What’s the Difference Between Coffee Arabica and Robusta Coffee? 

Coffee Robusta, or Coffea canephora, is a flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. This plant grows as a small tree or large shrub, about 10 meters or roughly 32 feet tall. When cultivated, it is pruned to about 5 meters high to make it more manageable and easier to harvest beans. 

These trees have a shallow root system. Once the tree flowers, it takes about 10 to 11 months to produce ripe cherries which are ready to be harvested. The flowers have a fragrance similar to jasmine and there can be ripe and unripe cherries on the tree at the same time. It’s typically is grown in Africa and Indonesia, with the largest producer being Vietnam. 

The coffee Arabica plant, on the other hand, is a member of the same family but grows to about half the size of the coffee Robusta plant. This variety of coffee prefers light shade and produces about 60% of the world’s coffee. It is known to be smoother, boasts more fruity flavors, and tastes a bit less bitter than Robusta coffee. It is also more expensive and more difficult to grow. It must be grown at higher elevations and does not produce as much fruit per tree as Robusta, which adds to the cost of growing it and harvesting it. 

What’s So Good about Robusta Coffee? 

Coffee Arabica shouldn’t get all the credit, however, because Robusta coffee has plenty of good attributes that make it worthwhile to grow, purchase, roast, and brew. Most expresso beans are Robusta. So what else does Robusta coffee have going for it? 

Although some people claim that Robusta coffee beans are a considerably lower grade than arabica coffee beans, a lot depends on how the beans are grown, harvested, roasted, and brewed. There’s no reason a good cup of Robusta coffee won’t outshine a bad cup of arabica, and some people do prefer it.  

Robusta coffee trees are tough and resilient trees. This is partially due to the fact that they have a far higher caffeine content, nearly twice that of Arabica. These trees can be grown at a lower elevation than arabica trees. The coffee plants are much easier to grow and maintain, as well. Another one of Robusta’s admired qualities are they bountiful yields of its trees. This higher productivity is one of the reasons this coffee is cheaper. The trees are more disease resistant, so they grow better and stronger. They can handle high temperatures over 30°C and strong, full sun. They are also thirstier than their highland-growing Arabica counterparts though, and require more water overall. 

Caffeine and Flavor

Robusta coffee is generally known for being more bitter than other coffees. This, also, has much to do with this coffee’s higher caffeine content. Robusta beans are generally about twice as strong as Arabicas. The high caffeine content makes this plant hardier and less susceptible to diseases or pest problems. Caffeine’s intense bitterness seems to ward off a number of would-be pests. Another upside of higher caffeine content is that the coffee trees require less pesticides and herbicides to grow. This is part of the reason this coffee is cheaper to cultivate, and somewhat healthier, as the beans have been exposed to fewer chemicals.  

How Is Robusta Coffee Used? 

Interestingly, Robusta beans are often added to Arabica beans to add additional flavors and depth to the roast. It is sometimes used as a “filler” to add to the roast while lowering the overall cost of the coffee. Mixing in about 5 to 7 percent of Robusta coffee beans to about 93 to 95 % arabica beans will add depth and strength to the final product as well as lower the cost a bit.

Robusta coffee is most frequently grown for use in making instant coffee. The beans used are often lower quality, inferior beans. They are harvested, roasted, and brewed into coffee. The coffee is then dehydrated, leaving behind crystals. When hot water is added to the crystals, instant coffee is brewed.  

Robusta coffee is also an ingredient of fine espresso roasts, at a rate of about 10% Robusta to 90% Arabica. This gives the roast much more body and a crema, or foam head. 

Though Robusta coffee isn’t reputed to be as tasty as Arabica, it does have its part to play. Its counterpart, Arabica, is a fussier plant, and needs special care to grow well, which is what makes it more expensive. 

Cat’s Ass Coffee is made with 100% Arabica beans, naturally fermented by wild luwaks. 

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Although there are 4 main types of coffee beans, the most common are arabica and robusta beans. You may have noticed that some beans are much more expensive than others, and there are good reasons for that. Keep reading to find out why arabica beans are more expensive than robusta beans and which ones you should choose.

4 Types of Beans

The four main types of coffee beans are arabica, robusta, liberica, and excelsa. Each bean has a different flavor profile. Some are more popular than others and some are simply harder to find.

Liberica.

This species of coffee is unique and makes up only 2% of the world’s coffee. It generally comes from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. This type of coffee grows on a larger type of tree than other coffee types, up to 65 feet tall. The berries are large and irregular in shape. Liberica coffee trees are more tolerant of hot and humid climates and are more likely to grow at lower altitudes.

The flavor of this type of coffee bean can be described as smoky, nutty, and dark chocolate with a biting aftertaste. Not everyone finds this dark flavour palatable, and so it has been nicknamed “manly coffee.”

