Mandheling Coffee — A Name Born from a Fortunate Misunderstanding
"100% Pure Arabica" is a phrase frequently seen in coffee marketing. But what exactly
is Arabica? To help you understand the bean behind the brew, here is a brief
introduction to coffee species and varieties.
Arabica is a species, not a
variety. Within the Rubiaceae family, the two most common species for commercial use
are Arabica and Robusta. The Arabica species encompasses nearly 3,000 varieties,
including Typica, Bourbon, Caturra, and Villa Sarchi. Notably, Typica and Bourbon
are the foundational varieties from which nearly all others have descended through
global cultivation and natural mutation.
You might wonder why brands emphasize
being "100% Arabica." In contrast, Robusta often has a coarser flavor profile and
contains more than twice the caffeine of Arabica. Because of its harsher taste, it
is typically used for commercial blends or caffeine extraction rather than specialty
coffee.
This concludes our brief overview of the world of Arabica. Thank you for
joining us!
