That Coffee Roasters: Differences between Arabica and Robusta Beans

lunes, 31 de julio de 2017

Differences between Arabica and Robusta Beans

Arabica and Robusta beans differ in many aspects, not just the looks but taste, chemicals and growing conditions.

Although a large quantity of the coffee produced today comes from many different countries, there’s confusion regarding the type of coffee you’re consuming. For those who are in the business of coffee, knowing this is just a part of every day’s labor. On the contrary, several customers and buyers can’t tell the difference between Arabica and Robusta roasted coffee. To clarify the difference (a huge one) here are some points to help you notice right away.

1.- Coffee beans:

Perhaps this is the easiest one to tell. Arabica coffee beans are more elliptical shaped compared to the round Robusta beans. There are also some differences in the structure of each one, which is the reason both beans roast differently under the same conditions.

2.- Climate and environmental conditions:

Robusta grows between 4.5-6.5 meters and requires warm temperatures between 18°C-36°C whereas Arabica coffee shrub grows in heights between 2.5-4.5 meters, with colder temperatures of 15°C-24°C. Regarding rainfall, Arabica demands an annual rainfall of 1200-2200 mm/yr, which is less than Robusta (2200-3000 mm/yr). Robusta is more affordable in terms of production, producing more coffee per hectare than Arabica.

3.- Chlorogenic acid and Caffeine:

Chlorogenic and caffeine concentrations are believed to drive off insects and animals, and it’s also the reason of the bitter taste in coffee. Robusta happens to contain twice the amount of these two, compared to Arabica. This is what makes Robusta coffee beans to be more resistant in the wild.

To summarize: Robusta beans are economically better for production, but due to its bitter taste, it’s often considered to be of “lesser quality.” But there’s a lot of profit to attain from Robusta, and industries today usually use it as a filler to reduce costs.

We can’t deny the high profile of Arabica beans. They are the most successful product in the coffee business. Good news is there’s a product that is 100% Arabica coffee coming soon: it’s the Only Colombian! That Coffee Roasters is glad to launch it for exclusive customers like yourself; so don’t miss this chance and get in touch with them to get your hands on the finest coffee.