Everyone around the world knows the black, aromatic beverage by the name of espresso coffee. However not everyone knows about the raw material from which this drink is made: the coffee bean, also known as green gold.

Coffee is, by definition, the seed of a fruit (drupe) that is normally divided into two parts, though sometimes is single (caracolito).

THE DIFFERENT SPECIES

Coffee beans grows on an evergreen bush belonging to the Rubiacee family, Coffea genus, of which there are approximately 80 species known throughout the world.

The two main types are:

• Coffea Arabica
• Coffea Canephora (otherwise known as Robusta)

Coffea Arabica has the following characteristics:

• the most widespread Coffea type
• more aromatic than Robusta
• more delicate than Robusta
• less bitter than Robusta
• less astringent than Robusta
• has a caffeine content of between 0.8 and 1.5%
• has an 18% oil content
• has an 8% sugar content

Coffea Robusta has the following characteristics:

• greater resistance
• more bitter
• has more body
• has a caffeine content of between 1.7 and 3.5%
• has an 8-9% oil content
• has an 5% sugar