Excelsa

Although excelsa beans used to be considered their own species, they have been reclassified as a variety of liberica coffee. Excelsa trees are not quite as large are liberica trees, growing to about 20 to 30 feet at medium altitudes.
Excelsa beans are used to add complexity to other blends because the flavor is tart and fruity and also dark. However, the aroma and taste of this type of coffee is lighter than other types, so it might be considered a ‘weak’ cup of coffee when brewed. Neither liberica nor excela coffee beans are as popular as robusta and arabica beans.

Robusta Coffee Beans

Robusta coffee beans are the second most popular type of coffee bean. Robusta beans primarily grow in Africa and Indonesia. This type of bean is one of the least expensive varieties because the trees are hardier, more disease resistant, and can grow at lower altitudes than the other types of coffee trees. These trees grow between 15 and 20 feet tall. The actual coffee beans are larger than other varieties and they have a more rounded shape.

Robusta beans sometimes get a bad rap for their lack of flavour. The coffee made from these beans is said to taste more bitter, burnt, and harsh than other varieties of coffee. However, they have a very strong, flavourful aroma and more caffeine than you would find in arabica coffee. Instant coffee is typically made from robusta beans. Since robusta beans are less expensive to grow and harvest, they are often used alongside arabica beans to make a less expensive coffee blend.

Arabica Coffee

Arabica beans make up about 60 percent of the world’s coffee, which means they are significantly more popular than the other varieties of coffee beans. They are also significantly more expensive. Arabica beans brew a coffee that is smoother and less bitter with a complex flavour, which makes them very palatable. The beans probably originated in Ethiopia, but became popular in 7th century Arabia, which is now known as Yemen.

Arabica beans are expensive to purchase because they are much harder to grow than other types of beans. These trees need more water and shade to grow than the other types of beans. They also need to grow at an altitude of at least 2000 feet. These types of coffee trees are only eight to fifteen feet tall and have much lower yields per tree than robusta beans have. These trees are not as hardy as robusta coffee trees and are more susceptible to diseases.

Why are arabica beans more expensive than robusta?

So although there are four distinct types of coffee, you will most likely drink either robusta coffee or arabica coffee or a blend of both. Arabica, by far, is tastier and smoother, with more lipids and a higher sugar content which increase its palatability. Robusta beans have a higher caffeine concentration, which helps protect the coffee cherries from insects and disease. The trees are much larger and have a higher yield, as well. So although arabica beans are the most popular with gourmet brands, robusta beans are about half the price because they are easier to grow, cultivate, and harvest.

This isn’t to say that all robustas are of lower quality than arabica beans. Superior quality robusta beans definitely taste and smell better than any poorly grown and harvested arabica beans. Your enjoyment comes down to personal preference as well. You may love the bitter taste of robusta and find the sweet notes of arabica to light. The brewing and roasting process have a lot of influence on the final flavour profile, as well. For example, although McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Dunkin’ all use arabica beans to make their coffee, America’s favorite, Folger’s classic blend, uses a blend of both arabica and robusta beans for a rich, full-bodied flavor that isn’t too expensive and is high in caffeine.

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What Is Kopi Luwak Coffee? 

Kopi Luwak coffee is a type of coffee that is processed in a very unique way – by a wild animal. In Indonesia, a small carnivorous mammal known as a palm civet or luwak, enjoys eating the sweet coffee cherries, both the fruit’s flesh and the coffee bean within. The luwak, or palm civet, uses its keen sense of smell to pick out the tastiest, ripest coffee cherries and then it devours them. This is the humble first step for the production of kopi luwak coffee.

After the civet digests the cherry it excretes the coffee beans. The coffee bean’s hard outer shell protects it from being digested in the palm civet’s digestive tract, so it passes right through the animal and comes out whole.

Farmers then gather the partially digested coffee cherries that are left behind on the forest floor. This is a taxing job because there are typically only three or four beans per pile of excrement. After harvesting, farmers thoroughly clean the beans so they can be roasted and turned into a delicious coffee drink. 

So Why Try Kopi Luwak Coffee? 

There are many reasons to try kopi luwak coffee beyond simply satisfying your curiosity. Here are a few reasons for sampling this specialized brew. 

Kopi Luwak is renowned for its unique flavour. 

Flavour is the number one reason people buy this specialty coffee again and again. No other coffee tastes quite like it and this flavour profile comes thanks to the unique process the coffee bean goes through. In the first step of this process, civets use their keen sense of smell to choose the very best coffee cherries to eat. Civets prefer the ripest, juiciest coffee cherries. Thanks to its superior detection abilities, the civet knows how to select coffee cherries at just the right time to get just the right flavor, which means the beans are harvested when they are the most flavorful.

As the civet digests the coffee cherry, the beans go through a kind of fermentation process in the civet’s belly. This fermentation process, during which the beans are bathed in the civet’s digestive juices, changes the flavor of the beans, giving them a richer quality. After cleaning and roasting, the kopi luwak beans yield a coffee with rich, smooth flavours featuring hints of caramel, chocolate, and earthy tones. 

