Coffee glossary
Arabica
Also known as: Coffea arabica
Coffea arabica — the species behind most of the world’s coffee and nearly all specialty coffee, prized for sweetness, acidity and aroma.
Arabica originated in the highlands of southwestern Ethiopia and South Sudan. It grows best at higher, cooler elevations, contains roughly 1.2–1.5% caffeine by dry weight, and accounts for a little over half of world production. Well-known arabica varieties include Typica, Bourbon, Caturra, SL28 and Gesha.