Arabica vs Robusta
If you’re an avid coffee lover, you probably know coffee comes from a plant. As the seeds of a cherry, coffee beans provide an incredible array of aromas and flavors that can vary based on where the coffee is grown, how it was processed, or how it was brewed.
The coffee taste you experience is directly due to decisions and conditions a coffee bean went through before it was poured into your cup.
Like other agricultural products — think apples or cabbage or pears — there are several varieties of coffee, or different genetic species under the general umbrella of coffee, and yet two species - The arabica and the robusta, account for nearly 95% of the coffee grown and used worldwide.
So how do these beans differ from one another? And which one might be the choice meant for you?
Arabica..
When it comes to the production of Arabica coffee beans, special care must be taken to ensure that the sensitive Arabica coffee trees grow sufficiently well in height, has an environment with a well maintained constant temperature in the range of 15 to 24° C and has an ample supply of shade and humidity.
Hence the reason why Arabica coffee is produced on high plateaus, sometimes on the mountainside, and is often surrounded by trees so as to protect it. Arabica is known to provide fuller flavor, acidity, more developed aromas and a surprisingly lower concentration of caffeine.
Robusta..
Robusta, holding true to its name, is a robust coffee. It accounts for nearly 30% of the coffee produced worldwide. Robusta coffee is grown at lower heights compared to its cousin, at around 300 and 800 meters above sea level. It also has great resistance to diseases and has a higher yield.
Robusta coffee brings with it a fuller body and powerful flavor profile, has a lesser developed and pleasing aroma and also has a greater concentration of caffeine in comparison to Arabica. It is mainly grown in Africa, Indonesia and India. Robusta coffee beans also come with the added benefit of complementing various blends, a reason why producers use them for pre-ground and instant coffees.
Arabica and Robusta both bring with them a list of pros and cons and tagging one to be better than the other is simply not fair. It all boils down to taste and personal preference. Arabica coffee is widely more popular than Robusta, but the scenes are changing with more and more people liking the better processed Robusta coffee.
Robusta is recommended for those who like their coffee to be strong and slightly bitter, with a slight oomph to it! Arabica is meant for those who enjoy having a sweet, complex and aromatic profile while drinking their coffee. If you’re new to the world of coffee, make sure to try your hand at both the coffee beans. l
This will help you understand your personal preferences and help answer the question, Arabica vs Robusta in your own unique manner.
So, which one’s should you choose between the two?
The right answer to this age-old question is to be primarily found in your own preferences and taste! Nevertheless, as already pointed out, most coffee enthusiasts seem to profusely agree on Arabica coffee as the most prestigious one, thanks to its sweeter and softer tones and its frequent fruity and chocolate notes.
Nonetheless, while Arabica is certainly more popular, beans from Robusta plants, while being more bitter, do have their own place in the heart of coffee lovers. Deciding which one is unquestionably the best variety from every point of view is rather impossible. As many other things in life, it is all a question of taste and, in this case, at times of mixtures, as you could actually go for a delightful Arabica and Robusta blend!
If our description of Arabica vs Robusta coffee has left you craving for some, then please join us at our upcoming Coffee tasting workshop - great for the coffee enthusiast home or professional. This is a great workshop for anyone who is interested in understanding coffee aromas, flavours and the unique characteristics of each origin - anyone who loves coffee and sensory skills will enjoy this course.
This tasting session will start you on your coffee journey. We will taste coffees from around the globe and also taste different processes. This workshop will help you to appreciate coffee on a new level.
Tickets available here or via eventbrite.
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