Robusta vs Arabica: 17 key differences

Why do we hear so little about robusta coffee? Most people who want to make, and enjoy, a great cup of joe always talk about arabica coffee. So why are robusta coffee beans ignored? To answer that question I have put together a complete list of 17 key differences to answer who wins in the battle of Robusta vs Arabica coffee. Best of all, so you can decide on the merits of each.

Warning: When you read number 17. you may be surprised that some of the finest coffee experiences come from a blend of arabica and robusta beans.

What is robusta coffee?

Robusta Coffee (species name coffea canephora) is the second most widely grown coffee in the world but is less highly valued than arabica coffee. To give you some numbers, world coffee production is measured in numbers of

Robusta vs arabica: 17 the key differences you need to know

To find out why robusta is considered the lesser coffee, and why that might just be unfair, I have put together a list of the 15 main differences between arabica and robusta:

1. Annual world production of arabica vs robusta coffee beans

You probably know there are four main varieties of coffee bean grown commercially: arabica, robusta, liberica and excelsa. but the amount of each grown every year may surprise you.

Arabica coffee beans make up the vast majority, around 70-75%, of world coffee bean annual production. Robusta, coming a distant second, makes up 20-25% of coffee produced. Meanwhile, liberica and excelsa, between then only amount to 1-3% of coffee grown.

2. Aroma

Most coffee made with arabica coffee beans is considered to have exciting aromas ranging from florals through citrus, stone fruit and berries. Even from the moment you open the packet it smells good.

The aroma of robusta coffee is usually compared to burnt rubber, or cardboard.  So, if you have instant coffee, go to the kitchen and open the jar. That’s right, not such an exciting smell.

But that is not where the story ends. There are a range of coffee producers who are coming up with some amazing robusta coffees. Vietnamese Robusta’s are producing aromas of whisky, chocolate and citrus.

There are also some exciting blends of robusta and arabica beans that combine to highlight the best both have to offer.

3. Flavor

Again, robusta coffee is less valued for its flavor than arabica. But, it’s more bitter flavor with dark and earthy notes are, to some, genuinely enjoyable.

Just as arabica is considered to have the best aromas, so arabica consistently tastes better to most people. Coffee growers and roasters are able to retain and enhance the natural flavors present in arabica coffee beans. This results in coffees with a range of delicious flavors ranging between citrus, mango, berries and even chocolate.

This comparison does give a fully balanced view, as there are coffee producers creating some exciting blends of robusta and arabica coffee. The resulting brews can retain the light and heady arabica aromas and flavors, but with extra depth and fulfilment from the robusta. For some amazing examples of blended robusta and arabica coffees, see my Top 10 blended Coffees list.

4. Caffeine

If you are looking for a caffeine hit, then robusta has to be your first choice. robusta coffee has, on average, about 2.1% caffeine, twice as much caffeine per cup of coffee as arabica which has about 1.2% caffeine.

But what does that mean in the real world? The USFDA has said a 6 ounce of drip brewed robusta coffee will have between 140-200mg of caffeine. While a 6 ounce cup of drip brewed arabica coffee contains between 15-130 mg of caffeine.

If you absolutely without fail need a really strong cup of joe to get you going in the morning then you need to try the coffees on my list of Highest Caffeine Level Coffees guaranteed to kick-start your day.

Please Note: Medical research has found we should have no more than a maximum of 400 milligrams of caffeine a day.

So to avoid the unpleasant side-effects of too much caffeine (including: headaches, restlessness, poor concentration and difficulty sleeping) you should limit yourself to 4 cups of coffee a day.

But remember: there is caffeine in lots of things we eat and drink, such as: energy drinks, fizzy drinks, tea and even chocolate has caffeine.

5. Price of robusta vs arabica coffee beans

At the time of writing the wholesale price for green arabica beans is $2.68 a pound, while green robusta beans are $1.13 a pound, less than half the price of arabica..

These prices have been rising since the beginning of 2021 in response to the continuing slowdown of world trade arising from the impact, and consequences, of the Covid pandemic.

6. Crema

Crema is the brown creamy layer that forms that essential topping of a great espresso. Robusta coffee gives a thicker creamier crema. So the best espresso brands always contain a blend of arabica and robusta coffee beans.

7. Environmental conditions to grow robusta coffee

Robusta coffee plants are able to grow and produce large crops in lower altitudes and warmer climates than arabica plants.  As it needs plenty of heat and water, like arabica plants, almost all robusta coffee is grown near the equator, within the limits northern and southern limits of the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

The largest growing regions for robusta coffee are: Vietnam, Brazil, Western and Central Africa, and parts of Asia.

8. Robusta vs Arabica and their Susceptibility to Pests and Diseases

There are a range of pests and diseases that detrimentally affect coffee- by either destroying or reducing the crop. The two major problems are caused by the coffee borer beetle, and coffee leaf rust.

The coffee berry borer beetle, as its name suggests, bores holes into developing coffee berries, only emerging to complete its life cycle. Infested berries are not fit to enter the food-chain.

The borer beetle was thought to be less able to tolerate the higher caffeine levels in robusta coffee, but that theory had been discredited by research carried out at the California based Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Arabica coffee plants are very much more susceptible to coffee leaf rust. Coffee rust is caused by Hemileia vastatrix fungus, which attacks the leaves and so reduces the plants ability to grow and produce a viable crop.

