Eugenioides
Eugenioides is a rare coffee species native to East Africa and is considered one of the parent plants of Arabica. When it made an appearance at the 2021 World Barista Championship, it quickly attracted attention and was even compared to the renowned Gesha variety.
Eugenioides stands out for its natural sweetness, low acidity, and smooth mouthfeel, with tasting notes that include tropical fruits, lemon candy, sesame brittle, and cereal milk. Many people say it doesn’t even taste like traditional coffee, yet it’s highly praised by professional baristas.
However, due to its low yield, high production cost, and challenging cultivation conditions, Eugenioides remains difficult to grow and is not widely available.