10 Differences Between Arabica Beans and Robusta Coffee Beans

“Coffee date, anyone?” Mmmh! Ask this question in a room full of people and wait to see several hands shoot up to take the offer.

Since the 15th century, coffee has grown to be one of the primary beverages most people in the world enjoy.

Its consumption varies, though. People don’t stick to one form of coffee across the world. For instance, some people like the traditionally brew coffee, others like to eat it in cakes, and others prefer using refined instant coffee to get their daily caffeine doses.

Let’s see, who doesn’t love the smell of coffee in the morning? There’s nothing as beautiful as waking up to the ashy and warm aroma of coffee. Somehow, it assures you of the new day. It gives you hope for a promotion in your new, otherwise boring job. It has a way of setting your mood and fine-tuning your mind for what’s ahead.

But did you know that coffee is not just coffee? Don’t get confused. I mean, do you know there are several breeds of your favorite beverage? There are four. But for this text, we are going to focus on the two common types. Arabica and Robusta coffee types. 

Last update on 2023-09-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Arabica Coffee Beans

Coffea arabica plant produces beans that, once processed, becomes the Arabica beans. With its roots tied to Ethiopia, this plant only does best in the mountain regions. It is the most common coffee in the market and the most known worldwide.

Arabs were the first to use it as a beverage. They thought it escalated their productivity at work. This breed does well in averagely low climates and is best with approximately 1.0 to 1.5 meters of rain contact.

From the Ethiopian highlands, the coffee was first transported to Arabia. Hence its name, the Arabica coffee. Before this, the Oromo people in Ethiopia used it as a stimulant. They could make a paste out of it, mix with fat, and eat it.

The Taste of Arabica Coffee

Over time, the beans have undergone sizable revolutions. From when the Oromo pounded and ate it with fat, to when Arabs first brewed a beverage out of it. Currently, there are various varieties of coffee to pick from in the aisles of your favorite store.

The taste of coffee highly depends on how well the processing is. Different stages of processing come with distinct tastes. But the normal taste should be a balance of three key ingredients. Sweetness, bitterness, and sourness. What a combination. Overall, it should have that earthy taste that prompts you to go for another sip.

For the difference in taste, it is essential to note that this comes depending on the stage the beans are at. For example, green raw beans, in most cases, are so bitter to eat. Partially roasted beans have some dull aroma and taste. Fully roasted ones, on the other hand, have the premium taste of the coffee. Yes, that taste that makes your eyes light up as you read this. 

Other factors affecting coffee taste are how long it has stayed and other different flavors added to it. Storing coffee for long makes it stale. This explains the difference in flavors as you near to clear the tin of coffee you bought three months ago.

Best Arabica Coffee in the Markets Today

From bitter to sweet. 

From strawberry to vanilla flavors.

From freshly ground to instant.

The coffee market is confusingly saturated. You may end up taking the wrong sachet home if you are lousy. But don’t worry. Below is a list of five of the best Arabica coffee beans in the markets that you must try brewing.

Costa Rican Poas Tierra Volcanica Coffee

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This is the best Costa Rican coffee brand in the market. It has three different flavors from different roasts. It is a single-origin coffee with three-ply aluminum packing to ensure it keeps its original taste.

Specifications 

Brand:   Cafe Britt 

Roast level: medium roast

Flavors:  Fresh soil, lemon, floral

Caffeine content:  uncalculated but caffeinated

Amazon Fresh Colombia Whole Bean Coffee

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This is Amazon’s best-selling coffee. It is freshly roasted and packed by specialized experts. This ensures great flavor, aroma, and color. The coffee is from Colombia but is roasted and packaged by Amazon. It is of medium roast, meaning the acidity levels are quite tolerable.

Specifications

Brand:   Amazon fresh

Roast level: medium roast

Flavors: Colombia coffee beans

Caffeine content:  caffeinated

Starbucks Blonde Roast Whole Bean Coffee

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This is a 100% Arabica blend of coffee beans that come in 6 packs, each containing 12oz of coffee beans. It has a distinct subtle coffee flavor derived from its light roast. It comes with full preparation instructions that allow making your coffee in a way that keeps its natural flavors.

It is a fairly priced coffee, offering actual value for money. You can still enjoy your coffee and maintain your budget. The roast is light but still gives you the chance to savor all the flavors. The light roast also gives it a relatively blonde look.

Specifications

Brand:   Starbucks

Roast level: light roast

Flavors: veranda

Caffeine content:  caffeinated

Kirkland Signature Organic Whole Bean Blend

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Are you looking for a wide range of roasts in a single brand? Well, look no further. Kirkland has a signature blend of all the roasts, from light to dark. Their beans are 100% organic and contain a nutty flavor.

