Buy sustainable Robusta coffee

Do you love coffee as much as we do? Then you definitely drink a few cups a day. However, it's not just the taste that counts here. Growing conditions and climate also always play a role. Buying high quality Robusta coffee is doubly important. One thing in advance: Robusta coffee has a somewhat tarnished reputation. Among other things, because it is often used for instant coffee. He absolutely doesn't deserve this reputation. Well-roasted Robusta can be incredibly aromatic and has several other benefits. But first let's get to the basics.Robusta coffee originally comes from Africa and is now grown on plantations in many different countries. In contrast to Arabica coffee, which requires very specific conditions, Robusta is much more undemanding. This has some advantages, especially with regard to climate change. The coffee cherries themselves are also more resilient and require fewer pesticides and fertilizers. Buying good Robusta coffee is also a small statement to the future of coffee cultivation.

The second largest type of coffee has its origins in Central and West Africa. It was only discovered in the Congo at the end of the 19th century. This discovery opened the way to coffee cultivation in lowland areas and led to Robusta coffee becoming increasingly popular. By the way, the name Robusta is really appropriate. This variety is known for its resilience. It is significantly less susceptible to diseases or pests. A real bonus point. It is also more productive, which makes it interesting for coffee farmers. At the beginning of the 20th century, Robusta plantations in Africa really took off. The Second World War slowed things down again. However, after independence from Africa, coffee cultivation was revived. He was supported by the new governments, particularly in Cameroon and Ivory Coast. Today, Robusta is the second most popular type of bean in the world after Arabica. Robusta accounts for around 40% of global coffee production. Of course, Robusta coffee is not only grown in Africa. The variety has become particularly popular in Indonesia, India, the Philippines and Vietnam. Side note: Vietnam grows almost exclusively Robusta! Small downer: It is mainly used for Instat coffee. This is exactly the crux of the story. Arabica has established itself as “highland coffee” over the years. Robusta, on the other hand, received less good PR.

Plus, Arabica has a head start. The plant was discovered and made usable much earlier. In recent years, however, Robusta has slowly been re-establishing itself on the coffee scene. Small roasters see its advantages over Arabica and roast it with great attention to detail. Would you like to buy really good Robusta coffee online? Then browse through our offerings and see for yourself how good Robusta can be.

You've probably already noticed. Arabica and Robusta have some differences in cultivation, but also in taste. Let's take a look at some key differences in detail.

Mounting height

Arabica only grows at altitudes between 600 and 2,300 meters. This offers an advantage in terms of taste. Because the high altitude allows the cherries to ripen more slowly. This gives the coffee more time to build complex aroma profiles. The disadvantage: In most cases, going high means less space and difficult growing conditions. Robusta is content with much lower terrain here. The plant already grows below 600 meters. In addition, the Robusta plant grows faster. This means farmers can harvest their first harvest earlier.

climate

Arabica needs special temperatures to grow perfectly. It can't be too cold or too warm here. With Robusta this window is larger. This means that fluctuations are not quite as wild here. When it comes to humidity and sun, Robusta is simply... more robust. While Arabica cannot tolerate direct sunlight, Robusta can handle it.

Look

There are big differences between plants and beans. Robusta plants can grow up to ten meters high, while Arabica plants only grow to around six to eight meters high. The leaves of the two species also differ in color and shape. The flowers of the Arabica plant usually have five leaves and are more pointed than those of the Robusta plant. In the Arabica plant, coffee cherries are evenly distributed over the entire branch, while in the Robusta plant they grow close together. The bean of the Robusta plant is smaller, rounder and has a straight, solid notch on its flat side. The Arabica plant is larger, flatter and more oval. The incision on its flatter side is not straight, but has a slight S-shape.

The taste

Now to what is probably the most important topic. Taste! Of course, the two types of coffee also taste different. Arabica coffee beans taste softer, harmonious and less bitter. Terms such as fruity, sweet or berry are also used here. Robusta coffee, on the other hand, has a better body. The beans taste more bitter, somewhat earthy, nutty and chocolaty. This dark flavor is particularly popular in southern Italy. So if you are looking for exactly this profile, you should buy an espresso blend with a portion of Robusta coffee. Robusta coffee cream also lasts longer because it contains fewer oils. From a purely visual perspective, this definitely takes your espresso to a higher level.

Caffeine content and tolerance

The coffee beans from Arabica and Robusta plants also have different amounts of caffeine. The beans from Arabica plants have about 1.1 to 1.7 percent caffeine, while the beans from Robusta plants have between 2 and 4.5 percent. With Robusta you can get out of your afternoon slump a little quicker. Small disadvantage: Robusta beans also have more chlorogenic acids than Arabica beans. These acids are diuretic and can cause digestive problems and stomach pain in some people. Do you have a very sensitive stomach? Then you might not want to buy pure Robusta coffee. Simply choose mixtures with a small proportion of Robusta if you don't want to miss out on thick crema.

Robusta coffee at a glance

Let’s recap the whole thing: The fairy tale of low-quality Robusta is just that – a fairy tale. But only if you pay attention to high quality and buy your coffee from great roasters. No matter whether online or offline. If attention is paid to every step from cultivation to roasting, Robusta develops a strong, nutty taste that is particularly well received in espresso. Robusta is also important when it comes to the future of coffee cultivation. Thanks to its resistance to disease and climate, Robusta can help ensure that you can still drink really good coffee in 30 years. That's exactly why it's important to buy really good Robusta today.