What is a coffee variety? (Bourbon, Typica, Geisha, etc.)
Varieties are genetic subgroups within a coffee species — comparable to grape varieties in wine. They influence flavour, yield, and disease resistance.
Why that is
When people say "Arabica," they mean the species Coffea arabica. Within this species, there are hundreds of varieties — each with its own genetic profile, growth habit, and flavour potential. The wine comparison helps: Arabica is the "grape," Bourbon or Typica are the "grape varieties."
Typica and Bourbon are considered the two original varieties. Typica originated in Ethiopia and was brought to Latin America via Yemen and India. Bourbon emerged on the island of Réunion (formerly "Île Bourbon") from plants brought there from Yemen. Both are parents or ancestors of most modern Arabica varieties.
Caturra is a natural mutation of Bourbon discovered in Brazil — more compact, higher-yielding, but more susceptible to disease. Catuai is a cross between Caturra and Mundo Novo and is widely grown across Latin America. SL28 and SL34 were bred in Kenya and are known for their complex acidity profiles.
Geisha (or Gesha) is the current star variety. Originally collected in Ethiopia in the 1930s, it only reached Panama in the 1960s, via East Africa and Costa Rica. There it lay dormant for decades until it achieved record prices at the 2004 "Best of Panama" auction. The flavour: jasmine-like, tea-like, with notes of bergamot. The plant yields little, which explains the high price.
For the flavour in the cup, variety is one of several factors — alongside terroir, processing, and roasting. But it lays the genetic foundation: certain varieties can develop aromas that are genetically impossible for others.
In practice at Green Wall Coffee
At our café at Sophienstraße 27 in Berlin-Lichtenberg, guests often ask why two coffees taste so different. When I explain to guests why an Ethiopian Heirloom tastes different from a Colombian Caturra, I use the wine comparison: "Think of them as different grape varieties." Most understand immediately why coffee's diversity is so much more than just "strong or mild."
Stop by Sophienstraße 27 in Berlin-Lichtenberg — Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 10am–5pm.
Further reading
Related questions:
- What Is Geisha Coffee and Why Is It So Expensive?
- What does peaberry mean?
- What distinguishes highland coffee from lowland coffee?
Also relevant:
- Why does Ethiopian coffee taste fruity and Brazilian coffee nutty? — Growing, Origin & Climate
- How does the processing method affect the flavour? — Harvesting & Processing
All questions in this topic: Coffee Varieties & Botany