← Coffee guide

Liberica and Excelsa - the forgotten coffee species

Most of the world’s coffee is arabica and robusta - it is almost always them that people talk about. But they are not the only coffee species. There are two more, almost forgotten: Liberica and Excelsa. They make up a fraction of world production today, and yet they have a fascinating history, a remarkable, exotic flavour and - increasingly importantly - a great resilience, which in the age of climate change may turn out to be a treasure. Liberica once saved the world’s crops, and today it is coming back into favour as a curiosity and a hope for the future. It is time to get to know these underrated coffees. Here is a guide to Liberica and Excelsa: where they come from, how they taste, what role they played in history and why the forgotten species are arousing interest again.

The four species of coffee

When we talk about coffee, we almost always think of two species: arabica (around sixty percent of production) and robusta (around forty). But there are more commercial coffee species - the next two are Liberica and Excelsa. Together they make up a tiny fraction of world production today, less than two percent, and that is why they are called the forgotten species. And yet they exist, are cultivated and have their admirers. Getting to know them broadens the picture of the coffee world beyond the usual duo. Understanding that besides arabica and robusta there are Liberica and Excelsa is the starting point. It is coffee from outside the mainstream. They are the forgotten branches of the coffee family. We cover the two main species more in arabica and robusta.

What Liberica is

Liberica (botanically Coffea liberica) is a coffee species originating from West and Central Africa - the name itself points to Liberia. It is distinguished by its remarkable physicality: it grows as large, tall trees, much bigger than arabica bushes, and its beans are large, irregular and characteristically curved. It is a rare, exotic coffee of its own, unrepeatable character. Liberica is also hardy - it copes well with the hot, humid climate of the lowlands and is resistant to the diseases that decimate arabica. It is a species with claws, far from the delicacy of arabica. Understanding that Liberica is a species of large trees and beans from West Africa is the key to getting to know it. It is an extraordinary coffee. It is the forgotten giant of the coffee world.

The flavour of Liberica

Liberica tastes like nothing else in the coffee world - that is its greatest peculiarity. It has an exotic, strong and unusual profile: smoky, woody, floral notes, and especially a characteristic, fruity aftertaste reminiscent of jackfruit and dark, ripe fruit. It is sometimes described as „funky” - wild, not obvious, at times even dividing opinion. To some it is a fascinating variety, to others too unusual. One thing is certain: Liberica does not taste like typical coffee, and that is exactly what makes it interesting. Understanding that Liberica has an exotic, smoky-fruity profile with a note of jackfruit is the key to its flavour. It is a coffee of wild character. It is a flavour you will not mistake for any other.

A table: coffee species

Let us gather the species in one place:

The table shows the full four coffee species. Liberica and Excelsa are a tiny fraction of production, but of their own, distinct character.

What Excelsa is

Excelsa is the fourth species of coffee, closely related to Liberica - botanically it is often classified today as a variety of Liberica, though commercially treated separately. It is grown mainly in Southeast Asia, especially in Vietnam and the Philippines. Excelsa has its own, prized profile: tart, fruity, dark and complex, combining notes of light and dark fruit. It is sometimes added to blends to bring depth, acidity and unusual complexity. It is another forgotten species of exotic character, even less known than Liberica. Understanding that Excelsa is a relative of Liberica of tart, fruity profile completes the picture of the forgotten species. It is a coffee of complex flavour. It is a rare treasure from Southeast Asia.

The historical role of Liberica

Liberica was not always forgotten - it had its great moment. At the end of the nineteenth century the coffee leaf rust plague devastated arabica crops in many parts of the world, especially in Southeast Asia. Then Liberica, resistant to this disease, stepped in as a rescue, filling the gap left by the destroyed arabica. For a time it became an important commercial species. In time, however, as arabica and robusta crops rebuilt, Liberica returned to the margins, keeping its importance mainly locally. This history shows that a forgotten species once already saved the coffee world. Understanding that Liberica saved crops after the rust plague is a reminder of its value. It is a coffee that has already proven its role. It is the forgotten hero of coffee history.

Barako - Filipino pride

Liberica is most culturally rooted in the Philippines, where it is known as barako. It is a national pride and the coffee icon of the country - a strong, aromatic coffee of powerful character, deeply embedded in local tradition. The word barako is associated with strength and masculinity, which captures the character of this coffee. Although the production of barako is small and has at times been threatened, the species has survived thanks to local attachment and is today the subject of efforts to save it. The Philippines shows how a forgotten species can be a living part of a culture. Understanding that Filipino barako is the cultural face of Liberica adds a human dimension to it. It is a coffee with a soul and an identity. It is proof that Liberica still lives in people’s hearts.

Resilience and the future

The most interesting, however, is the forward-looking dimension of the forgotten species. Liberica and Excelsa are much more resilient than arabica to heat, drought, pests and disease, and grow in the lowlands where arabica cannot manage. In the age of climate change, when warming and disease threaten sensitive arabica, this resilience becomes priceless. That is why scientists and the industry are looking anew at Liberica as a species that could secure the future of coffee. The forgotten species may turn out to be the key to the resilience of the whole crop. Understanding that Liberica and Excelsa are resilient to climate change gives their rehabilitation a strategic sense. It is the coffee of the future. It is a forgotten reservoir of resilience.

How to get to know them

How to try these rare coffees? First, look for them deliberately - they are niche, available mainly from specialised roasters, in their countries of origin or as a specialty curiosity. Second, approach them without expectations from the world of arabica - they are different flavours, exotic and not obvious. You will recognise Liberica by its smoky-fruity note of jackfruit, Excelsa by its tart, complex fruitiness. Third, taste them with an open mind, as a broadening of your coffee horizon. Note your impressions, because these are rare and instructive flavours. Understanding how to get to know them opens the door to a little-known corner of the coffee world. It is an adventure for the curious. It is an invitation beyond arabica and robusta.

The essentials in brief

Let us gather it up. Beyond arabica and robusta there are two forgotten coffee species: Liberica and Excelsa, together less than two percent of production. Liberica (from West Africa) is large trees and irregular beans of exotic, smoky-fruity flavour with a note of jackfruit. Excelsa, its relative from Southeast Asia, has a tart, fruity, complex profile. Liberica had its great moment, saving crops after the coffee leaf rust plague in the nineteenth century, and in the Philippines as barako it is a cultural icon. Most importantly today: both species are more resilient than arabica to heat and disease, so in the age of climate change they are gaining strategic importance. Now you know the forgotten coffee species.

Note every coffee in GustoNote - including rare Liberica or Excelsa and their exotic flavour. In time you will discover how rich the coffee world is beyond arabica and robusta.