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What Does 100% Arabica Coffee Beans Mean? Why Do Chain Brands Advertise 100% Arabica?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Whether online or offline, we can all see slogans like "Only using 100% Arabica coffee beans" on the signs of certain brands or coffee shops. For most friends who are not deeply involved in coffee, this is an incomprehensible existence! Because for most people, coffee is just a cup of

Whether online or offline, we often see signs on brands or coffee shops declaring "Made with 100% Arabica coffee beans." For most coffee enthusiasts who aren't deeply knowledgeable about coffee, this statement can be quite confusing! To many people, coffee is simply a bitter beverage or a drink that provides an energy boost. So, what exactly does this slogan mean? Let FrontStreet Coffee break it down for you.

To understand the meaning of this slogan, we first need to learn what "Arabica" actually is!

What is Arabica?

In the 18th century, the renowned Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus established the binomial nomenclature system for naming plants and animals and published "Species Plantarum." In this book, Linnaeus systematically classified and named plants worldwide, including coffee species. Today, more than 130 coffee-related species have been discovered, but only two have significant commercial value, with Arabica being one of them!

"Arabica" is a broad category that encompasses numerous sub-varieties. For example, well-known varieties like Gesha, Typica, and Bourbon are all members of the Arabica family. These varieties possess excellent flavor genes that, after processing and roasting, can produce delicious and enjoyable coffee. Because of this, Arabica is widely cultivated. Currently, 70-80% of the world's total coffee production is Arabica, thanks to its high commercial value!

But many friends might wonder at this point: if Arabica represents quality, why not simply emphasize Arabica? Why add the "100%"?

Introducing Robusta

Well, this brings us to another commercially valuable coffee species—Robusta!

What is "Robusta"?

Robusta is a variety within the Canephora category. Technically, Canephora should be the counterpart to Arabica. However, among Canephora varieties, only Robusta has commercial value. Over time, Robusta has become recognized as the category counterpart to Arabica.

However, Robusta's flavor profile isn't as exceptional as Arabica's. Compared to the floral and fruity aromas of Arabica, Robusta coffee beans are more associated with intense bitterness and heavier flavors like wood and barley tea. The reasons people choose Robusta are quite simple: it's easy to grow and has high yields!

Although Arabica coffee beans offer excellent flavor, they have extremely demanding cultivation requirements. Factors such as altitude, sunlight duration, and rainfall must meet strict standards. Combined with their naturally low-yielding genetics, these requirements result in a longer growth cycle, making Arabica coffee beans generally more expensive. In comparison, Robusta is much simpler to cultivate—it has less demanding environmental requirements, produces higher yields than Arabica, and contains more caffeine. These characteristics make Robusta significantly more affordable than Arabica.

Therefore, since the first wave of coffee, Robusta has been widely used as the primary ingredient in instant and blended coffee beans.

The Evolution of Coffee Quality Standards

Robusta was most widely used during the 20th century, when most coffee shops used it as the main component in their blends due to its strong flavor and affordability. However, the resulting coffee extracted was often unbearably bitter. When the second wave of coffee began, people started paying more attention to coffee bean quality, gradually removing Robusta beans from freshly ground coffee preparations. To emphasize the high quality of their beans, slogans like "100% Arabica coffee beans" emerged.

However, it's important to understand that Robusta isn't inherently synonymous with poor quality—it's often the cultivation environment and improper usage that result in undesirable flavors. Today, some regions grow Robusta using cultivation methods similar to those for Arabica, producing Robusta beans with excellent flavor profiles.

Modern Applications of Robusta

Additionally, the presence of Robusta in blends can result in espresso with richer golden crema. Milk-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos can therefore achieve better latte art patterns. Consequently, many companies have developed espresso blends with small amounts of Robusta, providing coffee shops with excellent options!

Finally, FrontStreet Coffee wants to share an important piece of wisdom, as many people are often misled by the "100% Arabica coffee beans" slogan: although most delicious coffee on the market is made from Arabica beans, this doesn't mean all Arabica is good coffee!