The taste of Excelsa coffee shares characteristics with both high and low-altitude coffees. It has a sweet, fruity, tart quality but is strong and dark. Producers are often used to add depth of flavor and a fuller body to coffee blends.
The aroma can be very strong and different from the pleasant fruity tastes. The smell has been described as being anything from “jackfruit” to “unpleasant”.
The origin of Excelsa can be traced back to Western Africa, specifically, the country of Chad. Like Liberica, it has roots in Africa but has been cultivated in other parts of the world. It was first discovered in the early 1900s, a recent one considering that coffee has been around for centuries!
