Peaberry coffee may be a word that you have heard some heavily tattooed barista mention when describing their coffee menu.

Unless you work in the industry or you're a self confessed coffee nerd, much of the lingo in specialty coffee goes over people's heads. 

Peaberry coffee has always been there however, but only recently celebrated.

What is a peaberry coffee?

Brian Gumm who is the Founder at Ross Street Roasting Co explains that coffee is grown on shrubs/small trees, and coffee "beans" are not technically beans at all.

They are the seed of the cherries that grow on coffee trees. A normal cherry contains within it two seeds that have a flat face and a round face.

The flat face is where the two seeds grew against each other, where the round face is the side that faces toward the outside of the cherry.

Peaberry coffee is the result of a genetic mutation when the cherry is growing, where only a single seed forms within the cherry.

With no "competition" from another seed, the overall shape of the seed's cherry is more generally round. It also tends to be a bit smaller in size and denser than cherries from the same tree that developed "normally."

This mutation normally happens in 3-5% of each crop.

Where does peaberry coffee come from?

Peaberry coffee can originate from all over the world like regular coffee.

Many countries don’t see the value in hand sorting the beans and effectively picking out the mutated peaberry coffee beans so it will all get lumped into one bag. 

Take a look at your bag of coffee beans and I’m sure you will be able to find a peaberry.

Did you know that there can also be three seeds that fit together like orange slices -- a less useful condition than the peaberry informs Andrew Hetzel of Coffee Strategies. The weight is so low with each, they char in the roaster.

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So what can you expect peaberry coffee to taste like?

Gumm continues that as a smaller, denser coffee bean you can expect peaberry coffee to have flavour characteristics that are slightly different from whatever "normal" beans came off the same tree.

Flavour notes can be a bit more intense, but not dramatically so.

There are many however that believe the flavour to be no different to your regular cup of coffee and that peaberry coffee is merely a myth.

What is the best way to brew peaberry coffee? 

Here at Batch we love all types of brew methods from silky and velvety espresso to bright and juicy filter coffee.

Peaberry for us is best served as a long black coffee preferably filtered through paper, but some origins of peaberry allow for a more intense brew method like stovetop or cafetiere.

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I personally remember a truly memorable naturally processed Brazilian peaberry that I brewed as a batch brew in the morning and would somehow get better throughout the day. 

Heather Calatrello from Shed Light Coffee has sampled several different peaberry coffee roasts and brewed them using pour over, French press, and even espresso but found very little difference overall between the peaberry and the regular coffee beans.

Why is peaberry so expensive?

Like many other unique and fashionable products prices can soar as popularity increases. 

Brian Abernathy founder of Grumpy Goat Coffee explains that his roastery charges the same price for peaberry coffee as any other origin they offer as they do not want price to be a deterrent to people trying new coffee.  

High quality peaberry coffee does not have to be expensive. Price is heavily driven by supply and demand and quality of the coffee beans. 

They do tend to be slightly pricier on account of both their more limited quantity (since peaberries occur in a smaller percentage of coffee overall) and the labor involved in sorting them out.

And just because a coffee beans are expensive does not necessarily mean that it is graded "gourmet" or "speciality." It's just unique because there is not a lot available in the market.

How to roast peaberry coffee?

Roasting Peaberry coffee can be a little tricky. The beans are naturally dense and can easily burn, requiring slightly less heat, too little heat though and you’re in danger of effectively baking the beans resulting in a flat and dull tasting coffee.

What is the best peaberry coffee?

The best peaberry coffee is a little hard to answer as there are almost too many variables from farm to cup. 

First of all, the coffee roaster that you purchase your beans from is extremely important.

If you already like the roasting style of a particular roaster then there is a good chance that you will enjoy their peaberry coffee. 

Secondly origin and the particular type of coffee is equally as if not more so important.

I have tried peaberry coffee from all over the world and never been disappointed.

Kenya and Tanzania peaberry coffee are highly sought after for their unique flavours however regular coffee is also high quality in these two countries.

Is peaberry arabica or robusta?

Peaberry coffee is a natural mutation in arabica and robusta coffee varietals. It also occurs in the other lesser known varietals of coffee.

Can you buy peaberry coffee at the supermarket? 

Brian Gumm of Ross Street Roasting Co carries on to explain that as a product, peaberry coffee is the result of growers separating peaberries from all the "normal" seeds/beans, packaging them together, and selling them to roasters for peaberry-specific product offerings.

This practice isn't pervasive, which is why you don't often see peaberry coffees sold in the consumer market.

Where can you buy peaberry?

As always with speciality coffee we would always recommended checking out your local coffee roaster.

If they don’t happen to have a peaberry on they will be able to recommend another roaster that you can try. It’s not something that you will find on every coffee menu and you may have to try a few coffee roasters.

Does peaberry coffee have more caffeine?

There is slightly more caffeine in peaberry coffee than in regular coffee according to the book Caffeine and Activation Theory.

A particular peaberry coffee bean that the study observed had around 13% more caffeine than a regular coffee bean.

Is peaberry coffee less acidic?

Peaberry coffee is not necessarily less acidic than regular coffee. The acidity of coffee depends on several factors, including the origin, roast level, and brewing method, among others.

Peaberry coffee beans are simply a type of coffee bean that are slightly rounder and smaller than regular coffee beans, and they develop differently in the coffee cherry due to the fact that they grow alone in the cherry, rather than with another bean.

Some people believe that peaberry coffee is less acidic and smoother than regular coffee due to its shape and the way it grows, but this can vary depending on the specific coffee bean and other factors.

In general, the acidity of coffee is a desirable characteristic, as it contributes to the coffee's brightness and complexity of flavor.

However, some people with sensitive stomachs or acid reflux may find that lower acid coffee options, such as cold brew or darker roasts, are easier on their digestive system.

How rare is Peaberry Coffee?

Peaberry coffee is relatively rare, accounting for only about 5% of coffee beans produced worldwide.

In a coffee cherry, there are normally two beans that develop with flat sides facing each other.

However, in about 5% of coffee cherries, only one of the beans is fertilized, resulting in a single, rounder, and denser peaberry bean.

While peaberry coffee is considered a specialty coffee due to its unique shape and distinct flavor profile, not all coffee-producing regions or varieties of coffee produce peaberry beans.

Some regions, such as Tanzania and Hawaii, are known for their high-quality peaberry coffee, while in other regions, peaberry beans may be more rare and sought after.

However, it's important to note that the quality of coffee is not solely determined by whether it is a peaberry or regular bean, but by a combination of factors such as the coffee variety, processing method, and roasting technique.