. When all the hot water is filtered, we can remove the filter cup and end the extraction.

- END -