Arabica or Robusta?
The two most popular coffees in the world!
Where does Arabica coffee come from and what is it like? Key facts
Arabica was probably the first type of coffee bean that people began to consume. And its history begins around 1000 BC. in modern Ethiopia. The first tribes to drink coffee crushed the beans and mixed them with fat. The name of the Coffee Arabica plant dates back to the 7th century, when beans were transported across the Red Sea from Ethiopia to present-day Yemen and lower Arabia, where the term "arabica" comes from.
The first mentions of coffee made from roasted beans come from Arab scholars who used it for stimulation to prolong working hours - first it gained popularity among the Egyptians and Turks, and then all over the world. Currently, it constitutes as much as 70% of world production.
Arabica takes about seven years to fully mature. It is best cultivated at high altitudes, but it can also be grown at sea level. It copes well with low temperatures, but not with frost. It is characterized by a mild taste and a sweet and light consistency.
Robusta coffee – is it really worse than its competitors?
Robusta is the second most popular coffee in the world and comes from the Caneea Canephora plant, which was initially cultivated in western and central Africa. Robusta is extremely resistant to diseases and pests, grows at high temperatures and needs a lot of water. Depending on the region, it may bloom irregularly, so it matures from six months to about a year. Currently, Vietnam, Brazil and Indonesia are the largest suppliers of this type of coffee.
When roasted correctly, the taste of Robusta is grainy, with notes of oak and bitterness, leaving a peanut aftertaste. However, it is important to buy Robusta from a reliable source, because if roasted incorrectly it tastes rubbery, reminiscent of a burnt car tire. It works best when brewed in the form of espresso, because the foam in espresso is quite thick and allows you to feel the deeper flavor shades of the coffee.
What is the difference between Arabica and Robusta?
The most important differences between Arabica and Robusta are price and taste. Robusta is about 50% cheaper than Arabica, among other things, because much less of it is produced annually than Robusta. However, thanks to the attractive price of robusta, many roasters add it to arabica to improve the stimulating properties of coffee.
The differences in the taste of these species come from the fact that Arabica contains almost 60% more lipids and almost twice the sugar concentration than Robusta. Perhaps this is why the former is considered tastier. Additionally, Arabica has higher acidity, which adds fruity, chocolate and nutty notes. Interestingly, the bitter taste of robusta is caused by the fact that it contains much more caffeine. Caffeine has a bitter taste, and robusta has about 2.7% caffeine content, which is twice as much as Arabica.
Contrary to popular belief, robusta does not always have to be worse in taste. It is simply different, but well roasted can satisfy the taste buds of many gourmets. The highest quality Robusta can taste basically as good as Arabica.
PS if you are looking for your favorite genre, try coffees from all over the world to treat your taste buds to an unforgettable experience and find the one!
