Coffee comes from berries that grow on the Coffea plant, according to the National Coffee Association (NCA). Commercially grown coffee comes from the coffee belt region along the equator, where the trees enjoy fertile soil, soft temperatures, and regular rainfall and sunshine.
Different types are classified by bean, roast, and grind, notes Harvard School of Public Health. Here are the four categories that coffee types fit into:
Type of bean:The main types of beans are Arabica (Coffee arabica) and Robusta (Coffee canephora), notes the NCA. Arabica beans grow at higher altitudes, making them more pricey to harvest, but they are also the most popular type in the world, accounting for 70% of global coffee production. Robusta beans are more economical to grow and contain more caffeine. Used primarily in instant coffee blends, these beans make up the remaining 30% of global production, according to the association.
Type of smoking: Coffee beans are initially green and are roasted to develop a wealthy aroma and flavor. Roasts are divided into four categories, the NCA says: lightweight, medium, medium-dark and dim. Lightweight roasts contain more caffeine and are more acidic, while dim roasts are the opposite.
Type of grinding:Finer grinds are used for deeper flavors, such as espresso, while medium grinds are used in most automatic drip coffee makers, the association explains. The finer the grind, the faster it needs to be prepared.
Decaffeinated: Growers employ one of four methods that remove 97% or more of the caffeine from coffee beans before roasting them, the NCA says. The beans are then washed, steamed and roasted to remove chemicals left behind by the decaffeination process. “Decaffeinated coffee offers the same health benefits as regular coffee,” Dr. Hensrud says.
