Excelsa coffee – a rare coffee variety with a surprising character

If you’ve ever wondered “What is Excelsa?” or stumbled across Excelsa coffee while browsing, you’re in the right place.

Excelsa coffee is considered an insider tip among coffee fans – a variety many have never and one that those who have rarely forget. While Arabica and Robusta are everywhere, Excelsa has more of a niche existence. That’s exactly what makes it exciting – especially if you want to discover new flavour worlds or choose your coffee more consciously.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• what Excelsa coffee actually is

• where this variety comes from

• what Excelsa coffee tastes like

• how it differs from Arabica and Robusta

What is Excelsa coffee?

In short: Excelsa coffee belongs botanically to the Liberica family. In everyday use, however, it’s often described as its own coffee variety because its flavour, bean shape and cultivation differ noticeably from classic Liberica. If you’re interested in Liberica in general, you can dive deeper into our blog article on Liberica coffee.

Excelsa is therefore neither Arabica nor Robusta, but a third, much rarer line in the coffee cosmos.

A few facts:

• Excelsa accounts for only a tiny fraction of global coffee production (less than 1% worldwide)

• The plants often grow taller and are more resilient than Arabica

• The beans are larger and more irregular in shape – a bit “wild”, which fits their character perfectly

Where does Excelsa coffee come from?

Originally, Excelsa – like many coffees – comes from Africa. Today, however, the main growing regions are in Southeast Asia (e.g. Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia) as well as in some African regions.

For Excelsa to thrive, it needs:

• tropical climate

• plenty of sun, but also sufficient rainfall

• robust, resilient plants that can cope with changing conditions

Why is Excelsa coffee so rare today?

• The market mainly knows Arabica and Robusta – many farmers therefore focus on these varieties, which are easier to sell

• Cultivation is demanding, as the trees grow very tall and are harder to manage

• Excelsa is primarily grown by smallholders, often in mixed crops and on small plots

For you, this means: when you drink Excelsa, you’re often tasting coffee from small-scale structures – not a mass product, but something for explorers.

What does Excelsa coffee taste like?

Here’s where it gets interesting. What does Excelsa coffee taste like? In short: complex.

Typical flavour notes of Excelsa:

• fruity – often with hints of berries or tropical fruits

• slightly acidic – a lively, rather fresh acidity

• spicy and dark – depending on the roast, notes of dark chocolate, wood or light smokiness

• overall: multi-layered and surprising

Many describe Excelsa as a coffee with two aromatic sides:
on the nose often fruity and lively, in the cup then surprisingly deep and spicy.

In comparison:

• less sweet than Arabica

• less bitter than Robusta

That’s why Excelsa coffee is also often used in coffee blends to add more depth to the flavour.

If you enjoy discovering new aromas, Excelsa can be an exciting addition to more classic coffees.

Excelsa vs. Arabica vs. Robusta

Wondering about the difference between Excelsa, Arabica and Robusta? Here’s a rough guide:

Flavour

• Arabica: smooth, often slightly sweet, fine acidity, wide variety – from nutty to fruity

• Robusta: strong, earthy, sometimes distinctly bitter, low acidity – popular for espresso blends

• Excelsa: fruity, slightly acidic, at the same time dark and spicy, complex and sometimes “unpredictable”

Caffeine content (roughly)

• Arabica: rather low caffeine content

• Robusta: significantly higher caffeine content

• Excelsa: usually in the range of Arabica to slightly above

Availability

• Arabica: everywhere, from supermarkets to specialty roasteries

• Robusta: in many espresso blends, often in strong, bold mixes

• Excelsa: rare, more likely in specialty roasteries or online shops

Typical uses

• Arabica: filter, pour-over, espresso, fully automatic machines – an all-rounder

• Robusta: espresso blends, moka pot, for thick crema and a strong kick in the cup

• Excelsa: often used in blends to add fruitiness & complexity and exciting as a single origin if you want to taste more mindfully

Conclusion – is Excelsa coffee worth it?

If you’re looking for mainstream coffee, Excelsa is probably not your first choice.

But if you want to know how diverse coffee can truly be, Excelsa is one of the most exciting stops on your journey.

• It’s rare, which is exactly what makes it interesting

• It brings a special flavour profile: fruity, spicy, complex

• It complements Arabica and Robusta rather than replacing them

You can try Excelsa on its own or compare it with typical profiles – for example with a more elegant, darker blend like “Dark & Elegant coffee beans 250g”, a milder profile like “Mild & Aromatic coffee beans 250g”,or a bolder character in the style of “Strong & Earthy coffee beans 250g” to see where Excelsa falls for you in terms of flavour.

Excelsa is not a coffee for the side-lines – it’s one best enjoyed mindfully and with curiosity.