Coffee
Arabica vs. Robusta: Beans Behind the Brew
COFFEE BEANS
Dive into the rich history!
Arabica and Robusta beans, while very different, offer a variety of benefits when it comes to developing robust coffee roasts. Our blends are made from varying ratios of Arabica and Robusta beans from across Latin America, and those unique mixes lead to our signature bold coffee. Read below to learn more about the different beans and how they build rich, strong brews.
Arabica
- Arabica beans are famous for their sweet, smooth and rich flavor profiles. Naturally flavorful, Arabica beans often contain fruity and chocolate notes, among others. Arabica beans are found in all of our blends, contributing to their delicious and nuanced flavorful finishes. Take a look at the blends we offer here.
- Arabica beans are larger and more oily than Robusta. Their ovular, flat shape explains Arabica’s smooth flavors after roasting.
- Arabica yields contain fewer beans than Robusta yields, and must be grown at higher altitudes and cooler climates with less rainfall. This makes Arabica the more expensive crop among the two.
- Arabica beans are grown all over the world; from their country of origin in Ethiopia, to Indonesia, Nicaragua and Colombia!
- Arabica beans contain more lipids and sugars than Robusta beans, which enrich the beans with a diverse mix of aromas, complexities and flavors.
Robusta
- Robusta beans contain higher caffeine contents (2.2%) than Arabica beans (1.2%). This makes Robusta beans ideal for Espresso and instant coffee blends, and make up much of our velvety, rich (and, for lack of a better word, robust) Espresso Bricks.
- Robusta beans tend to be smaller and less oily than Arabica beans, leading to deeper, stronger flavors.
- Robusta beans are hardy, and grow well in a variety of climates, including low altitudes and warmer weather. They are also more resistant to diseases and pests due to its higher concentration of Chlorogenic Acid.
- Robusta beans were discovered in West and Central Africa, and grow in many countries near the Equator such as Uganda, Vietnam and Brazil.
- Robusta beans only have 22 chromosomes as compared to Arabica’s 44, but tend to decompose slower than Arabica beans.
