Many people around the world cannot even conceive of beginning their days without that first cup of coffee in the morning. Coffee is the brew of choice to fuel our system and provide that little kickstart to get us going for the day.

The sad truth is that most of us do not put much time or thought into the process that goes into creating that fabulous life-giving brew. There are so many things that go into a proper cup of coffee but they always seem to begin with the very basics - the coffee bean. Many of us, when it comes down to it, do not know beans about coffee beans.

There are primarily two types of coffee beans Arabica and Robusta. Robusta is the B class of coffee. It is grown at lower elevations than Arabica and is much easier as a whole to cultivate and grow than Arabica. Robusta also has a greater concentration of caffeine than Arabica but is typically used to keep prices low for coffee, as it is generally a sign of lower quality to our delicate palates. Most instant coffees are made with Robusta beans rather than Arabica. You will also find that many of the coffee brands on the grocer's shelves are also at least partially made of Robusta beans rather than 100% Arabica beans.

This by no means indicates that Robusta beans are actually inferior though there are many that will disagree. There are in fact high demand and even sought after coffees that are made with Robusta beans. I have a strong suspicion that in a few years we will see much improvement come in the realm of gourmet Robusta coffees. The groundwork is being laid today by these growers in hopes that the payoffs of tomorrow will be quite profitable for them.

Arabica is currently considered the superior bean when it comes to coffee production and at the moment that thought holds true. Most of your top selling gourmet coffees are made of 100% Arabica coffee beans. There are a few exceptions but for the most part this is a statement that is very accurate in the market of today. While there is some degree of snobbery around about the value of Arabica beans (rightfully earned in my humble opinion) there is equal support that seems to be growing around the world (if not yet in America) as to the quality of one bean over another.

Knowing the types of beans that are used in coffee is a good first step in learning about coffee beans. The lessons however should never stop there. You should learn as much as possible about a drink that wakes up with you more often than your spouse or children in many cases. I strongly recommend that you find some coffee that is 100% Arabica and 100% Robusta and compare the two side by side to discover the distinct differences between the two. You just might find that you are shocked and amazed by your preferences afterwards. At the very least it should change how you feel about your morning cup of coffee.