Coffee : Philippine Coffee Origins
Beans for specialty coffee come from different places :
PURE EXELSA - is a lowland coffee. It has very distinct sweet and fruity aroma and taste exotic jackfruit. This bean variety is normally blended for its aroma and not for its taste. It is a lot woodier than liberica. Usually found in Mt. Malaray in Lipa, Mt. Banahaw at Sorsogon
LIBERICA - is considered lowland coffee. It has pungent aroma and pharmacopical, strong woody taste. It has a straight bitter bite leaving a natural acidic aftertaste. Among all the four coffee varietals, liberica is the biggest bean. Usually found in Quezon, Lipa and Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan
ROBUSTA - is also considered lowland coffee. It is called filler coffee. It is normally used to make instant coffee. Among all the coffee varieties, it has the highest caffeine content and has the most woody and bitter taste. Usually found in Compostela Valley, Bukidnon, Saranggani, South Cotabato, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
PHILIPPINE ARABICA - is highland coffee from 1,000 - 1,600 meters above sea level. The Philippines has five species of arabica - tipica, ramona and bourbon predominantly found in Cordillera. Whereas, meisor and caatimor are mostly found in Mindanao. Usually abundant in Benguet, Mt. Province, sagada, Ifugao, Mt. Matutum, Sultan Kudarat, Mt. Apo and Agusan del Sur.
