Coffee lovers are lucky. We have a world worth of possibility in our hands when we look at available drinks. As our ranks have grown and coffee connoisseurs demand more than just an average “cup of Joe,” we see innovation and specialization. One good example of that is the introduction of peaberry coffee. A unique mutation that’s sort of a happy mistake, let’s explore more about what peaberry coffee is and how it’s different from a traditional arabica or robusta bean.
What is a Peaberry Coffee Bean?
Peaberry coffee is a naturally occurring mutation of a traditional coffee plant. Traditionally, a coffee plant’s cherry produces two beans inside it. In peaberry coffee, only one bean develops inside that cherry. Peaberry coffee beans are typically smaller and more circular than a traditional bean. They are fairly rare, generally making up less than 10% of a harvest.
While we covet peaberries as a coffee community, there is some research suggesting peaberries are the result of poor growing conditions, over-harvesting or other indications the coffee plant doesn’t have the resources to produce two beans, so it only produces one.
“Peaberry is the result of the failure, for one reason or other, of its fellow-germ to fructify,” Mr. Howard Newport, an Instructor of Coffee Culture for The Planters’ Monthly wrote. “The peaberry is a malformation, and generally takes place when the tree is weak or in a state of low vitality, and this condition may be brought about by unfavorable conditions of soil, climate or cultivation. A tree overbearing will produce a larger percentage of peaberry than one with a more moderate crop.”
What Does Peaberry Coffee Taste Like?
A lot of coffee lovers seek out peaberry coffee. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean your tastes will match up with what it offers.
Peaberry coffee often delivers sweeter notes than we’re accustomed to with traditional beans. It’s common to hear the roasts described as more complex with bright acidity.
Why Does Peaberry Taste Different?
Because the plant doesn’t split nutrients between two beans, the single bean gets all the nutrition. Peaberries are typically more dense than traditional coffee. That density can help spur more concentrated flavors than a larger bean would.
The peaberry shape also gives it a slight advantage over traditional coffee, if you ask roasters. It’s simply easier to give a uniform roast to a perfect circle than the oblong shape we normally see with coffee beans.
Where Does It Come From?
Because peaberries are naturally occurring, coffee experts believe the same 4-8% peaberry occurrence rate occurs at coffee estates all over the world. However, you have to harvest the coffee cherries before you know if you have peaberries. That sorting between traditional and peaberry coffee can be a time-consuming process and is often done by hand, even among more sophisticated producers.
The rarity of the mutation as well as that labor required to pull the peaberries and set them aside is a big reason peaberry coffee is more expensive than “normal” coffee. It’s not uncommon to see a pound of the beans for sale at around $50 or more (USD) while you can find traditional coffee for a 25-30% of that cost.
So, it takes countries in more developed parts of the coffee world to cultivate it and ultimately separate enough of the beans out for a product to reach us here in the United States as coffee drinkers.
In terms of origin, the majority of our peaberries come from Tanzania, Kenya, and Brazil. It’s not uncommon to find peaberry coffees that hail from Hawaii, Colombia, or Ethiopia as well.
Is Peaberry Worth It?
Given the cost associated with peaberry coffee, is it worth it? Do you really get coffee that’s 4-5 times better than a traditional coffee? Well, I guess that depends who you ask.
In our peaberry coffee reviews, we had some decent roasts but nothing that has really knocked our socks off. So, at least according to our palate the answer is: No, peaberry isn’t worth it.
However, some coffee lovers swear by it. Like with most things coffee, we recommend you go with a bullets before cannonballs approach. Get a small bag and give it a try. If you find it’s not amazing coffee, you’ll be out $25 or so rather than diving in deep and getting stuck with beans you don’t think are worthy of the cash.