9. Amount of robusta vs arabica coffee grown world-wide

Around 70% of coffee grown worldwide is arabica, with the remaining 30% being almost entirely made up of robusta coffee.

10. Sugar content

Coffee is most reliably measured in green coffee beans. Green coffee beans are simply coffee beans that have not been roasted.

Studies have shown robusta beans contain, depending on source, between 0.9% to 4.85% sugar. This is much less than arabica beans which hold between 6.25 to 8.45% sugar.

10.1 So why measure sugar content in unroasted beans?

Well, the roasting process changes the nature of the natural sugars within the bean. So different roasting techniques can change the amount of sugurs remaining in the roasted bean.

Also, some robusta coffee beans produce such bitter flavor, they are roasted with some extra sugar added. In Vietnam it has long been the custom to add sugar when roasting the green beans.

That said, there are now some very exciting Vietnamese robusta coffees (and blends of robusta with arabica) making it into our lives without the need to roast the beans with added sugar.

11. Acidity

You may not be surprised to learn robusta coffee beans contain more acid (7 – 11%) than arabica beans (6 7%).

A level of acidity within coffee is not necessarily a bad thing. There are a number of different acids present in green (pre-roasted) coffee beans. The roasting process helps by burning off unhelpful acids whilst retaining and enhancing the beneficial acids.

So a well-balanced coffee will not taste sharp or sour, like drinking pure lemon juice, but may a have a range of flavors giving you a fruit-filled and refreshing flavor.

12. Time from seed to productive plant

Robusta plants mature fast, producing crops within two years of planting.

From planting an arabica coffee bean to a fully productive coffee plant takes about 3-4 years of care and cultivation.

13. Bean size and shape

Robusta beans are smaller and rounder in shape, whilst arabica beans are larger and more oval in shape.

14. Crop size of arabica vs robusta

Robusta plants produce between 2,300 – 4,000kg, compared to more coffee beans than arabica plants which average between 1,500 – 2,500kg of dry beans to every hectare.

The amount of beans actually produced by either robusta or arabica varieties is dependent on a number of factors, including: climate, soil conditions, cultivation skills of the farmer, the use of fertilizers, and even the age of the plants. So, younger, developing, plants produce smaller crops. Whilst older coffee trees tend to gradually produce less fruit as they age.

15. Same species, different varieties.

It was long thought that arabica and robusta coffee plants were only distantly related. However, scientists have sequenced the generic structures and discovered that robusta is actually an ancestor of arabica coffee.

Unlike arabica plants, robusta plants are not self-fertile, which means you need two plants to ensure pollination and so produce a crop of berries. In turn, this means it is more likely to naturally create hybrids from the two parent plants.

So somewhere along the line, the genetic mutations from cross pollinating robusta tress gave rise to the first arabica plants.

16. Lipid Content

Lipid (oil) content in coffee impacts on its taste and texture. Robusta coffees generally hold between 7 – 10% lipids, with arabica beans having higher 15 – 17% oil content.

But that does not mean your coffee will be oily to drink, especially since the brewing method greatly impacts the lipid levels in the final cup. Paper filters remove almost all lipids. Studies have found after filtering with a paper filter the brewed coffee contains as little as 7mg lipids per 150 ml of coffee, whilst espresso and unfiltered brewed coffees retained up to 160 mg of lipids per 150 ml of coffee.

17. Arabica and robusta blends

First the bad news

You need to know there are a lot of coffee bean blends that use inferior robusta beans to bulk-up the weight. I’m sure you have experienced that excitement turn to disappointment on trying a new brand of coffee that just seems lacking. Maybe the aroma is a bit flat, missing those floral and citrus notes? Or, perhaps the flavor seems really off? Like as not you have just tried a less well crafted blend of arabica and robusta beans put together on price rather than quality.

Now the good news

Many consider Italian espresso the highest form of the art. Just entering an Italian coffee shop, or even a local café, you are hit by the heady aroma that hangs in the air. Unmistakeably, you have found a new home. Then you order an espresso (standing at the counter as Italians do. When the coffee arrives you first notice Its amazing crema. How do they make it so thick and creamy. Then you take that first exploratory sip. Wow. Just wow.

So what is so special about an Italian espresso? In 3 words: robusta-arabica-blend. Take the finest arabica beans and expertly blend with high quality, complementary, robusta beans and you produce something greater than te sum of the parts.

Combine the light fragrant aromas of arabica, with the punchy weight of a strong robusta and you have a genuine coffee experience.

Conclusion

So is there truly a battle of Robusta vs arabica? or should we think more in terms of looking for the qualities each bring to the coffee experience?

Arabica holds many advantages over robusta. its more accessible, having pleasing aromas and a lightness of flavor. However, robusta has its own devotees. It has more caffeine, brings welcome bitterness to add flavor and high quality Robusta’s have a warm chocolaty aroma. Best of all, robusta creates a much richer crema.

But, for many the day starts with a faster pace and then a jar of instant coffee is the quickest solution. Most instant coffee (the largest proportion of world coffee consumption is instant coffee) is made from robusta. It is also cheaper to buy. But – perhaps its biggest allure – it has much higher levels of caffeine. So If you are looking for a strong coffee to kickstart your day then robusta is the first choice.

Just don’t forget to enjoy each for what they bring to the party.