Where did Liberica coffee come from?
Liberica first originated in Liberia—hence the name—and found its way to Southeast Asia by way of European colonists in the late 19th century. At the time, the coffee world was experiencing one of the worst pandemics of coffee leaf rust, affecting nearly 90% of all Arabica as well as a significant portion of Robusta. Some of the most iconic and popular coffees worldwide include Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, Jamaica Blue Mountain, Kenya AA, Sumatra Mandheling, and Panama Geisha. The best coffee in the world depends on bean variety, growing region, altitude, and processing method.Ethiopia is home to stunning diversity in coffee varieties and has more than one signature coffee. This land has been growing, roasting and exporting coffee for over 100 years. Unlike most African countries, Ethiopia practices both dry and wet-washed coffee processing.There are four different types of coffee beans, those being Robusta, Arabica, Liberica, and Excelsa. However, the Arabica coffee bean is the most common, making up about 60% – 70% of the coffee that is produced globally. Robusta is also a more common coffee bean used in coffee.Quick answer: The top 5 popular coffees globally are Espresso, Americano, Latte, Cappuccino, and Macchiato. Each offers a unique taste and experience, catering to a wide range of coffee enthusiasts.Liberica coffee has a fruity and floral aroma; however, it produces woody, full-bodied tasting notes. The beans also have a significantly lower level of caffeine compared to Arabica and Robusta coffee beans.
Where is Liberica located?
Liberica originated in Liberia, West Africa. However, today, it is mostly grown and consumed in Southeast Asia – namely the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. In the Philippines alone, liberica accounts for more than 70% of all grown coffee. In fact, Liberica is often said to be even sweeter than Arabica. At the same time, Liberica also has a very noticeable smoky, woody and vegetal flavor similar to Robusta that can be off-putting. This flavor is intensified with darker roasts.Liberica is a low-acidity, very sweet coffee that is also very versatile. It can be brewed independently, but we also enjoy pairing it with different coffees and seeing the results. Think about it as an enhancer or seasoning.One of the reasons why Arabica coffee is so highly valued is its consistency in flavour. Arabica coffee plants are self-pollinating, which means the beans have a consistent flavour.
Is Liberica only in the Philippines?
Coffea liberica, commonly known as Liberian coffee, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae from which coffee is produced. It is native to western and central Africa (from Liberia to Uganda and Angola), and has become naturalised in areas including Colombia, Venezuela, the Philippines, Borneo and Java. Discovered in 1872 in Sierra Leone, Coffea Liberica was described in 1874 before the Canephora (first description 1895). Liberica’s world market share meanwhile is just below 1%. What is exciting is the fact that none of the authors can specifically name or describe the taste characteristics of Liberica coffee.
Is Liberica coffee good?
Liberica coffee beans are the rarest type of coffee beans in Malaysia. The plants are larger than Arabica and Robusta, with broad and elongated leaves. Liberica beans are known for their unique and intense flavours, making them a hidden gem in coffee. The Philippines is one of the few countries currently producing the four varieties of commercially-viable Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. Philippine Liberica is known locally as Barako/Baraco, a coffee bean that produces a distinctively robust and powerful cup.The shape of the liberica beans is unique among commercial species of coffee, which also include Arabica and Robusta. It is asymmetric, with one side shorter than the other, creating a characteristic hook at the tip. The central furrow is also more jagged in comparison to other coffee beans.