introduction:
Not all coffee beans are the same... even if they come from the same country and farm.
One of the most important factors that determine the flavor of a cup is the coffee variety.
Like grapes in winemaking, coffee varietal determines the shape, flavor, texture, and ease of cultivation of the bean.
In this article, we review the most popular strains in the world of specialty coffee, and what distinguishes each one.
1. Geisha (Geisha or Gesha)
🟣 Flavor: Floral, fruity, tea, complex flavors
🌍 Origin: Ethiopia (Gisha village), and became famous in Panama
💎 Its features:
- Clean, vibrant flavor
- rare and expensive
- It is widely used in tournaments and competitions.
🎯 Suitable for: Lovers of experimentation and strange flavors - not for everyone, but worth a try
2. Bourbon
🟠 Flavor: High sweetness, chocolate, nuts, soft fruits
🌍 Origin: Bourbon Island (Reunion)
💎 Its features:
- very balanced
- Common in Latin America
- It is considered the basis for many other breeds.
🎯 Suitable for: Those who love balanced traditional flavors - an excellent everyday cup
3. Caturra
🟢 Flavor: Milk Chocolate, Berry, Brown Sugar
🌍 Origin: Colombia (mutation of Bourbon)
💎 Its features:
- Small tree size = easy production
- Its flavors are close to bourbon, but with a higher clarity.
🎯 Suitable for: Classic coffee lovers with a clean and fun style
4. SL28 / SL34
🔴 Flavor: Citrus, berries, ripe fruits
🌍 Origin: Kenya
💎 Its features:
- Strong, fruity flavor combination
- High drought tolerance
- Used in high quality crops
🎯 Suitable for: Lovers of high acidity and distinctive fruit in the cup
5. Pacas and Pacamara
🟡 Flavor: Berry, wine, unique acidity, heavy body
🌍 Origin: El Salvador
💎 Its features:
- Pacamaura: hybrid of Paccas + Maragogibe
- Her love is very big
- Bold and strong cup
🎯 Suitable for: Those who love an "unusual" coffee with a rich flavor
6. Castillo
🔵 Flavor: Red fruits, brown sugar, chocolate
🌍 Origin: Colombia - Developed for disease resistance
💎 Its features:
- Excellent agricultural performance
- balanced flavors
- Some excellent crops are produced from it.
🎯 Suitable for: Those who like a clear balance and a reasonable price
✅ Quick comparison:
Qisha: Floral, tea, rare, expensive flavors
Bourbon: balanced, chocolatey, light fruit
Caturra: Close to Bourbon, with a cleaner finish.
SL28/34: Fruity, tart, bold
Pacamaura: berry, winey, heavy body
Castillo: Chocolate, sugar, excellent balance
✅ Conclusion:
A coffee strain is like the “DNA” of coffee, determining how it tastes and character in a cup.
When you start to notice the difference between them, your sense of taste develops, and you will be able to choose the coffee that suits you better than any ordinary description.