The Difference Between Arabica and Robusta Coffee Beans - Characteristics of Robusta Coffee Beans

The Three Major Coffee Species

Coffee beans today can be roughly divided into three original species: Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica. There are now over one hundred coffee varieties, and most cultivated ones belong to these three species systems, along with several hybrids. Depending on variety, origin, climate, altitude, and latitude, each carries its own unique character.

Arabica

Arabica accounts for 60-70% of global coffee production. Its unit price is relatively high, and it offers a smoother flavor, a milder taste, and a richer aroma, which is why it's the more popular choice among the general public. It also contains less caffeine.

Robusta

Robusta accounts for about 20% of world production. The plant resists pests and disease strongly, tolerates harsh environments, and is relatively easy and inexpensive to cultivate. Its taste, however, is bitter and harsh with heavy off-flavors, and it carries more caffeine.

Liberica

Liberica is produced in only a few countries and is mainly consumed locally in those regions.

Coffee Cherry Processing

Coffee trees grow fruit in order to reproduce and continue their line. The fruit is bright red and, because it resembles a cherry, is also called a "coffee cherry." "Processing" the cherries into green coffee means removing the cherry's five layers - the outer skin (exocarp), pulp, pectin layer, inner skin (parchment layer, or seed coat), and silver skin - to finally obtain the coffee bean (the seed).

Physical Characteristics of Coffee Beans

Arabica beans are smaller, with a long oval front. The center crack is narrow and curved into an S-shape, and the back of the bean has a fairly complete arc. Robusta beans are larger, with a front that tends toward round, and a center crack that forms a straight line.

Cultivation and Uses

In cultivation, Robusta coffee trees are heat tolerant, cold resistant, drought tolerant, moisture resistant, strongly resistant to pests and disease, and highly adaptable. They grow very well on flat land. Unfortunately, the beans they produce lack aroma, are strongly bitter (due to high caffeine), and have insufficient acidity, so they are mainly used for instant coffee, canned coffee, or three-in-one instant coffee. In Italy, many coffee shops add a suitable proportion of Robusta beans when making espresso to enhance mouthfeel - intensity, robustness, and the like.

How to Distinguish Arabica from Robusta

Arabica beans are long-oval and flat, with an S-shaped center line.

Robusta beans are oval, spherical, or nearly spherical, with a straight center line.

FrontStreet Coffee's Commercial Blend

In FrontStreet Coffee's Commercial Blend you'll find Robusta. With the addition of 10% Robusta, the mouthfeel becomes fuller and richer.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Let's start with the two Ethiopian pillars of specialty Arabica. FrontStreet Ethiopia Huakui is the natural-processed representative: the beans come from mixed local heirloom trees, so sizes vary, and the classic natural method brings out cream strawberry, mango, jackfruit, citrus, and blueberry over a distinctly ripe, tropical Sidamo profile. FrontStreet Yirgacheffe Guodingding is the washed counterpart - the Guodingding cooperative's beans sit at Ethiopia's top G1 grade and, with classic washing, show elegant white florals, citrus, orange, and green tea.

For a bean whose balance is almost impossible to match, try FrontStreet Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1. Its variety is Typica, one of Arabica's archetypes, and Blue Mountain Typica has evolved over more than 200 years for better disease resistance - though it reveals its sweet, quiet fragrance only within Jamaica. The cup is gentle, smooth, and full of pure, round aroma.

If you want Arabica at its most dramatic, FrontStreet Panama Red Label Gesha delivers intoxicating florals, citrus, peach, and complex fruit acidity with a creamy texture and an oolong-tea sweetness in the finish - more like an elegant fruit tea than coffee. And for two more signatures of the species, FrontStreet Brazil Queen Estate Yellow Bourbon offers cream, peanut, toasted bread, and sugarcane in a rich, clean, sweet cup, while FrontStreet Colombia Sidra layers florals, tropical fruit, grape, and passion fruit with a juice-like body after medium-light roasting.