Robusta coffee explained: robusta vs arabica, caffeine and espresso
Robusta is one of the two coffee species behind almost all the coffee sold in the world. The whole El Café del Padrino range — capsules, ESE pods, ground and whole bean coffee — uses a 100% Robusta blend, so this guide explains what that means in the cup and for the businesses that stock it.
What is robusta coffee?
Robusta is the common name of Coffea canephora, one of the two coffee species grown commercially on a large scale; the other is Coffea arabica. The plant is native to tropical Africa and today is grown in countries such as Vietnam, Brazil, Indonesia, Uganda and India.
The name describes the plant: robusta is hardier than arabica, generally more resistant to pests and diseases, and usually grown at lower altitudes.
Robusta vs arabica: the main differences
- Caffeine: robusta typically contains around twice as much caffeine as arabica.
- Body and flavor: robusta tends to be fuller-bodied and more bitter, with less acidity; arabica tends to be lighter, with more acidity and sweetness.
- Crema: robusta is known for a thick, persistent crema in espresso, one reason it appears in many Italian-style espresso blends.
- Plant: robusta is the hardier of the two and grows at lower altitudes.
Why robusta works in espresso
Espresso concentrates everything in a small cup, so body, crema and intensity matter. Robusta brings all three, which is why it is used in espresso blends and in 100% Robusta espresso coffee.
Its body and bitterness also tend to come through milk, so a robusta espresso still tastes like coffee in a cappuccino or a latte.
Our 100% Robusta blend
El Café del Padrino uses a single blend of 100% Robusta from Uganda, India AA, Vietnam and Congo (AA is a bean-size grade used for Indian coffee). It is dark roasted and has a mellow aftertaste.
On our sensory sheet the blend scores 5 out of 5 for body, aroma and intensity, 4 for bitterness, 3 for astringency and 2 for sweetness and acidity. Its caffeine content is 2.57%, in line with the higher caffeine typical of robusta.
Who a robusta espresso suits
- Coffee drinkers who prefer a strong, intense espresso with full body and low acidity.
- Milk drinks such as cappuccino and latte, where a full-bodied espresso keeps its character.
- Retailers and distributors that want a bold dark roast espresso next to milder arabica coffees.