Coffee 101: Arabica and Robusta

Arabica and Robusta are the two main branches of the coffee family tree.

There are more than 500 genera and about 6000 different species in the Rubiaceae plant family all around the globe; one of these is the Coffea species. Although botanists regard all seed-bearing plants that are part of the Rubiaceae family as what we know as coffee trees, the coffee trade is composed by just two species.

These coffee species of utmost importance are the Coffea arabica and the Coffea canephora. Let us explain, the coffee that we consume is divided into two main types, Arabica and Robusta; but speaking in botanical terms, Arabica has two main varieties on its own, Typica and Bourbon, and the most common form of Canephora is the variety Robusta.

When coffee shopping, you may have noticed that some coffee bag labels brag about the fact that their coffee beans are “100% Arabica”, for example. These taglines refer to the type of coffee species that the beans belong to.

Dear That Coffee Roasters: what’s the difference between Arabica and Robusta?

Dear reader, this is, no doubt, one of the most common questions when talking about coffee. Let’s divide the differences into areas for you.

Taste: Robusta coffee is described as having a more raw, unrefined taste than Arabica coffee, which is more delicate to the palate.

One reason that the Robusta taste isn't as good as Arabica’s, is that it has more caffeine compared to the later. Robusta bean has 2.7% caffeine content, almost double the 1.5% of Arabica. Thus making Robusta capable of giving you an extra buzz of energy but also bringing that extra bitter flavor to it.

Lipid and/or sugar content: in chemical terms, Arabica contains almost 60% more lipids and twice the concentration of sugar that Robusta has. This factor also probably has a big impact on why we prefer the taste of Arabica, due to the fact that we tend to crave sweeter flavors.

Shape: Robusta coffee beans are much more circular in their shape, whereas Arabica is more oval.

Plant height: Arabica coffee trees usually grow between 2.5 and 4.5 meters compared to the 4.5 to 6-meter height of the Robusta species.

Economics: from a price/costs perspective, the green beans of the Robusta variant are about half the price of Arabica green beans on the commodity market, making it more affordable for the masses.

Also, Robusta is easier to tend and grow, because it has a higher yield and is less sensitive to insects, in fact, the extra caffeine of this species is a chemical defense for the coffee seed as the quantity in the Robusta is toxic to bugs.

Nowadays, the Robusta variant is not the most common in your coffee shops brews. It can be found on instant coffee, but a mixed batch is what you can taste in your morning espresso. Robusta is still most often used as part of espresso blends, Italian style blends for the most part since it’s said to help to improve the Crema.

It’s fair to note that despite the popular association with Arabica being of a higher quality, and Robusta having the fame of being inferior in quality, it’s not always the case.

Specialty Robusta (Like South American) coffee will usually taste as good as or better than a low-end Arabica. However, a high-end Robusta batch isn’t often easy to find. Robusta is usually used as a filler or cost reducer for a bigger bag then being sold as a batch of its own.

Voilá! Who would have known that the world of coffee could be so interesting? That’s why That Coffee Roasters brings a different perspective to our dear coffee lovers. Did you enjoy our article? Do you have any questions about it? Then follow us on our social networks and leave your comments and questions in the section below.

These two types have their respective purpose and specific recipes and brew.

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

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Arabica vs. Robusta: The Ultimate Coffee Battle

Should we appreciate them both differently? Why is there a rivalry between these two coffee kinds?

Every coffee lover knows there are two main types of coffee beans in the world: Arabica and Robusta. They’ve been delighting our palates for centuries, and even though most people don’t really know the difference between the two, if you heart coffee as much as we do, you probably already have your favorite.

It might be a divisive issue among coffee drinkers, especially because Arabica coffee has taken advantage of the game since the beginning. Up until not very long ago, Robusta was considered a bad coffee, and it has always been cheaper than Arabica. Besides, roughly 75% of the world consumes Arabica, which is widely known for its sweeter taste, in comparison with less-known Robusta coffee's bitter flavor.

As with most of these competitions, there is no clear answer in subjectiveness' field. It all depends on hierarchy value you give to each bean's different properties, depending on production's methods they undergo through, as well as their soil. Colombian and Costa Rican Arabica coffees won’t taste the same, for example. Nevertheless, we’re here to examine some main differences between these two kinds to help you pick a side the next time you discuss this controversy with friends.

