Robusta Coffee Beans and Its Characteristics
Saturday, 11 November 2023 01:39 pm
Robusta coffee beans are one of the two most popular coffee bean species in the world. Robusta beans are often used in espresso blends because they produce a rich crema. They are also less susceptible to disease and pests than Arabica beans, making them a more sustainable crop.
Get to Know with Robusta Coffee Bean
Robusta coffee beans, also known as Coffea canephora, are one of the two main types of coffee beans grown and consumed worldwide, along with Arabica beans. They are known for their bold flavor, earthy aroma, and high caffeine content.
Originated in Central and West Africa, Robusta coffee with its wild forms is found in the understory of humid evergreen forests. Its name, "Robusta," aptly reflects its robust nature, as it is more resistant to diseases and pests. Robusta coffee plants can thrive in lower altitudes and hotter climates, making them more adaptable to various growing conditions. In other words, it is a hardier plant than Arabica coffee, and it can grow at lower altitudes. Robusta beans are also more resistant to disease and pests.
How Robusta Coffee Bean is Grown?
Originally, Robusta coffee is grown from humid lowland forests in tropical areas of Africa, an area with a wide natural geographic distribution from Guinea to Uganda and Angola. It grows in numerous forms and ecotypes. It is also grown in a variety of countries around the world, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, and Uganda. Robusta coffee plants are typically grown at lower altitudes than Arabica plants, and they can tolerate more heat and humidity. Robusta beans are harvested by hand, and they are then processed and roasted.
The Characteristics of Robusta Coffee Beans
Robusta coffee beans are typically roasted to a darker degree than Arabica beans, resulting in a richer flavour and aroma, and it also makes them more resistant to bitterness. They are characterised by their earthy, woody, and nutty notes, often with a hint of bitterness. Compared to Arabica beans, which are known for their sweet, fruity, and floral flavours, Robusta beans provide a more intense and robust coffee experience. Moreover, Robusta beans can be roasted to a variety of roast levels, from light to dark.
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When it comes to taste, coffee with robusta beans is also earthy and has a bitter flavour. It is often known for having woody and earthy notes in its flavour profile. The aftertaste is similar to the taste of peanuts. The presence and strengths of the flavours depends on the quality of the bean as well as how they are roasted and stored. Robusta coffee beans also have more caffeine than arabica beans as well as less sugar. This contributes to the stronger flavour.
Uses of Robusta Coffee Beans
Robusta coffee beans are used in a variety of coffee drinks, including espresso, cappuccino, and latte. Due to the bitter and strong flavour of robusta coffee, this makes robusta coffee a suitable coffee base. In addition to being used as espresso, robusta coffee is also often the base for various milk coffee dishes, such as Cappuccino, Latte, Macchiato, and various other coffee dishes. They are also used in instant coffee and coffee blends. Robusta beans are a popular choice for people who want a strong, bold cup of coffee.
Robusta coffee is also considered suitable as a base for milk coffee dishes because it has a low sugar level that makes it suitable to be added or mixed with other sugar content, such as brown sugar, white sugar, or even palm sugar.
Conclusions
Overall, Robusta coffee beans offer a unique and robust coffee experience, characterised by their bold flavor, high caffeine content, and earthy aroma. They play a significant role in the global coffee industry, particularly in espresso blends and instant coffee products. Their sustainability and adaptability make them a valuable crop for coffee producers worldwide.
As one of the organisations engaged in the world of coffee, Senjani also provides the best robusta coffee beans from South Sulawesi. Our Robusta is cultivated in several places in South Sulawesi which makes the production abundant with production capacity minimum 12.000 T/ year. For more info, contact us here.