Varieties of Coffee in the Philippines

Posted by TTN Palawan on Jan 16, 2019

Varieties of Coffee in the Philippines

The Philippines has 4 varieties of coffee:

1. Excelsa
2. Liberica
3. Robusta
4. Arabica

1. Excelsa
Excelsa coffee grows in lower elevations and is often confused with Barako. It has a jackfruit taste (langka) and grows mainly in Cavite.

2. Liberica
Liberica coffee grows mainly in Batangas and Cavite. This variety is more known as Barako coffee and grows in lower elevations.
Barako coffee has a strong taste and flavor with a distinctively pungent aroma.

3. Robusta
Robusta grows in lower elevations (300-400 meters above sea level). It grows mainly in Batangas and Cavite. Robusta is known for its high content in caffeine and is best used for instant coffee or soluble coffee. Robusta has a strong and bitter taste, with a grain-like overtone and peanutty aftertaste. Harsher and more bitter coffees are brewed from robusta beans. The only reason robusta varieties are used at all is that they are hardier plants and cheaper to grow and harvest.

4. Arabica
Arabica beans tend to have a sweeter, softer taste, with tones of sugar, fruit, and berries.
Arabica grows in higher elevations (1,500 meter above sea level). Mostly found in Cordillera region.
Arabica is the most traded coffee variety and is considered the best variety available because is has a smooth flavor. Because it is harder to grow it is also more expensive than any of the other varieties.

TTN Palawan also sells a variety of coffee
Barista or Lokal – Bitter taste
Italian or Italiano – strong taste
Breakfast or Western – smooth taste

To check out our coffee click here