High Grown Arabica Coffee Beans

Arabica coffee beans are characterized by a distinct taste. Arabica is more prone to pests and disease than its low-elevation cousin Robusta.

High-grown arabica is a coveted variety found in premium coffee shops and specialty roasters. But what makes this type of coffee so desirable? Scientists have identified the reason: altitude.

High Altitudes

With a long history that stretches from Ethiopia and Yemen to lower Africa, coffee has found its way into the hearts of many, forming the majority of global production today. While low-elevation beans are commercially viable and are the basis of instant coffee that is sold in supermarkets, true coffee enthusiasts prefer specialty arabica grown in higher altitudes for greater complexity in taste.

Mountainous regions in the world's leading coffee producing countries, like Central and South America, Southern Asia, a few Pacific Islands and mid-to-southern Africa, provide ideal conditions for growing high-grown arabica beans. These high-elevation climates are not frosty and provide a pleasantly warm climate with a perfect average annual temperature of 64-73 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cooler temperatures in the mountains slow the growth process of the coffee plant and permit it to mature slower. The coffee beans are able to absorb flavors from the environment, resulting in an unique flavor. The prolonged maturation helps prevent the coffee bean borer, which is a tiny insect, from infesting and eating the beans. It also helps to keep out the coffee leaf miner, a moth, that inhibits photosynthesis, and can reduce productivity.

The combination of these factors contributes to a superior flavor and aroma profile as compared to lower-elevation coffees. Coffee grown higher up has more sweet flavors like citrus, fruit and vanilla. It's also more astringent and more smooth than coffee grown lower down. Roasters love this coffee because of its sweetness, richness of flavor and consistency.

High-grown arabica is often referred to as strictly high-grown (SHG) or strictly hard bean (SHB) meaning that the coffee is grown at an altitude higher than 4000 feet. Typically, the beans are grown on volcanic soil and are shade-grown or organically cultivated, adding to their already outstanding flavor characteristics. Because they mature and grow slower than those grown at lower elevations, they tend to be more dense, which results in a stronger and more robust coffee with a more distinct and consistent flavor. This distinctive quality arabica coffee beans makes SHG and SHB arabica a preferred choice of coffee for roasters looking to make a great cup.

Cool Climate

The tropical zone that stretches across the tropical regions of Cancer and Capricorn known as the coffee belt, is home to the world's premier coffee growing regions. Arabicica coffee beans that are high-quality are grown in these mountains where the low altitudes and cool climate provide the perfect conditions for the plant to flourish.

Arabica plants are tolerant of many conditions of climate but their peak development occurs in subtropical regions with cool nights and warm days. This unique climate enables the plant to develop unique flavours that reflect freedom. It's these tastes that make the coffee we enjoy so unique.

While the popularity of low-elevation instant espressos in your local grocery store is growing, coffee enthusiasts and experts agree that these varieties tend to be more bitter and less flavorful when compared to specialty coffee beans grown at higher elevations. The majority of the coffee consumed around the world is high altitude coffee.

The best arabica Coffee beans with free shipping coffee beans are said to be grown between 3000 and 6,500 feet above sea level. The combination of high altitude, cool climate, and fertile soil is what makes these beans unique and delicious.

Coffee farmers are constantly on the lookout to find the perfect soil conditions to cultivate high-quality arabica plants. The soil must be rich in humus and have a texture that drains well. This type of soil is ideal for growing arabica, as it aids in maintaining healthy roots and to prevent the spread of plant diseases.

In addition to having a soil that has the right humus content, coffee farms prefer a cool climate that has a distinct dry season. These weather patterns allow the plants to mature more slowly and result in a denser and more flavorful coffee bean.

Well-Drained soil

The Arabicica coffee beans that are high-grown have a rich and sophisticated flavor, in contrast to the low-elevation species grown for mass production. The coffee trees grow sheltered under tall canopy trees, and the volcanic soil is rich in nutrients and creates the ideal conditions for the growth of these particular beans. The soil is rich in nutrients and allows the roots to absorb them, but the soil drains quickly, ensuring that there aren't stagnant puddles.

The Arabian coffee plant has a long taproot, and shallow fibrous roots which spread outwards from 3 to 4 feet. (0.9-1.2m). The flowers are small, white and sweet and are often referred to as cherries. The drupes contain two seeds inside, and are ripe when they're red or purple in color. The arabica plant is self-fertile and requires no cross pollination to set fruit.

The cooler climate at higher elevations slows the coffee plant's growth cycle, allowing beans to mature more slowly and develop deeper flavors. This produces a coffee that is more affluent and complex, with a much stronger taste than coffees that are grown at lower elevations.

At higher altitudes, the temperatures are lower and the air is more humid. The cool weather is perfect for the coffee plant's sensitive growth, and also helps to suppress the spread of pests and disease that plague lower elevation crops.

Due to the particular conditions of the soil and climate, high-altitude coffee farms can produce more beans than low-elevation farms. This is the reason you'll often find these premium coffee beans in specialty cafes as well as top coffee roasters.

When you plant your own arabica plant, ensure that you be aware of the specific requirements of this plant and use a mix of soil that matches these requirements. Avoid commercial mixes that could be too heavy in the ingredients and don't permit the roots of your arabica plant to grow. Include compost or other organic matter to improve water retention without creating a concrete-like texture. Water your plant only when the soil feels dry to the feel. Avoid drowning or over-watering, which could cause root rot.

Unique Flavors

The distinctive flavor profile of arabica beans makes them sought-after. They are more affluent and sophisticated than other coffees that have notes of caramel, chocolate fruits, and flowers. The care taken in growing and roasting produces a smoother, sweeter flavor. They are also less acidic and have less caffeine than other varieties. They are, therefore, less bitter and easier to drink.

Arabica beans are grown in the world's mountainous regions that are part of the Coffee Belt, a tropical band that extends across 30 degrees north and south of the equator. This is where the finest quality beans are produced. The coffee plants are grown in volcanic soils and other rich soils that produce small fruits called coffee cherries.

These cherries have two seeds inside them. The seeds are separated from the fleshy outer layer when they mature and are then roasted and fresh ground arabica coffee beans to create the coffee. Arabica beans are considered to be a premium coffee bean because they are more expensive and possess a greater flavor.

The high altitudes in which arabica beans are grown is one of the major factors that influence their taste and quality. The cooler climate and the fertile volcanic soils make arabica beans taste better than those that are grown at lower altitudes. The higher elevations also have a positive effect on the maturation of coffee beans. The cooler temperatures slow the development of the beans, giving them more time to mature.

The various regions of coffee production around the world each possess their own distinct flavor and distinctive characteristics. The arabica beans from Central America are known to possess a balanced blend with a light medium roast arabica coffee beans body. Those from Ethiopia and Kenya, on the contrary, are noted for having a savory-sweet flavor. Each region and country has a distinct type of soil, which is why each bean has a distinct flavor. Certain soils are rich in water and give a rich, chocolatey taste. Some have a sand-like texture that makes the coffee taste less sweet.