Our green-coffee buyers travel the world almost constantly, meeting producers and visiting farms: Occasionally they will spot an unusual or curious-looking plant in a field and ask what variety it is, eager to collect a “new” sample or example for our reference. It’s kind of like geocaching—but with caffeine. We’ve created these drill-downs into the genetics of different types of coffee plants to help us understand common characteristics and “what to expect” from sub-species of coffee from around the world, and we’re always pleased to share what we learn with our customers and other coffee people.
(By the way, in case you’re wondering whether you’re a variety nerd: If you habitually correct other people’s misuse of “varietal,” you carefully distinguish between cultivars and heirlooms, and you know whether Bourbon new growth is bright green or olive-colored… well, we have news for you.)
Abyssinia coffee variety, Gayo Highlands, Central Aceh, Sumatra.