– Description:
– Robusta is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae.
– Scientifically identified as Coffea canephora, with varieties C. c. robusta and C. c. nganda.
– Grows as a robust tree or shrub up to 10 meters tall, with oval-shaped beans.
– Contains 2.7% caffeine and 3-7% sugar, with higher crop yield and less susceptibility to pests than arabica.
– Needs less herbicide and pesticide compared to arabica.
– Native distribution:
– Grows in Western and Central Africa, from Liberia to Tanzania and south to Angola.
– Recognized as a species of Coffea in 1897, over a hundred years after Coffea arabica.
– Also found in Borneo, French Polynesia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and the Lesser Antilles.
– A hybrid between robusta and arabica was found in Timor in 1927.
– Used to breed coffee rust-resistant plants.
– Cultivation and use:
– Low acidity, high bitterness, woody, nutty taste in coffee made from Coffea canephora beans.
– Widely used in instant coffee, espresso, and as a filler in ground coffee blends.
– Represents 43% of global coffee production, with significant production in Vietnam, India, Africa, and Brazil.
– Vietnam is the largest exporter of robusta coffee, followed by Brazil, Indonesia, India, and Uganda.
– Cheaper to produce than arabica due to easier care and higher crop yield.
– See also:
– Coffea arabica.
– Coffea charrieriana.
– References:
– Chadburn, H. & Davis, A.P. (2017): Coffea canephora IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
– J. Dagoon (2005): Agriculture & Fishery Technology IV.
– World Robusta coffee production 2022, Statista.
– World Arabica coffee production 2022, Statista.
– R Urgert & M B Katan (1996): The cholesterol-raising factor from coffee beans.