Coffee Beans

Choose your type of coffee bean

There are over 120 different species of coffee plants grown around the world, from Brazil to Kenya, Jamaica to Australia; each producing a unique coffee bean. However, only two types of coffee bean are grown at scale and commercially - Arabica and Robusta.

Arabica coffee beans

Arabica coffee is made from the fruit of Coffea arabica plants, which grow at 1,300-1,500m above sea level and have been cultivated as far back as the 12th century. Arabica is the most popular coffee bean among UK and global coffee drinkers, accounting for 60% of the world’s coffee. Generally, Arabica coffees are known for their superior quality, high acidity, sweet and soft flavours, as well as notes of citrus and fruits.

Robusta coffee beans

Robusta, the world’s second most popular coffee bean, has been produced from the Coffea canephora since around the late-19th century. This sturdy coffee plant species is cheaper and easier for farmers to grow, as they thrive at lower altitudes, in higher temperatures and are less prone to being affected by pests and disease.

Robusta coffee beans are known for more intense notes, woody flavours and low acidity. The strong flavours of Robusta coffee often make these beans a favourable choice for espressos (particularly in an Italian coffee shop), instant coffee drinks and coffee blends, where they can enhance flavours, balance out acidity and create a new taste experience.

Other coffee beans to consider

Alongside these two main types of coffee bean, Coffee Direct also offers some rare coffee bean species including Harrar Longberry, Peaberry and Elephant beans.

• Harar Longberry is claimed to be the world’s oldest coffee bean and grows at altitudes of around 2,000m in Ethiopia’s Eastern Highlands. These sun-dried Arabica coffee beans have a distinct pointed shape and golden colour. When they are roasted, they produce a full-bodied cup of coffee with rich and complex tastes of fruity wine and mocha flavours.
• Peaberry is very unique, in that instead of producing two beans, its coffee cherry only produces one. This single, pea-shaped coffee bean is found in the Nyeri region of Kenya and is renowned for making a cup of coffee that has incredibly smooth flavours, good acidity and well-rounded aromas.
• Elephant bean, as its name suggests, is larger than your average coffee bean. Grown in higher, temperate regions such as Guatemala, these big coffee beans are said to have super smooth flavours that taste slightly richer than a standard Arabica roast, making them a must-try for any coffee lover.

Decide between single-origin and coffee blends

At Coffee Direct we have over 50 speciality single-origin roasts from countries all over the world, as well as 35 expertly blended coffees. So, another factor to consider for your next coffee delivery is whether you’ll go for single-origin coffee beans or an exclusive blend.

Single-origin coffee

Single-origin beans are those sourced from one geographical location. One growing region, however, can produce a huge variety of flavours. Countries such as Costa Rica, Kenya, Brazil, El Salvador, Ethiopia and Guatemala (to name just a few), offer incredible diversity when it comes to the coffees they grow. To truly get to know a specific growing region, we recommend trying a variety of top-rated single-origin coffees from the same country to experience how different a brew from one place can be in terms of both flavour and aroma.

Blended coffee

Many single-origin coffee beans, while delicious in their own right, come alive when blended with other arabica or robusta beans. This process results in balancing out acidity or enhancing a bean’s best attributes to produce a delicious new coffee experience.

If you’ve never tried a blended coffee before, take some inspiration from our top-rated roasted coffee blends - Golden Crema, Italian Coffee and Barista Reserve.