Arabica or Robusta, which coffee beans would you prefer…?
While there is a whole spectrum of coffee beans out there in the market, ‘ Coffee Arabica’ known as Arabica & ‘Coffee Cancephora’ known as Robusta are the most cultivated coffee beans species. Arabica comprises of nearly 80% of the coffee beans cultivated for consumption while the remaining can be attributed to Robusta. The difference between these two beans is however stark.
Arabica is a smooth, rich coffee variety with a milder taste and lower caffeine content. These beans are much more expensive than Robusta. They are clearly the superior bean with intense aromas and smooth flavors like caramel, chocolate or citrus fruits. They are generally grown in altitudes above 800 m. and soured from regions around South East Asia, Africa and South America. Starbucks swears by these beans and only sources the highest quality Arabica beans from around the globe.
Robusta beans, as the name suggests are much stronger. They are an inferior tasting product but have double the caffeine content. They have this earthy and wooden taste and are widely used in traditional expresso’s and instant coffee’s. All those coffee varieties you find at grocery stores and supermarkets are Robusta beans. These beans are generally cultivated at lower altitudes and grown in region such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil India etc. So if you’re a Nescafe fan, you’ve been consuming a lot of Robusta beans 😉
So now you can confidently pick your coffee bean to suit your intent behind sipping that coffee beverage. If it’s the caffeine high it’s ROBUSTA, and when you crave for that rich aroma and creamy texture, you know it has to be ARABICA.
There you go! You’re one step closer to being that COFFEE CONNOISSEUR! 😉
Fun Fact # 2:
The rise of the Islam was a key contributor to the growing popularity of coffee. Alcohol was banned in the Islamic religion. People consumed a lot of coffee, as it was an acceptable drink. Coffee Arabica derives its name partly because of this reason and of course its region of origin, the Arab land.
Back to the grind! 