Varietal (variety)
also: variety
The botanical type of arabica, like Bourbon or Gesha, that helps shape a coffee's flavor and yield.
Varietal, more correctly called a variety, is the botanical type of coffee plant within a species. Most specialty coffee is arabica, and within arabica there are many varieties: Bourbon, Typica, Caturra, Gesha, SL28, and more. (Strictly, “varietal” describes a coffee made from one variety, while “variety” names the plant, but the trade uses them loosely.)
Why it matters: variety influences cup character, much as grape variety shapes wine. Gesha is prized for delicate, floral, tea-like cups; Bourbon for sweetness and balance; SL28 for intense acidity. Variety also drives farm economics through yield, disease resistance, and how much altitude a plant needs.
The catch: variety sets potential, but terroir, altitude, processing, and roasting decide how much of it reaches your cup. The same Caturra tastes very different from two farms. In everyday use, variety overlaps with cultivar. For named varieties and their flavor tendencies, see varietals deep dive.