The dark roast is smooth and with no fat residues. This makes it perfect for any home espresso machine. They come in a big bag which ensures you have some java to run you a couple of days or weeks, depending on your consumption rates.

Specifications

Brand:   KIRKLAND SIGNATURE

Roast level: light to dark roast

Flavors: arabica

Caffeine content: caffeinated

Starbucks Decaf Ground Coffee

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With this package, you get to enjoy deep-roasted cocoa flavors while still avoiding caffeine. Starbucks has a reputation for selecting the best coffee from over 20 coffee-producing countries. So, trust in their ability to produce the best coffee.

The decaf is from beans that have over 95% of their caffeine removed. This does not alter the taste. Plus, the dark roast gives the coffee its natural dark brown color.

This package comes with already ground beans, making work easier in preparation. As always, Starbucks also gives you a quick recipe for making your coffee.

Specifications

Brand: Starbucks

Roast level: dark roast

Flavors: arabica

Caffeine content: decaffeinated

Robusta Coffee Beans

Coffea canephora, as we otherwise know it, is a complete opposite of the Arabica coffee. Fine, they share the coffee name, but this one is not as gentle as Arabica beans. Robusta, as the name suggests, is one robust breed. Generally, this can survive in versatile climates. It has been around since the 19th century when the French colonists introduced it.

It grows in most parts of sub-Saharan and Africa. It contains high levels of caffeine compared to the arabica species. These high caffeine levels make the coffee plant more self-sufficient in wading off pets that attack it. This gives it higher survival rates than all its counterparts.

Its numerous properties make it a favorite crop among coffee farmers. They can get high yields from multiple harvests. Most coffees in the market are from Robusta beans.

The Taste of Robusta Coffee

Are you on a ride to confuse your taste buds? Not bad to experiment, right? Well, robusta coffee has a blend of earth, wood, tobacco, chocolate, and ash combined.

This breed produces high pyrazine contents, which makes the coffee rather bitter. The taste? Asked to describe it exactly, many will say it is a blend of burnt and bitter, especially if we focus on the dark roasted beans. Because of this unique taste, it is not a favorite type of coffee for many people. 

It has a variety of medicinal values, too. For example, we can use it as an antidiuretic, stimulant, and in treating some kind of asthma.

Best Robusta Coffee in the Markets Today

With the flavors of this breed relating closely to bitter herbs, not so many stores retail them in their pure forms. Amazon, for example, has just one pure robusta beans coffee in their stock. Most Robusta coffee beans that this giant e-store retails are blends of Robusta and Arabica coffee beans.

However, there are some stores in the UK, for instance, that stock 100% robusta coffee beans. From there, I have come up with a list of the five best Robusta coffees. Tag along.

Bach Vietnamese Coffee, Whole Bean (Robusta 2-pack)

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From coffee beans originating from Vietnamese, this is one of the best yet mild Robusta coffee in the markets. It has a chocolate and earthy flavor crafted from Italian roasting styles.

It is creamy, hence an excellent blend for making espresso. It is also a low acid coffee, so can be enjoyed by people who are wary of their acid levels. It comes packed in 250mg sachets.

Specifications

Brand: Bach

Roast level: dark roast

Flavors: Robusta 100% with caramel and chocolate tastes.

Caffeine content: caffeinated

 Click to see more pure robusta coffee beans in various stores across the globe.

Lavazza Qualita Rossa

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

With its presentation in a bright package, this is a perfect blend of medium roasted Arabica and Robusta beans in the ratio of 7:3, respectively. The coffee beans come from Brazil and Africa.

Has a delicious aroma and feel on the palate. It also contains high energy levels from the whole beans used to make it.

Specifications

Brand: Lavazza

Roast level: medium roast

Flavors: Qualita Rossa

Composition:  7:3 blend Arabica and Robusta coffee beans

Caffeine content: caffeinated

Carraro Globo Rosso

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If you are looking for a premium blend of both coffee beans species that bends toward Robusta, this is it. It has up to 70% Robusta beans content against just 30% of Arabica beans.

This coffee has a high cream content, and comes in a 1kg packet, offering great value for money. That is enough coffee to push you through a couple of weeks. It is perfectly blended to give you a taste of both flavors and keep a uniform color throughout.

Specifications

Brand: Carraro Globo

Roast level: medium roast

Flavors: 

Composition:  3:7 blend Arabica and Robusta coffee beans

Caffeine content: caffeinated

Zara Bean Coffee

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This is Amazon’s stock of pure Robusta coffee. It is whole grounded and processed. To ease work further, it has been pre-packed into filter sachets. All you need is just pass warm or cold water over the filter and your coffee is ready.

