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There are different types of coffee but the most popular among coffee aficionados and cafe owners in Australia are robusta and arabica coffee beans. In today’s blog post, you will learn more about the coffee culture in Australia. This comprehensive guide discusses the most popular types of coffee drinks and coffee beans.
The Australian coffee industry is flourishing, generating over AU$ 10.1 billion. According to the forecast, this is expected to grow by 3.41% in two to three years. This report also shows Aussies consume nearly 2 kilograms of coffee per person each year.
In Melbourne, cafe owners and coffee entrepreneurs push the boundaries of producing world-class coffee as more and more customers pay handsomely to try different flavours. Statistics also reveal that 65% of Australian homes have a coffee machine. These figures tell us how impactful the coffee culture is in Australia.
As mentioned earlier, the most popular coffee beans are arabica and robusta. Research shows that Arabica coffee beans make up 60% of the world’s coffee production, while 40% of coffee production came from robusta coffee cultivators.
Let’s dive deeper into different types of coffee beans and their characteristics.
Arabica coffee beans are the most popular type of coffee beans in the world because of their rich flavour and sweet taste. These beans came from the Coffea arabica plant, which originated in the southern highlands of Ethiopia–hence the name, arabica coffee beans.
Arabica plants thrive more in tropical climates, and that’s why they are more abundant in Guatemala, Columbia, Brazil and India–these countries are the top producers of arabica coffee.
While arabica coffee beans slightly taste differently based on the location of cultivation, superior quality arabica coffee beans should produce a slightly sweet flavour with hints of fruits and berries.
Some cultivated arabica coffee beans may even have hints of chocolate, caramel and nuts aftertaste. You may also notice slight acidity and a little bitterness in arabica coffee. Many enthusiasts use arabica for their cold brew coffee to bring out its naturally sweet flavour.
Side Note: Apart from location, the roasting method and soil composition also play a vital role in producing a superior coffee taste. These factors can affect the balance of taste and flavour of the coffee beans. Be sure to store your coffee beans properly as well to maintain their freshness and great flavours.
Arabica Growing Conditions
Arabica plants prefer subtropical climate conditions. They require rich and well-draining acidic soil. Like most tropical plants, they grow well in bright, indirect sunlight areas. The ideal temperature should be around 16-24 degrees celsius.
Common Types of Coffee Beans Arabica
Here are the most popular types of arabica coffee beans:
Robusta coffee beans come from Coffea Canephora, one of the primary species of coffee plants cultivated in the world. Robusta originated in Africa. Robusta is easier to grow and cultivate compared to other types of coffee. It also has stronger caffeine content than most coffee beans.
Robusta coffee is popular for its strong taste and flavour. It usually produces an earthy and bitter flavour. Most quality robusta coffee beans also have hints of peanut flavour aftertaste. Robusta works well in making espressos. Some purists also still prefer robusta for Italian-style blended coffee.
Robusta thrives well in lower altitudes, ranging from sea level to 600 meters. Congo, Vietnam and Brazil are the top producers of robusta coffee beans. Robusta plants are also sturdier than other coffee species. They can withstand high temperatures and frequent rainfall.
Arabica and robusta differ in taste, caffeine content, lipid and sugar content, growing conditions and price. Here’s a brief comparison between arabica and robusta coffee beans.
| Category | Arabica | Robusta |
| Taste | Sweeter with hints of fruits and berries | – More bitter with nutty aftertaste |
| Caffeine Content | 1.2 to 1.8 % | 2.2 to 2.7% |
| Coffee Bean Shape | More oval and flat | Slightly smaller and round |
| Plant Difference | 1.8m to 4.5m | Grows a plant or shrub (4.5 to 10m tall) |
| Cultivation | Grows well in subtropical climate conditions More prone to pests Longer maturation time | Grows well in high humidity and high altitude Pest and weather-resistant Easier to grow or develop |
| Region | Guatemala, Columbia, Brazil, Costa Rica and Ethiopia | Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Uganda and Brazil |
| Lipid Content | 15% | !0% |
| Antioxidants | This study shows that robusta coffee beans have more antioxidants than arabica coffee. | |
| Acidity | Arabica is more acidic than robusta, which is why it tastes sweeter or more flavourful. | |
| Chlorogenic acid content (CGA) | 5.5-8% CGA | 7-10% CGA |
Robusta is cheaper than arabica coffee beans. It also contains more caffeine and antioxidants. However, despite these advantages, arabica is still the most popular coffee bean in Australia and the world. Many coffee lovers prefer arabica coffee because of its sweet and flavourful taste. Experts also often use arabica beans to innovate best-selling coffee drinks in cafes, such as latte and cold brew.
Flat White, cappuccino, latte and espresso are some of Australia’s finest coffee drinks. But there are also new drinks that you should try. Here are some of Australia’s most popular coffee drinks.
