Robusta and Arabica beans
Arabica coffee and Robusta coffee are the two largest coffee varieties in the world today and have completely different characteristics.
Arabica coffee has a caffeine content of 1-2%. Despite the low caffeine content, this coffee variety has a more aromatic flavor than Robusta. Arabica is a plant with high economic value among coffees. They account for 75% of the world’s coffee production. However, in Vietnam, Robusta is the most popular type of coffee.
Robusta has the scientific name Coffea Canephora or Coffea Robusta. Robusta has a high caffeine content of 2 – 4%, so it has a milder taste than Arabica coffee beans. Robusta is the second largest coffee variety in the world. In Vietnam, Robusta accounts for 90% of the country’s total production.
The difference between Arabica and Robusta coffee:
Conditions for growing Arabica and Robusta beans
Arabica is a coffee variety suitable for highland areas from 900m above sea level, rainfall from 1200-2200mm, temperature not too high, from 15-24 degrees Celsius. In contrast, Robusta can live well in altitude from 0 to 900m above sea level. Annual rainfall is about 2200 – 3000 mm and the temperature is from 18 – 36 degrees Celsius.
Difference in shape of Arabica and Robusta beans
Arabica beans are long, Robusta beans are short and often smaller
Difference in aroma and taste
Arabica coffee after entering your mouth, you will immediately feel the characteristic sour taste, after a few seconds there will be a slight bitterness, not too harsh. When the coffee drifts into the mouth, the aftertaste will have a very passionate and seductive aroma.
Robusta coffee does not show the same aroma as Arabica. On the contrary, after putting it in our mouth, we will immediately feel a very strong bitter taste. However, for some taste experts, they can feel the aroma of fruit somewhere in the throat.
Color after roasting
In fact, coffees with a lot of caffeine after roasting will have a lighter color. This is also a way to distinguish the two coffee varieties we are talking about. Arabica, if roasted in the right amount, will be quite dark in color, with a very beautiful shine. Meanwhile, Robusta will be slightly pale and slightly yellow.