September 18, 2023

What is the AC1 coffee variety & could it become more popular?

In recent years, interest in naturally low-caffeine varieties has certainly grown. We have seen more and more low-caf coffees like Laurina and Aramosa available in...

September 14, 2023

WCR’s largest collaborative breeding programme disseminates over 5,000 seeds – what could this mean for specialty coffee?

Specialty coffee has long been fascinated by new and unique arabica varieties, as well as rare coffee species. Whether it’s WBC competitors using “forgotten” and...

August 16, 2023

What is Ombligon coffee & could it become more popular?

In recent years, specialty coffee’s fixation with unusual and rare coffees has only been growing. This fascination is particularly noticeable at the World Barista Championship,...

August 1, 2023

Are single origin coffees actually “better” than blends?

In practically every third wave coffee shop around the world, you’ll find at least one single origin available as espresso or filter. Both coffee professionals...

April 11, 2023

What is Maragogipe & how big is the market for it in specialty coffee?

Within the specialty coffee market, there are a growing number of more exclusive and highly-prized coffee species and varieties. One of the most notable is...

October 26, 2022

A guide to the Ruiru 11 coffee variety

According to the International Coffee Organisation, Kenya produced 775,000 60kg bags of coffee in 2020 – making it Africa’s fifth-largest coffee growing country that year....

October 4, 2022

What is Sidra coffee?

Over the past few years, there has been a growing trend of using rare coffee species and arabica varieties in World Coffee Championship (WCC) routines....

September 29, 2022

Could new varieties help to safeguard the future of Vietnamese coffee production?

Vietnam is the world’s second-largest producer of coffee. According to the International Coffee Organisation, the country produced around 33.4 million 60kg bags in 2017. Since...

June 8, 2022

Can agroforestry help to secure the future of the coffee industry?

The International Coffee Organisation’s April 2022 report estimates that global coffee consumption will exceed production by some 3.1 million 60kg bags in 2022. To add...

August 16, 2021

Introducing climate-resilient coffee hybrids in Vietnam

The USDA’s Coffee: World Markets and Trade report, published in June 2021, predicts that global coffee production figures in 2021/22 will fall by 6.2% compared...

June 2, 2021

Could low caffeine coffee varieties replace decaf?

While many consumers around the world enjoy coffee for its caffeine content – US consumers have an average daily intake of 193mg – more and...

September 17, 2020

How To Prevent Coffee Varieties From Being Misidentified

Every day, producers, traders, roasters, and consumers seek out different coffee varieties. Each variety has its own unique cup profile, among a number of other...

May 27, 2020

Why Producers Grow Expensive Coffees – And Why Roasters Buy Them

Occasionally, a specialty coffee lot makes headlines for the record-breaking prices it’s fetched at an auction or private sale. These hyper-expensive coffees are usually award-winning...

February 21, 2020

Bourbon Coffee Variety: A Guide For Producers & Roasters

Arabica coffee is significant in specialty coffee production, with Bourbon being one of the varieties that takes centre stage. The World Coffee Research Organization (WCR)...

January 20, 2020

The Arara Variety: What Is It & Why Is It Popular in Brazil?

The choice of variety affects a coffee’s flavor, productivity, and required farming conditions. Consumers are often excited to try varieties such as Geisha/Gesha, while producers...