Main ingredients: Espresso and hot water
Popularity: 8/10
Recommended Roast: Dark roast
Black coffee is simply coffee with no ingredients added. Just brew your preferred coffee beans and serve hot. Many experts say it’s the healthiest option since it doesn’t contain sugar, milk or creamer. Check out the health benefits of drinking black coffee.
In Australia and New Zealand, long black coffee is popular. Like Americano, it’s also an espresso-based coffee but with two shots of espresso diluted in hot water.
Baristas normally make or serve a long black coffee by preparing a cup of hot steaming water, and then pouring shots of espresso on top.
Side Note: For beginners, it’s best to use light roast coffee.
Main Ingredients: Milk and espresso
Popularity: 9/10
Recommended Roast: Medium to dark roast
Coffee latte is probably the most popular coffee drink in Australia. It is a milk-based coffee with one or two shots of espresso.
Step 1: Prepare your preferred espresso shots into your glass.
Step 2: Pour milk at least ⅓ of the glass. Experts recommend using whole milk, but you can also use soy or almond milk if you’re lactose intolerant.
Step 3: Foam your milk before brewing the espresso.
Step 4: Gently unwanted air bubbles from the jug or container.
Step 5: Pour the milk into your espresso.
Step 6: Enjoy your latte coffee!
Main Ingredients: Milk and espresso
Popularity: 8.5/10
Recommended Roast: Dark roast
Making the perfect cappuccino is a true test of skills among the best baristas in the world. This coffee drink is all about structure. It should emphasise the right balance of espresso, steamed milk, and foam. It should produce rich flavours and a mildly sweet taste but not acidic.
Step 1: Steam the milk. Heat a cup of milk in a saucepan over low to medium heat. Let it simmer until bubbles form around, but make sure to not boil it.
Step 2: Prepare the espresso. You can use a single or double shot.
Step 3: Remove unwanted large air bubbles by gently swirling the milk or tapping the jug.
Step 4: Slowly pour the milk over the espresso.
Step 5: Enjoy your cappuccino!
Main Ingredients: Espresso and milk
Popularity: 9/10
Recommended Roast: Light roast
Macchiato is another popular coffee drink in Australia. It is also an express-based coffee drink with a dash of milk. The term “macchiato” translates to marked, stained, or spotted in Italian. This pertains to the milk spots when adding it to the dark, rich espresso. The amount of milk is just enough and strikes the perfect balance of robust flavour hit and a touch of creaminess. Most cafes today flavoured it with caramel, and it has been one of the bestselling coffee drinks all over the world.
Step 1: Prepare a single shot of espresso.
Step 2: Steam the milk and wait for a few minutes to create a foam. Just use medium-high heat and frequently stir to avoid burning the milk.
Step 3: Pour milk into the espresso. You can top this with caramel sprinkles or powder to add more flavour.
Main Ingredients: Espresso, milk, chocolate, and cocoa powder
Popularity: 9/10
Recommended Roast: Medium roast
Mocha coffee has a lot of branding names, including cafe mocha, mocha latter and mochaccino. Whatever you call it, it follows the same principle and method. Mocha coffee is a chocolate-flavoured latte with a ratio of ⅓ espresso and ⅔ steamed milk and a thin layer of milk foam. It also has just the right dose of chocolate syrup, often topped with whip cream, and sprinkled with chocolate or cocoa powder.
Step 1: Prepare a double shot of your preferred espresso (single or double shot) into a preheated latte glass.
Step 2: Mix a dose of chocolate syrup into the espresso. It may take a few tries to achieve your preferred taste.
Step 3: Steam the milk at approximately 155-160 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s best to use a thermometer to ensure you’re hitting the right temperature. Avoid burning the milk, so check frequently.
Step 4: Gently pour the milk into the espresso with chocolate.
Step 5: Top your drink with whip cream and sprinkle cocoa powder.
Step 6: Enjoy your cafe mocha!
Main Ingredients: Espresso and milk
Popularity: 9.5/10
Recommended Roast: Dark roast
The white flat coffee is a popular go-to beverage in Australia. It’s also an espresso-based coffee blended with micro-foamed milk. To create the perfect foamed milk, you need to infuse the steamed milk with air that creates a smooth and creamy taste. You need to be precise with your steaming method to make the perfect flat white coffee.
Step 1: Prepare a double shot espresso and pour it into your cup.
Step 2: Steam the milk to 131-136 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 3: Remove bubbles by thumping the pitcher or swirling the milk. This would make the milk velvetier and smoother.
Step 4: Try to make an art pattern and enjoy your flat white coffee!
Main Ingredients: Espresso and ice cream
Popularity: 7/10
Recommended Roast: light or dark roast
The affogato is a famous Italian dessert. Its base ingredient is ice cream and espresso. The term “affogato” translates to the Italian word for “drowned”, which probably gives you a hint of how this coffee drink would look like, a scoop of ice cream drowned into your favourite espresso.
The process is simple: Drown a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a hot shot of espresso. Watch how it melts and enjoy a spoonful of affogato.
