Catuai Coffee Variety: What You Need To Know

Brazil is a key player in the coffee business, from drinking the most amount of coffee in the world to being the biggest producer of coffee globally. This country is known for its unique coffee varieties, with Catuai coffee being one of the most notable. The name Catuai literally means “very good,” so how can it not be?

In this article, you will find everything you need to know about the Catuai coffee variety.

What Is Catuai Coffee Varietal?

Catuai coffee is a coffee variety that has mainly been grown in Brazil since 1972, Costa Rica since 1985, Guatemala since 1970, and Honduras since 1983, among other countries (1). It is the product of artificially crossing two natural mutations of the Arabica varieties known as Mundo Novo and yellow Caturra to achieve higher yields with smaller, closer-together plants (2).

The downside of Catuai coffee is that it is highly susceptible to coffee leaf rust, fungal infections, coffee berry disease, pests, and nematodes (3).

For a more detailed look at Catuai coffee, check out this YouTube video.

There are two main types of Catuai coffee: yellow Catuai coffee and maui red Catuai coffee.

Yellow Catuai Coffee

Yellow Catuai coffee usually has a softer body. However, this greatly depends on the altitude it is grown at, the climate it experiences, and the method used to harvest it. The cherries of this coffee variety are in higher demand internationally, although blind testing shows that there is virtually no discernable difference in taste between yellow Catuai coffee and maui red Catuai coffee.

Maui Red Catuai Coffee

Maui red Catuai coffee is full-bodied and yields complex flavour profiles. The extent to which the genetic differences between maui red Catuai coffee and yellow Catuai coffee influence the resulting flavour of the final brew is not yet fully understood.

Catuai Coffee Taste

Catuai coffee comes with a high level of sweet acidity, two contrasting tastes that compliment one another here. According to Q Grader and Professor João Batista Pavesi, the specific cup profiles that Catuai coffee is capable of producing depend on the location it was grown, the type of care it received, and the method of cultivation used (2).

Many Catuai coffee varieties are repeatedly awarded best coffee in Brazil and on a global scale.

How Do I Brew Catuai Coffee?

Catuai coffee is brewed as a medium or light roast with Chemex or French Press methods to highlight its characteristic bittersweetness. These methods bring out a wide variety of fruity and woody notes, with the specific degree of each dependent on the brew style. It is enjoyed either with milk or as a black coffee.

Final Thoughts

Catuai coffee is a Brazilian staple that is popular for its sweet acidity and high-quality cup profile. It is reliably described as “very good,” just as its name suggests. If you are looking for unique bittersweet notes of chocolate, almond, sugars, and spices in your coffee, try a Catuai coffee.