Did You Know? Distinguishing Arabica and Robusta Coffee Cannot Be Based Solely on Bean Center Lines and Shape

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Coffee Bean Varieties: Arabica vs Robusta

Coffee beans are seeds from plants of the Rubiaceae Family. Under the Coffea Genus, there are at least 25 major varieties, with the two most important being Coffea arabica (Arabica coffee) and Coffea canephora (Robusta coffee), also known as "Robusta Coffee." Arabica coffee beans account for 70% of global production, while Robusta coffee beans account for about 30%. Arabica coffee has 44 chromosomes, while Robusta coffee has 22 chromosomes, making it impossible for Arabica and Robusta coffee to cross-pollinate as crops.

Environmental Factors and Market Impact

Coffee trees are affected by regional climate, altitude, soil quality, and other factors that influence the quality and flavor of coffee beans, similar to other agricultural products such as tea and wine. Therefore, even from the same country, different regions produce different flavors, and naturally, prices vary accordingly. Coffee trees are evergreen plants cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. The most suitable growing conditions include moderate rainfall and good soil drainage, which is why they are often planted on sloping land rich in volcanic ash (high in organic matter). This is also why high-quality Arabica coffee beans are mostly harvested by hand and then transported down mountains by horses or mules.

Climate has a significant impact on coffee prices. In 1994, Brazil, the world's largest coffee-producing country, suffered two severe frosts, causing coffee bean prices to skyrocket from around $1,000 per ton to approximately $2,400. This also attracted coffee merchants to Vietnam to rush into coffee cultivation. However, under unrestrained large-scale planting, coffee bean prices collapsed, falling to only $500-600 per ton in 2001 and 2002. In 2002, approximately one million farmers engaged in coffee-related work in Central and South America became unemployed, and countless families fell into hardship. (Please refer to "Ethics in your Coffee Cup")

Physical Characteristics

Arabica coffee beans are smaller in size, with a long elliptical shape on the front, narrow and zigzagging S-shaped cracks in the middle, and a relatively complete arc on the back of the bean. Robusta coffee beans are larger in size, with a more rounded front, and straight cracks in the middle. (The VivOlé Arabica coffee beans in the following image are Maragogype elephant beans, which are of higher grade and also larger in size)

Cultivation and Usage Differences

In terms of cultivation, Robusta coffee trees have characteristics of heat tolerance, cold resistance, drought tolerance, humidity resistance, pest and disease resistance, and strong adaptability. They can grow well in flat areas, but unfortunately, the produced coffee beans lack aroma, have strong bitterness (due to high caffeine content), insufficient acidity, and are therefore mostly used for instant coffee, canned coffee, or instant three-in-one coffee. In Italy, many coffee shops add an appropriate proportion of Robusta coffee beans when making espresso to enhance the "mouthfeel" (such as intensity, boldness, etc.).

Key Differences Between Arabica and Robusta

Many people know that "Arabica coffee" is famous, but don't know the difference between it and "Robusta coffee," which is commonly used in canned beverages. The differences are summarized as follows:

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Important Notice :

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