12 Differences between Arabica and Robusta coffee
The most coffee-loving people know that There is a whole world of coffee varieties, each of them with their particular characteristics that make them unique. The most cultivated and appreciated by coffee lovers around the world are two: Arabica coffee and Robusta coffee.
Do you know what are the differences between arabica and robusta coffee? Let's talk about it at length and, if it's with a coffee at hand, even better.
Chromosomes, one of the differences between Arabica and Robusta coffee
A Arabica bean has 44 chromosomes while a robusta grain has exactly half as many chromosomes, only 22.
With this information it is now possible to make a clear difference between the robusta and Arabica varieties in terms of their complexity in both aromas and flavor.
The coffee arabic therefore has a greater number of nuances, hence it is one of the most elegant and refined.
coffee production
Currently, the production of Arabica coffee occupies no less than 75% of world production of coffee, compared to the remaining 25% occupied by robusta coffee.
cultivation altitude
The Arabica variety is grown at about 900 or 2000 meters above sea level on a regular basis, while the robusta variety is grown from sea level to 900 meters.
This variable is one of the most important when it comes to assessing the quality of the coffee beans since it is the altitude that provides the acidity to the coffee.
Coffee growing temperature
Another difference between Arabica and Robusta coffee refers to temperature. And, in the same way, we must know that, as happens with the cultivation altitude, the temperature at which coffee is grown It also determines its quality.
In fact, coffee plantations are susceptible to low temperatures, so they cannot be grown in cold climates. Specifically, Arabica coffee beans are grown at a temperature between 25ºC and 15ºC and, in the case of robusta coffee, between 30ºC and 20ºC as the minimum temperature.
caffeine
Caffeine is a natural insecticide produced by the plant, which helps keep away insects that could harm it. For this reason, and closely related to the temperature at which each of these two varieties of coffee is grown, we find that another difference between Arabica and Robusta is its amount of caffeine.
In the case of robusta coffee, Being closer to sea level and typical of a tropical climate, contains more caffeine than Arabica coffee.
Specifically, Each Arabica coffee bean contains between 0.8% and 1.4% caffeine compared to 3% and 7% for Robusta coffee beans. Hence, it is recommended, for those people who prefer to avoid caffeine, before switching to decaffeinated coffee, to choose Arabica coffee and, if possible, grown at altitude.
For all these reasons, it is also important to make a difference between robusta and arabica when it comes to their resistance to pests. Robusta coffee has greater resistance thanks to its higher caffeine percentage compared to Arabica.
sugar
Each coffee bean contains sugars that are transformed during the roasting process. Therefore, depending on the amount of sugar created during this process, they will differ not only in acidity but also in texture.
Therefore, another difference between Arabica and Robusta coffee lies in its amount of sugar. An Arabica coffee bean contains between 6% and 9% of sugar while robusta coffee has between 3% and 7%, which gives it a much more bitter flavor than Arabica.
If you prefer to discover the main differences between arabica and robusta coffee in video, hit play!
essential oils
The amount contained in each of the coffee varieties is related to their aromatic intensity and with the amount of coffee cream; the one that makes the difference from a good espresso coffee.
how many the more essential oils, the silkier the cream will be that we obtain for it, and it will have higher quality. Even so, it does not mean that the amount of cream obtained determines its flavor or the tastes of each person when it comes to enjoying a good coffee.
The Arabica coffee has between 15% and 17% of essential oils in each grain. However, in the case of robusta coffee we find that each coffee bean It has between 10% and 12%.
Chlorogenic Acid Antioxidants
The Robusta coffee variety contains approximately double the concentration of chlorogenic acid than Arabica coffee.
Specifically Robusta contains between 7 and 10% antioxidants compared to 5.5 and 8% in Arabica coffee.. Likewise, it is important to know that this can be reduced, in both cases, during roasting.
The shape
Before roasting it is much easier to identify what type of variety we have in front of us.
The Arabica coffee has a much thinner and elongated bean, in addition to having a more curved incision than the robusta grain, with a rounder appearance and whose incision makes a straight cut.
size
Another difference between Arabica and Robusta coffee is regarding size. And it is that The Arabica coffee bean measures between 8 and 12 mm while the Robusta between 5 and 8 mm.
The taste
Now that we understand and know the clearest differences between types of coffee and how it affects their complexity when creating nuances, we find that The variety of Arabica coffee has a wider range of flavors, such as citrus and chocolate touches., touches similar to those dried fruits or red and even floral or fruity aromas.
On the contrary, coffee robusta offers earthy and woody flavors.
The grinding
Robusta coffee beans require a finer grind because its beans are much more robust and harder than Arabica coffee beans. Therefore, when making an espresso we will obtain a much thicker crema with a more bitter flavor.
In the case of Arabica, the resulting espresso cream will have a silkier, sweeter and lighter texture. This makes it more palatable to many palates.
