Blue Bottle launches two Excelsa coffees, a rare variety in commercial production

Historically, specialty coffee has been defined by the Arabica variety. Excelsa, however, remains one of the rarest species in commercial production, accounting for less than 1% of global output. Blue Bottle's new releases highlight the potential of species diversity to innovate in flavor, add value for producers, and build resilience for the industry in the face of changing environmental and economic conditions.

The limited edition offers roasters and specialized media a unique opportunity to explore a category still relatively unknown to most American consumers. The Quang Tri 96B lot presents Excelsa in its purest form, as a single-origin, natural coffee. Beyond Arabica, on the other hand, is a more accessible entry point: an Excelsa and Robusta blend with no Arabica.

Beyond Arabica costs $32 and combines fruity sweetness from South India Coffee Company with full-bodied, bittersweet robusta from Great Cherry in Vietnam. Its tasting notes include sweet tobacco, sarsaparilla, and dark rum. It is sold as whole beans and for espresso or cappuccino in coffee shops and online.

The Excelsa Natural Quang Tri 96B coffee from Vietnam costs $45. It's a single-origin coffee from producer 96B in the Quang Tri region, which undergoes a 120-hour anaerobic fermentation and a 30-day slow drying process. Its tasting notes include lychee, papaya, and stevia. It's served pour-over at select coffee shops for four weeks, and its availability as whole beans is very limited, only available online.