Specialty Coffee Beans
Latest articles, industry insights and brewing guides
The Century-Old Coffee Trees of Yunnan’s Zhukula Village
Discover China’s oldest coffee trees in Yunnan’s Zhukula village—planted in 1892 by French missionaries and still producing rare Typica today.
Where Chinese Coffee Began: Zhugula in Yunnan
Discover Zhugula, the remote Yunnan village where French missionaries introduced coffee in 1892, leaving behind 1134 ancient trees still bearing fruit.
Cubita Coffee: What Makes Cuban Crystal Mountain Unique?
Cubita Coffee from Cuba’s Crystal Mountain rivals Jamaican Blue Mountain with its balanced, smooth profile. Handpicked and washed, it’s known for refined sweetness and clarity.
Sumatra Mandheling: What Makes It a Classic Specialty Coffee
Learn why Mandheling coffee from Sumatra became legendary and how strict sorting produces elite beans like PWN Golden Mandheling.
Yunnan Arabica Flowering Season Explained
Yunnan’s Typica coffee flowers from February to July, peaking March to May. Fruiting starts soon after and takes 8–10 months to mature.
Fourth Mangshi Coffee Festival to Showcase Yunnan Coffee in 2015
The 4th China Mangshi International Coffee Culture Festival returns Jan 23–25, 2015, with trade talks, a café forum, and plans for Asia’s largest instant coffee plant.
What Is Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee?
Learn what makes Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee unique — from its strict certification to balanced flavor and limited production.
What Makes Hawaiian Kona Coffee So Special?
Hawaiian Kona coffee beans are prized for their full, glossy cherries and unique growing conditions on volcanic slopes.
What Makes Colombian Coffee Unique? Specialty Bean Facts
Colombian coffee grows between 800–2300m in the Andes, with southern regions like Huila producing award-winning beans. Learn key altitudes, varieties, and flavor profiles.
What Is Mandheling Coffee? Indonesia’s Classic Bean
Mandheling coffee comes from Indonesia’s high-altitude regions, known for bold body, low acidity, and rich spice notes. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Makes Brazilian Coffee Unique in Specialty?
Learn why Brazilian coffee is prized for its low acidity, nutty richness, and smooth body — plus which beans to try.
What Is Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee?
Learn what makes Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee rare, how much is produced, and how to brew it properly at home.
Arabica vs Robusta Coffee Beans: Key Differences
Robusta has twice the caffeine of Arabica but is often considered lower quality—except in espresso blends. Learn how the two compare.
Panama’s Sweet Geisha Coffee from CASA RUIZ
CASA RUIZ’s Geisha Sweet took 7th place in BOP, offering bright citrus, honey, and tropical fruit notes with a medium body.
Yirgacheffe Aricha G1 Natural Process Coffee Beans
Discover the fruity, floral Yirgacheffe Aricha G1 natural coffee from Ethiopia, known for its sweet, clean cup and gentle acidity.
Colombian Geisha from Blue Mountain Estate: A 2011 Cup Champion
Blue Mountain Estate’s 2011 Colombian Geisha beat Panama’s famous Geisha in the SCAA COTY, offering bold citrus, floral, and spice notes.
Valenford Estate: The Oldest Blue Mountain Coffee Farm
Discover why Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is so revered, starting with the historic Valenford Estate, the birthplace of the 'Blue Mountain myth.'
Beyond Blue Mountain: Jamaica’s Other Specialty Coffees
Jamaica grows more than just Blue Mountain coffee. Learn about its graded quality tiers, including High Mountain and Prime beans.
Yunnan Coffee Fights Back for Global Pricing Power
Facing a 5-year low in prices, Yunnan’s coffee industry is pushing for domestic control over pricing, standards, and branding.
How Starbucks Helped Launch Yunnan Coffee onto the Global Stage
Starbucks began sourcing Yunnan coffee in 2007, launched its first China-grown blend in 2009, and built a full coffee value chain in the region by 2012.