Robusta coffee beans are recommended for their robust flavor and high caffeine content. Compared to Arabica beans, they are also cheaper, making them appealing to budget-conscious coffee lovers.
Imagine waking up to a cup of coffee that will satisfy your taste buds and awaken the spirit within you. Robusta coffee beans, a variant steadily finding its way into people’s coffee choices, promise that. Robusta coffee is produced from the Coffea canephora plant and constitutes approximately forty percent of the global coffee output.
It is popular due to its intense and nutty notes coupled with high levels of caffeine—about double the levels found in Arabica beans. This increased caffeine level produces a more potent-flavored espresso and a better crema. Hence, these popular beans are typically used for espresso blends.
Despite their high price, robusta beans maintain quality, providing unique profiles that coffee lovers will appreciate. They are also more resistant to pests and diseases and are therefore more sustainable, which is why they are popular in the global market. Let’s find out more about robusta coffee beans!
What Are Robusta Coffee Beans?
Robusta coffee beans are produced from Coffea canephora, which originates from Sub-Saharan Africa. This resistant genus within the Rubiaceae family grows well in regions of low altitude and high temperatures. It is commonly grown in Africa and Southern Asia.
Robusta is known to be larger, oval-shaped, and have a straight central crease. Interestingly, Robusta beans usually have around 2. 2-2. 7% caffeine in comparison to Arabica, which has 1%. 2-1. 5%. This high caffeine content gives it that unique, bitter taste. These are primarily applied to espresso beans and immediate-sort coffees owing to the prevalent creation of crema and synergy of aroma.
Arabica is the most popular coffee; however, there are fans of Robusta, and the two mixes are widely used. For instance, Lavazza Crema e Gusto contains 70% Robusta and 30% Arabica. While many coffee lovers prefer Arabica, others swear by Robusta, and it’s common to find a blend of both, such as Lavazza Crema e Gusto, which is 70% Robusta and 30% Arabica.
Where does Robusta Coffee Come From?
Robusta coffee was first grown in the central and western parts of Africa, majorly in the Congo, towards the end of the nineteenth century. This discovery helped to change how coffee was produced, making it possible to grow coffee in the lowlands. Initially, the name Robusta was chosen because this sort is powerful, it is not sensitive to diseases, and it has high production ability. Thus, Robusta plantations in colonial territories started around the early part of the twentieth century. The Second World War disrupted its expansion, but peasants commenced cultivation in the post-independent period, especially in Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire.
Towards this end, today’s consumers find that Robusta coffee is not exclusively in Africa. It currently operates in virtually all sub-Saharan countries, as well as in Southeast Asia and South America. Namely, Vietnam has become one of the leading producers and has seriously impacted global production.
Other producers are Brazil, Indonesia, India, and Uganda. Robusta coffee plants grow in hot climates, with temperatures over 30c, and are planted in lowlands with sea levels up to 600m. Due to its hardiness and yield, it accounts for almost 40% of global coffee production, making it the second most popular coffee bean after Arabica.
Flavour and Taste Profile of Robusta Coffee Beans
Let’s talk about Robusta’s coffee flavor profile.
Robusta coffee beans are known for their bold and assertive flavor profile, which sets them apart from Arabica beans:
- Earthy and Woody: Robusta lends a highly gritty, heavily roasted earthy cup with coppery/woody tones, giving an entirely original and somewhat grounded flavor experience.
- Nutty and Grainy Notes: Even if grades are very high, Robusta can have notes of hazelnuts or grains, which adds a certain depth to this taste.
- Bitterness: Robusta contains less sugar and more caffeine; hence, it is well known for its bitter taste. Enthusiasts could describe this intensity as hearty or rich, though perhaps too intense for some palates.
Versatility in Coffee Drinks
Robusta beans excel in various coffee preparations:
- Milk-Based Drinks: Nonetheless, due to its somewhat bitter taste, it is suitable for preparing gourmet coffee products such as cappuccinos and lattes. It is bitter and can be balanced with milk and sugar, therefore making the experience of drinking it more enjoyable.
- Espresso: Due to its strong and intense taste, it is also used for making espresso since the milk does not overwhelm the sediment and has a strong flavor.
- Blends: Arabica is mainly used for specialty coffee, while Robusta is blended into coffee for strength and flavor. For instance, the Italian Lavazza’s Crema e Gusto contains Robusta and Arabica mix to reveal the role of Robusta in the mix.
Health Benefits of Robusta Coffee Beans
Below are some health benefits of choosing bold-flavored coffee beans.
Improved Concentration and the Rates of Metabolism
Robusta coffee beans are majorly beneficial to health because they contain twice as much caffeine as Arabica. The robusta coffee caffeine increases mental clarity and focus in individuals. Further, it increases the metabolic rate, explicitly promoting fat utilization and making the body burn calories more.
Antioxidant Power and Ethnomedical Uses
A study shows that compared to other types of coffee, Robusta beans contain antioxidants that eliminate free radicals and lessen oxidative stress. These antioxidants can reduce inflammation and also help preserve cell health.
Traditionally, Robusta coffee has been used to treat health conditions such as asthma, headaches, jaundice, and Opium poisoning. Its acidic content also makes it helpful in face masks that wash off the skin’s unwanted debris and oils.
Improved Physical Performance
Due to the higher concentrations of caffeine in Robusta coffee, physical performance can be boosted by the production of adrenaline. This consequently results in enhanced stamina and optimum results from enhanced muscular strength, positively impacting athletes and anyone involved in regular workouts.
Robusta coffee’s ability to improve fat utilisation during exercise further supports its role in athletic performance.
Potential Disease Prevention
Regular consumption of strong Robusta coffee in requisite doses may protect against specific diseases. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory attributes of Robusta beans may account for the decrease in the prevalence rate of type 2 diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s. Due to these protective effects, ROBUSTA makes a worthy addition to a healthy diet.
Mood Enhancement
The high caffeine content of Robusta coffee can also have positive psychological effects. Caffeine stimulates neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin that can improve mood and reduce depression
Although Arabica has higher demand than Robusta in the global market, Robusta is produced in around 40% of the world’s production area. The medicinal value and taste that accompany the kind make it crucial and relevant in the market. Its rich and robust nature and overtones’ curative effects make it a good option for millions of coffee enthusiasts.
People Also Ask
Can Robusta Coffee Beans Be Used for Cold Brew Coffee?
Yes, you can use Robusta coffee when making cold brews. It will brew a special cup with a higher level of bitterness, a strong, bold taste, and the intensity of caffeine. You just have to roughly crush the beans and then leave them to soak in cold water for 12-24 hours.
Can Robusta Coffee Be Used In Espresso?
Although less widely used worldwide than Arabica, Robusta is used in espresso blends. This Italian coffee roasting is chosen to prepare a full-bodied espresso, which has a robust taste due to its strong flavor and the thick and dense crema it forms on the surface.
Bottom Line
Robusta coffee beans offer a unique, powerful flavor experience that differentiates it from other coffee varieties. Due to the higher concentration of caffeine and rather intense, rustic taste, these coffee bean types suit those who like their coffee intensely and profoundly.
Apart from the differences in flavor, Robusta beans are a preferred choice due to their comparatively cheaper nature and availability, making them an essential option for many blends. If you want to drink something new and refreshing among the coffee options, try out Robusta coffee for a new and refreshing experience.