It has a unique history. 

Kopi luwak coffee certainly has a rich history, and sampling it brings you closer to an intriguing story of rebellion. Way back in the 1800’s, Dutch settlers produced coffee from Arabica coffee plantations. The native workers were forbidden to harvest any coffee cherries and beans from the trees for their own personal use, but they were permitted to collect the ones that had fallen to the ground. Eventually, the native workers figured out that the luwaks ingested the fruit and left the seeds or beans behind in their excrement and this made an even better cup of coffee.

The native peoples gathered these undigested beans, and then cleaned and roasted them, making an even more delicious coffee. Because these beans took more time to process, they were very costly and this coffee became very popular with tourists and even the coffee traders.

It might benefit your health.

Because of the fermentation process that the beans go through before roasting, kopi luwak coffee has a lower level of acidity than most other types of coffee. This is great news for people who suffer from acid-related issues such as heart burn or mouth sores. 

Of course, coffee, including kopi luwak coffee. It’s full of antioxidants, can boost your metabolism and may help to prevent dementia. 

It’s a fun story to tell. 

Coffee makes a great conversation starter, and the kopi luwak story is a great one to tell. Serve it at dinner parties or meetings so you can tell the story and strike up some very interesting conversations! You can talk about the history of the Dutch settlers, the rebellion of the native workers, and of course, the adorable luwak. 

It’s novel. 

Just like a beer connoisseur enjoys sampling novel craft brews, coffee enthusiasts love sampling a good new cup of coffee. Kopi luwak coffee is worthy trying just for the novelty of the brew. Not everyone can say they have tasted ‘cat poop coffee,’ as it is jokingly called. This coffee is as unique and rare as it gets in the coffee world. 

So if you like great coffee with a unique flavor, love a great background story, are a fan of culinary history, or are intrigued by the idea of a cute mammal pre-selecting your beans with their sharp senses, kupi luwak coffee might just be the perfect brew for you! 

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The easiest way to get a cup of coffee when you’re on the go is instant coffee. But come on people. We must strive for better. The better option is to pre-grind some beans and bring them in a bag so you can steep them later. For the true boy scout, there’s also the option of bringing whole beans and grinding them using whatever tools you’ve brought.

A good option is a hand grinder with a ceramic burr—these get a nice consistency to your grind. Its quick, simple, and doesn’t take too much effort to get enough coffee ground for a few cups of joe. But there are other, more challenging ways to get the deed done.

You could use a mortar and pestle to crush the coffee beans to a fine consistency. Another option is putting the beans in a baggie and grinding them on a hard surface with a heavy rolling pin, chunk of wood or stone. Considering the possibilities, you really don’t have a good excuse to not be able to grind your beans.

Once you’ve got your beans ground, you’ll need a way to percolate the coffee and so get your perk on. The easiest method is to make cowboy coffee. This is similar to Turkish coffee, where the coffee grinds are simmered in hot water. You can do this in a kettle, a pot, or a tin can over a fire if needed. Bring the coffee to a simmer. Don’t let it come to a full boil or your coffee might get too bitter. Once the coffee is strong enough, let it cool, and sip your coffee off the top so you don’t unintentionally suck up the used coffee grounds.

If this doesn’t work for you, you can always bring along an old-fashioned camping coffee percolator. These have been around for a long time and you can simply use them on top of your camp stove. To use this type of brewer, fill the kettle part with water. Place a filter in the basket and put in the desired amount of coffee. Place the kettle on your fire or stove and allow it to boil. There should be a small window or a spot where you can see how dark your coffee is. Camping percolators are easy to find and not too expensive, either.

A French press can be pretty handy if you have room to pack it. To use a French press, you fill the bottom of your press with the desired amount of ground coffee. Heat your water over your camp stove or campfire in your cooking pot or kettle. Pour the simmering (but not boiling) water into the press and allow it to steep for several minutes. When your coffee has reached the desired brew color, press down on the top of the press to push the water through the grinds. The grinds will stay in bottom and will force the water to the top.

Similarly, if you want an even richer brew, you might try an aeropress. An aeropress works on a similar principle but uses more pressure to extract the coffee flavor. To use an aeropress to make coffee on the go, you’ll need an aeropress, filters, and coffee, of course. Place your filter in the aeropress and put your grinds in the filter. Heat your water to between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit, or 90 to 96 degrees Celsius. Just be careful not to let the water boil. Carefully pour the hot water in and allow it to steep a bit. Put the plunger on, and carefully press the coffee through the aeropress and into your cup. You’ll have a rich, full bodied brew.

For those more interested in glamping than camping, you can purchase a battery powered, rechargeable, coffee maker. Sure, this will set you back a few bucks, but for those desperate to take their coffee beans and java on the go, it could be worth the dough.

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