Robusta coffee

Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora; syn. Coffea robusta) is a species of coffee that has its origins in central and western sub-Saharan Africa. It is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. Though widely known as Coffea robusta, the plant is scientifically identified as Coffea canephora, which has two main varieties, Robusta and Nganda.^[1]

Description

The plant has a shallow root system and grows as a robust tree or shrub to about 10 metres. It flowers irregularly, taking about 10–11 months for cherries to ripen, producing oval-shaped beans. The robusta plant has a greater crop yield than that of C. arabica, and contains more caffeine – 2.7% compared to arabica's 1.5%.^[2] As it is less susceptible to pests and disease,^[3] robusta needs much less herbicide and pesticide than arabica.

Native distribution

Originating in upland forests in Ethiopia, C. canephora grows indigenously in Western and Central Africa. It was not recognized as a species of Coffea until the 19th century, about a hundred years after Coffea arabica.^[4]

Cultivation and use

Approximately 30% of the coffee produced in the world is robusta.^[5] It is mostly grown in Vietnam, where French colonists introduced it in the late 19th century, though it is also grown in Africa and Brazil, where it is often called conilon.^[6][7] In recent years, Vietnam, which produces mostly robusta, has surpassed Brazil, India, and Indonesia to become the world's single largest exporter of robusta coffee. Brazil is still the biggest producer of coffee in the world, producing one-third of the world's coffee, though 80% of that is C. arabica.^[8]

Robusta is easier to care for and has a greater crop yield than C. arabica.^[9] Roasted robusta beans produce a strong, full-bodied coffee with a distinctive earthy flavour, but usually with more bitterness than arabica due to its pyrazine content.^[10][11] Since arabica beans are believed to have smoother taste with less acidity and a richer flavour, the robusta beans are mostly used in coffee blends.^[12][13] However, the powerful flavour can be desirable in a blend to give it perceived "strength" and "finish", noticeably in Italian coffee culture. Good-quality robusta beans are used in traditional Italian espresso blends, to provide a full-bodied taste and a better foam head (known as crema).^[14][15]