Arabica
阿拉比卡
Coffee BeansDefinition
Coffea arabica is the most widely grown coffee species, making up roughly 60-70% of world production. It performs best between 900 and 2,000 metres in cool, wet highlands, and develops lower caffeine (about 1.2-1.5%) plus a wider range of aromatic acids than robusta. Its beans are oval with a curved centre crease.
Etymology
Linnaeus named the species in 1753; the epithet arabica points to Arabia, the region through which coffee reached Europe via the Yemeni port of Mocha, even though the plant itself originated in the Ethiopian highlands.
In use
Roasters and café menus print "100% Arabica" to signal a smoother, more acidic cup in filter and espresso offerings.