Iced coffee is popular in Australia. According to Ray Morgan’s research, over 1.1 million Aussies consume iced coffee in an average week. Let’s find out some of the most popular types of iced coffee today.
Main Ingredients: Brewed coffee, milk and ice
Popularity: 8/10
Recommended Roast: Any
To simply put, this is the iced version of your favourite drink. Some coffee shops serve this with a small amount of milk and topped with whip cream.
Just brew your favourite coffee and add some ice. You can also top it with whip cream just like in most coffee shops.
Main Ingredients: Espresso and ice
Popularity: 8/10
Recommended Roast: Dark roast
This is like ice coffee but instead of brewed coffee, you use espresso shots. Again, you can also top it with whip cream and add a small amount of milk.
Just pull a double shot of espresso and then add some ice. Pour a small amount of milk and top it with whip cream if you wish.
Main Ingredients: Brewed coffee and ice
Popularity: 8.5/10
Recommended Roast: Dark roast
Cold brew is more than just an iced coffee. The method is different as well. For regular iced coffee drinks, you use near-boiling point temperatures to quickly extract the coffee right away. For cold brew, you need to wait at least five hours or more before serving. Cold brewing is usually less acidic and sweeter than iced espresso.
Step 1: Brew your favourite dark roast coffee.
Step 2: Wait for it to cold down before putting it on the refrigerator.
Step 3: Keep it refrigerated for at least 5 hours.
Step 4: Take it out and enjoy your cold brew!
Main Ingredients: Espresso, flavoured syrup, cream, sugar and milk
Popularity: 9.5/10
Recommended Roast: Medium to dark roast
Trademarked by one of the biggest coffee chains in the world, Starbucks, frappuccino is an iced coffee flavoured with syrup. Most coffee shops or cafes offer two variants of frappuccino: coffee-based and cream-based (decaf).
Here are some popular frappuccino flavours available today:
Step 1: Prepare a single or double shot of your favourite espresso. You can also use a strong coffee.
Step 2: Blend it together with ice, your preferred flavoured syrup, milk and sweetener.
Step 3: Pour it into a tall glass and top it with whip cream. Sprinkle with your preferred flavoured powder.
Step 4: Enjoy your frappuccino!
Main Ingredients: Cold brew coffee, nitrogen gas
Popularity: 7/10
Recommended Roast: Dark roast
Nitro coffee is made of cold brew infused with nitrogen gas to boost caffeine content and reduces bitterness and acidity of the coffee. The nitro coffee has over 30% more caffeine than most coffee drinks.
Step 1: Prepare your cold brew coffee and put it in a tall glass.
Step 2: Consider filtering the cold brew to ensure there are no leftover grounds.
Step 3: After filtering, infuse the cold brew using a mini-keg or whipped cream container.
Step 4: Gently pour into the glass or cup and enjoy your nitro coffee!
Choose the right coffee equipment based on your preferences and needs. To help you make the right decision, here are the different types of coffee makers and their features.
A French Press is ideal for making a small batch of coffee. It works like a plunger that meets a strainer. With this device, you need to brew the coffee grounds manually by pressing or straining them using the presser.
This type of coffee maker is popular for its practicality and durability. Like the French Press, it’s also portable, so it’s easy to bring anywhere and it’s suitable for outdoor activities. Many coffee lovers also use the percolator because it produces a richer taste compared to a drip coffee maker.
The single-serve coffee maker is also getting more popular among coffee lovers because of its recent developments. Today, new versions of single-serve coffee makers now feature interchangeable drawers that allow you to make your favourite coffee with ground coffee.
The aero press is also a single-serving coffee maker. It’s a piston-style brewer that pushes coffee through a paper filter. It’s also a popular option among travellers and campers. This coffee maker is known for producing neat coffee with well-defined flavours.
The makers of the drip coffee device intend to fully automate the pour-over brewing process by simply adding water and coffee grounds. This coffee maker is actually more popular in the US–yes, Aussies prefer drinking espresso-style coffee.
Some of the best thermal carafe coffee makers are
Many purists and coffee enthusiasts still prefer the pour-over brewing method because it allows them to have more control of the results. Here, you use a cone-shaped holder placed on top of your cup to filter the coffee grounds while pouring hot water.
If you’re an avid fan of cold brew, it’s time to invest in cold brew coffee makers. As the name implies, this device is specifically designed to produce quality cold brews. Here are the best cold brew coffee makers according to Food & Wine.
The Moka pot coffee maker is a good alternative to an espresso machine. While it doesn’t produce the same quality, it’s still a good option, especially if you learn how to use it.
There is no doubt that the coffee industry in Australia continues to flourish. Coffee has become a big part of our daily lives. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, leaning towards the coffee business or just an avid coffee lover, it’s good to familiarise yourself with different types of coffee. We hope learning about the different types of coffee products will help you understand our rich coffee culture.
