Choosing Between Arabica and Robusta Coffee
Arabica and Robusta beans are the most commonly grown varieties of coffee for commercial consumption.
They differ in taste, price and the manner in which they are cultivated.
Side-by-Side Comparison Both Arabica and Robusta coffee have different varieties.
The varieties come in sweet, subtle flavors to a sharp, tangy taste and exhibit a fruity, often mildly sugary note after roasting.
They are typically grown at high elevations (600 to 2000 meters) on a sloped surface and require a cool subtropical climate.
They are not pest-resilient and often need to be harvested by hand.
Arabica beans do not have a high pound per acre ratio.
This makes them expensive to grow, harvest and market.
Robusta coffee, on the other hand, has a more grain-like taste and leaves a harsher note after roasting.
They can be grown at lower altitudes (200-800 meters), are pest-resilient because of their high caffeine content, and accommodate harvesting by machines since they are usually grown on more level ground.
They have a high yield per acre.
Because of these factors, they are more affordable to grow, harvest and market than Arabica coffee.
These same factors, however, also make Robusta beans the less superior coffee.
There are some high-quality Robusta beans, but these are rare.
Making Fine Distinctions Although Arabica beans are considered generally superior to Robusta beans, it is important to remember that there are different varieties of Arabica coffee.
Over 70 percent of all coffee grown throughout the world today is Arabica coffee, but only a small percentage of that is actually harvested for human consumption.
A cup of superior Robusta coffee will taste better than a cup of an inferior variety of Arabica coffee.
It is advisable to find a coffee purveyor you can trust so you know that you are getting Arabica coffee of an excellent variety.
Unless you are buying decaffeinated coffee, it is important to keep in mind that Robusta is naturally higher in caffeine than Arabica.
If you are watching your caffeine intake, this is another reason to stick to higher-quality Arabica beans.
Most coffee lovers and specialty coffee purveyors prefer Arabica coffee to Robusta.
Ultimately however, the coffee you choose to drink is simply that - your choice.
Availability and affordability can, of course, have a great impact on one's choice of coffee.
But, just like in the caffeinated versus decaffeinated debacle, the tug of war between Arabica and Robusta coffee comes down to a coffee drinker's personal taste.
They differ in taste, price and the manner in which they are cultivated.
Side-by-Side Comparison Both Arabica and Robusta coffee have different varieties.
The varieties come in sweet, subtle flavors to a sharp, tangy taste and exhibit a fruity, often mildly sugary note after roasting.
They are typically grown at high elevations (600 to 2000 meters) on a sloped surface and require a cool subtropical climate.
They are not pest-resilient and often need to be harvested by hand.
Arabica beans do not have a high pound per acre ratio.
This makes them expensive to grow, harvest and market.
Robusta coffee, on the other hand, has a more grain-like taste and leaves a harsher note after roasting.
They can be grown at lower altitudes (200-800 meters), are pest-resilient because of their high caffeine content, and accommodate harvesting by machines since they are usually grown on more level ground.
They have a high yield per acre.
Because of these factors, they are more affordable to grow, harvest and market than Arabica coffee.
These same factors, however, also make Robusta beans the less superior coffee.
There are some high-quality Robusta beans, but these are rare.
Making Fine Distinctions Although Arabica beans are considered generally superior to Robusta beans, it is important to remember that there are different varieties of Arabica coffee.
Over 70 percent of all coffee grown throughout the world today is Arabica coffee, but only a small percentage of that is actually harvested for human consumption.
A cup of superior Robusta coffee will taste better than a cup of an inferior variety of Arabica coffee.
It is advisable to find a coffee purveyor you can trust so you know that you are getting Arabica coffee of an excellent variety.
Unless you are buying decaffeinated coffee, it is important to keep in mind that Robusta is naturally higher in caffeine than Arabica.
If you are watching your caffeine intake, this is another reason to stick to higher-quality Arabica beans.
Most coffee lovers and specialty coffee purveyors prefer Arabica coffee to Robusta.
Ultimately however, the coffee you choose to drink is simply that - your choice.
Availability and affordability can, of course, have a great impact on one's choice of coffee.
But, just like in the caffeinated versus decaffeinated debacle, the tug of war between Arabica and Robusta coffee comes down to a coffee drinker's personal taste.
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