Sweet or Bitter?

Most people will agree Arabica has the best flavor between the two kinds. That’s mainly because it has sweeter tones, higher acidity, more sugar, and less caffeine. This all results in a more floral and fruity taste that’s usually most preferred and appreciated by people. Robusta only has half the sugar and lipids of Arabica while it almost doubles its caffeine's concentration, which gives it a bitter and woody taste.

Which One Is Easier to Grow?

You can distinguish Arabica from Robusta because Robusta coffee's beans are paler than Arabica's. Their center crease is less pronounced, and they are more circular and generally smaller. Canephora beans, as they’re also called, are typically cultivated at lower altitudes and have been engineered so that it can be grown on relatively flat plantations, so they are easier to harvest and less labor intensive.

On the other hand, Arabica coffee's beans are oval and larger. Arabica usually grows between 2.5–4.5 meters, compared to the 4.5–6 meters height of Robusta coffee. While Arabica is mostly cultivated in Latin America, Robusta is mainly grown in Asia. Brazil is the larger producer of Arabica and Vietnam the largest of Robusta.

Because of its characteristics, Robusta coffee is easier to tend and grow in farms, which leads to the next point of comparison.

Why Is Robusta Coffee Cheaper?

Robusta is generally cheaper than Arabica. It’s easier and economical to produce, and thanks to its high caffeine concentrations, it’s better protected against plagues and diseases. Every crop produces more coffee beans than Arabica plantations. That’s why you’ll find that Robusta is between ⅓ to ½ cheaper than Arabica in commodity markets.

In contrast, Arabica is very vulnerable to weather conditions and requires to be grown at high altitudes.

Even though it seems like Arabica beats Robusta in every category, not all Arabica coffees are better than all Robusta coffees. Many farmers have improved Robusta coffee beans' production's conditions, gifting us with a high-quality main ingredient to create some of the most exquisite espressos. Sumatra and Komodo, for example, supply some of the best Robusta coffee's beans which are then roasted into amazing drinks, such as Java and Kona. These gourmet coffees fetch top prices and are exceptionally flavored.

If you don’t know how to identify each one, odds are you’ve probably been drinking Arabica coffee. It’s almost everywhere, although it’s not always the best you can taste. In That Coffee Roasters, our favorite one is the 100% top quality Colombian Arabica coffee, which you can try right with us. We’re waiting for you on our web page!

What does your favorite type of coffee says about you?

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

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.

Arabica coffee beans grown in Colombia have the advantage of climate, which translates into its unique taste.

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Colombian Arabica Beans: The Tradition of Quality Coffee

Colombia stands out as one of the main producers of Arabica beans worldwide, ranking third place of coffee exports.

As you served yourself a cup of coffee and tasted it, you felt the uniqueness of a finely ground, quality product. It suddenly struck you to know, “Where does this coffee come from and why does it taste so good?” The answer to the first question is most likely to be Colombia. For the second one, there are many factors to take into consideration.

Today, Colombia exports dozens of coffee throughout the world and is currently ranked 3rd among the most exporters, only bested by Brazil and Vietnam. As for the conditions that make Colombian coffee that good, you can read about them all here. With that out of the way, we can proceed to talk about the Colombian coffee beans.

Arabica beans grown in Colombia have a taste that differentiates of the original. These beans are slightly sweeter with a softer taste but acidic at the same time. All coffee harvesters and producers grab the best quality beans as export products, and the standard ones stay. Yes, this means that if you’re anywhere but in Colombia, you’ll be getting the best they have.

On the other hand, Robusta is also used in Colombia’s coffee, having a stronger taste but considered a lower-quality bean overall. Another fact about Robusta is that it has two times the amount of caffeine compared to Arabica.

Colombian coffee stands out not only because of the conditions that favor its unique taste, but the labor and effort of all the people involved in the harvest, processing, and sorting of it. This is why That Coffee Roasters produce such fine coffee; with them, it’s about quality and responsible workers that make sure every batch is even better than the last one. Contact them, and you’ll get the best coffee Colombia can give!

That Coffee Roasters know how much tradition means. They make sure all beans follow the best procedures that are up to the market standards.

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters