The coffee plant is a shrub or small tree classified in the genus, Coffea. Seeds of this plant are the source of a stimulating beverage called coffee. The seeds are called "beans" in the trade. Coffee beans are widely cultivated in tropical countries in plantations for both local consumption and export to temperate countries. Coffee bean ranks as one of the world's major commodity crops and is the major export product of some countries.
Types of coffee:
- There are basically two types of coffee:
Coffea arabica is a species of coffee indigenous to Ethiopia. It is also known as the "coffee shrub of Arabia", "mountain coffee" or "arabica coffee". Coffea arabica is believed to be the first species of coffee to be cultivated, being grown in Southwest Arabia for well over 1,000 years. It is still considered to produce the best coffee of the commercially grown coffee species.
- Coffea canephora (Robusta Coffee; syn. Coffea robusta) is a specie of coffee, which has its origins in western Africa. It is grown mostly in Africa and Brazil, where it is often called Conillon. It is also grown in Southeast Asia where French colonists introduced the crop to Vietnam in the late 19th Century and now has exports second to Brazil. It is easier to care for than Coffea arabica and hence is cheaper to produce.
Since arabica beans are considered superior, robusta is usually limited to lower grade coffee blends as filler. It is however included in instant coffee, and in espresso blends to promote the formation of "crema". Robusta has about twice the amount of caffeine compared to arabica
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