It contains original flavors from Vietnam and is free of additives. It has a dominant chocolate flavor and comes in a pack containing 10 sachets of single-use coffee filters.

Specifications

Brand: VietsWay

Roast level: dark roast

Flavors: chocolaty

Composition:  100% Robusta

Caffeine content: caffeinated

So, What Sets The Two Coffee Beans Apart?

Many consumers will gulp what’s in their cups, oblivious of what they are swallowing down their system. Be it products of Robusta or Arabica beans, they won’t take interest as long as they get their daily caffeine dose.

From production, appearance,  and caffeine contents to retailing, these are two very distinct varieties.  Well, wake up and smell the coffee.

1. Production

Arabica coffee beans are cultivated in the highlands. They are the first breed of coffee ever discovered. There are over ten subtypes of the Arabica coffee. Their annual yield is low, and this plant is so delicate. It needs a lot of tenderness, love, and care to survive. Any threat of a harsh condition, the farmers’ investment sinks to the soil.

Robusta coffee grows in harsh conditions. It doesn’t need a lot of shepherding, as it can take care of itself pretty well. It has multiple annual harvests, giving farmers high returns from their investments. 

2. Color and shape

Arabica beans are more oval and light brown. It is also slightly bigger. They tend to burst open when dry.

Robusta coffee beans are much smaller, spherical, and have a pinkish to maroon color when dry.

3. Popularity and preference

Here is where the irony is.

Ethiopian Arabica coffee beans are more popular and retail in most stores. Most coffee shops stock this brand or a blend of both.

Robusta coffee beans have a wide production, but with limited popularity. Few people stock it in its pure form. Probably it could be because of its bitter properties. Espresso, cafe latte, and cappuccino shops retail it for its amazing cream making qualities.

4. Caffeine and Acid Contents

Arabica coffee produces less pyrazine during growth. These low productions make the coffee less caffeinated. Contains less than 2% of caffeine. For an instant caffeine rush, one should consume it in larger quantities. This makes it likely to be addictive. It has very low acidic levels, even upon dark roasting, a property that makes it fit for consumption by almost anybody.

Robusta coffee has quite low pH values. The oil coating on their exterior makes them so acidic to be consumed with people who have gastric malfunctions. Each bean has almost close to 3% of caffeine.  They produce high pyrazine that gives the beans their characteristic dark appearance and helps in their survival.

5. Sugar Content and Taste

Taste is a significant aspect of eating anything. Even when drinking coffee, your gustatory functions must be considered.

Arabica coffee is more tolerable to the taste buds because it has higher sugar content. Approximately 9%. This gives the consumer a perfect blend of bitter-sweet taste.

Robusta coffee beans are far much bitter than they are sweet. They are highly acidic and bitter. They contain low sugar content. Roughly 3 to 6%. Unless you come from a community with strong coffee traditions, you have to add sugar to enjoy your cup.

6. Olfactory Properties

Arabica coffee beans have a strong burnt nutty smell. This is quite aromatic and has phantosmia effects.

Robusta beans, on the other hand, smell like overly ripe berries. They don’t have the characteristic strong coffee smell.

7. Variety Range

The arabica coffee beans exist in over 20 exotic species.  Of these varieties, Typica is the original coffee since they discovered it first. The rest were results of different cross-plantings.

Robusta beans have only two subgroups. Bourbon is the main subspecies, and it contains more Arabica coffee like features, for example, powerful aromas.

8. Market Prices

Because of its delicate nature and the tremendous expense during production, arabica coffee retails higher.

Robusta can hardly wither even in the extreme of temperatures, making production easier. This gives it a rather lower market value since not much goes to production and processing.

9. Brewing 

Arabica coffee has an amazing taste with mixed flavor, but it is limited in blending perfectly with forms like espressos and cappuccino. 

Robusta creams well and has a more oily feel, which makes it a perfect choice for a wide variety of caffeine drinks. These properties allow it to work in iced coffee as well.

10. Lipid Contents

Despite the Robusta coffee being creamy and having a shinier look, the Arabica beans contain more fats, almost 60%.

Coffee contains caffeine which may be detrimental to your health if over-consumed. There are some common effects of caffeine in your body. Always limit the intake and take caution if you have hyperacidity disorders. Remember, the high acid contents in coffee can accelerate your symptoms.

What is your perfect choice of coffee? How do you like your coffee prepared? Do you have any special coffee recipes? Please let us know.