Coffee Knowledge
8 of the best coffee beans in the world
5
mins
If you're a coffee connoisseur, you're likely on the hunt for the perfect cup. Check out our list of the 8 best coffee beans in the world here.
1. Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee
Surprisingly, Jamaica has a relatively small coffee output and the beans grown in the Blue Mountain region are some of the rarest beans to come out of the area. Due to cooler temperatures, there’s less harvests each year and growing them here is more labour intensive as the steep slopes mean that all plants have to be carefully picked by hand. This means the beans are in limited supply and a whopping 80% of the crop goes to Japan each year! So, it’s rather expensive and notoriously difficult to get hold of coffee beans from this region. If you manage to get your hands on some, you’ll appreciate why it’s said to be one of the best coffees in the world as it’s incredibly smooth with a bright and vibrant acidity.
2. Sumatran coffee
Sumatra offers some of the best growing conditions for coffee thanks to its fertile volcanic soil, close proximity to the equator and high altitudes where the beans are grown. The region also has its own unique processing method known as ‘Gisling Basah’, which involves only partly drying the beans after they are fermented which reduces the acidity in the blend, while also bringing out a fuller body and earthy, woody notes. Coffee experts suggest trying darkly roasted Sumatran coffee beans as this helps to bring out earthier and more herby flavours.
3. Rwandan coffee
One of the things that makes Rwandan coffee so special is that it’s all grown by small-scale farmers, as there are no large estates in the country. The region’s high elevation coupled with rich volcanic soil is ideal for growing Arabica coffee beans. Interestingly, once the beans are picked, they’re taken to communal washing stations where the beans are sorted and processed with rainwater. Coffees coming from Rwanda are said to taste like raspberry and cherry with a creamy mouthfeel.
4. Kona coffee
Kona is one of the largest islands in Hawaii and is consistently praised for producing some of the best coffee beans in the world. Coffee is grown at around 2,000ft above sea level on the steep slopes of the Mauna Loae and Hualalai volcanoes. The area boasts a micro-climate that makes for perfect growing conditions. Light and delicate in flavour, Kona coffee is said to be well-balanced, buttery, spicy and with a subtle, almost wine-like flavour.
5. Tanzanian coffee
Tanzania produces some of the rarest and best coffees in the world and interestingly, the coffee beans are quite unique. Known as ‘Peaberry coffee’, the beans used to produce this blend are found the traditional way within a coffee cherry but they’re rounder and much denser, which means they roast more evenly. However, only 5% of coffee beans in a crop turn out to be Peaberries, so they need to be painstakingly sorted by hand in order to find them. Peaberry coffee is said to possess a medium body and fruity flavour with hints of blackcurrant and a sweet finish.
6. Geisha coffee
Despite the name, Geisha coffee doesn’t hail from Japan. It actually comes from Gesha in Ethiopia where it was first produced in the 1960s. Now Geisha coffee is grown in other regions too with the best types coming from Panama and Costa Rica. It’s quite rare because it’s hard to grow and has to be picked by hand, but connoisseurs consider it one of the best coffees in the world. You’ll most likely encounter subtle notes of floral and citrus when drinking it. Almost tea-like in flavour, it’s only served black as it’s so light and delicate.
7. Peruvian Coffee
Peru is a country prized for its organic and fair-trade coffee production, so it should come as no surprise that they produce some of the best coffee beans in the world. Very well balanced and smooth in flavour with a low acidity, Peruvian coffee is loved far and wide for its wonderful taste. The flavours you can expect from beans grown in this region vary from floral to chocolatey to slightly nutty.
8. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee
Grown at 5,800 – 6,600ft above sea level, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee has a fragrant, yet spicy flavour that’s partly due to the way it’s grown, but what happens after it’s picked makes all the difference. Similar to Rwandan coffee, once it’s picked it’s taken to communal washing stations where farmers combine crops to be processed and sorted according to size and quality. The coffee beans are then sun-dried for around 9 – 12 days which brings out a clean and floral flavour that’s reminiscent of apricot and lemon. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee is often considered one of the best coffees in the world for those who enjoy a light to medium bodied blend.
If this list of the best coffee beans in the world has awakened your curiosity, we invite you to discover the origins of coffee, or take a trip inside the roastery.
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