Robusta
While there are numerous
species of coffee plants, there are two species that are predominantly
consumed. Coffea Arabica may be
the most commonly consumed coffee plant but Coffea Robusta accounts for
approximately 25% to 40% of the coffee grown in the world. Discovered in 1898 in Congo, Coffea
Robusta is the most commonly grown variety of the Coffea canephora
species of coffee plant. It is popular
among growers because it can grow in less rigid conditions than Coffea
Arabica.
The Coffea Robusta
coffe plant is a robust shrub that can grow up to heights of 10 to 12
feet. Unlike Coffea Arabica
coffee plants, the Robusta coffee plant does not need to grow at high
altitudes. As a result, it is grown in
areas that are between sea level and 800 meter elevation ranges. Additionally, Robusta coffee plants require
less care to grow due to the fact that it is hardier. This means that it is the cheaper of the two main types of coffee
plants to grow. Coffea robusta
has a shallow root system and the fruits that grow from the plant take up to 11
months to mature. The cherries that
grow on the robusta coffee plant require less care, as they remain on the trees
after it ripens. Additionally, coffea
robusta has an advantage over coffea arabica for coffee growers, as
this coffee plant species tends to be less susceptible to problems related to
pests and rough handling. As a result,
robusta coffee plans tend to yield more pounds of finished coffee beans per
acre at a lower cost of production than arabica coffee plants.
However, the coffee beans
grown on the robusta coffee plant tend to have a lower quality than the ones
grown on the arabica coffee plant.
Thriving in tropical and subtropical climates, particularly in equatorial
areas, coffea robusta is predominantly grown in the eastern hemisphere. It is most commonly grown in West and
Central Africa, South-East Asia, and in certain areas of South America.
The main reason why robusta
coffee plants are not grown as much as arabica coffee plants is because of its
lower quality in taste. While robusta
coffee can range in taste from neutral to harsh, the best robusta coffee cannot
match the flavor of the best Arabica coffee.
This is why robusta coffee is typically found in jars of instant coffee
and supermarket cans of coffee.
However, the debate over which is the better coffee should not be
misconstrued, as the best cup of robusta coffee easily supercedes the taste of
a cup of the worst arabica coffee.
Additionally, robusta coffee beans tend to have twice the caffeine of
Arabica coffee beans.
While robusta coffee beans
are less common in the marketplace for coffee lovers they still serve an
excellent purpose. High quality robusta
coffee beans are often used in specialty espresso blends. These premium robusta coffee beans only
constitute 5 to 15% of the espresso beverage blend but add body to the taste of
the drink. However, premium robusta coffee
beans should not be used in any other coffee brewing methods other than the espresso
coffee brewing method. Robusta coffee
beans are also used in combinations with Arabica coffee beans to create
coffee-based drinks that many coffee lovers adore.
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