Arabica? Robusta? What's the difference?

When it comes to coffee, two beans rule the world: Arabica and Robusta. Each has different strengths and weaknesses in its cultivation, processing and final flavour characteristics. 

Coffee “beans” are actually the processed and roasted seeds from the fruit of a few species of the Coffea genus. Amongst other factors, these different species can produce different flavours in your morning brew. 

Meet the Beans

Arabica:

Beans from Coffea Arabica are the smooth talkers of the coffee world. It’s the bean you invite to fancy brunches and art galleries. With flavour notes that can range through berries, chocolate, or even a hint of floral perfume, Arabica is all about complexity and elegance. Generally, Arabica coffees will have higher acidity, but less bitterness than Robusta. The Coffea Arabica plant prefers the climate at higher altitudes and it can be challenging to keep healthy. The darling of the specialty coffee world, Arabica coffee can exhibit a huge variety of interesting flavours and cup characteristics. 

Robusta:

Coffea Canephora, or “Robusta” is the tough compatriot of Arabica. It thrives in hot, humid places where Arabica would wilt. Robusta beans are smaller and rounder than Arabica, though not really too different to the untrained eye. The flavour? Bold, earthy, a little nutty or even woody. Robusta often has more caffeine by weight than Arabica, and is often added to Arabica coffee blends to give some extra oomph to things (at the expense of adding bitterness and other harsher flavours). 

Where They Shine

Arabica is the mainstay of specialty roasters and specialty cafes. If you’re sipping a single origin pourover and pondering life, it’s probably Arabica in your cup. A huge amount of effort and expertise goes into growing, processing, selecting, roasting, tasting and brewing these coffees. Robusta, meanwhile, is the hero behind traditional espresso shots and instant coffee. It’s the backbone of blends where you need more bang for your buck. Robusta has a higher crop yield than Arabica, it contains more caffeine, less sugar, is easier to care for, and is more resistant to disease. All of which make it cheaper to produce.

Arabica coffees are often preferred by coffee drinkers due to their richer and more complex range of flavour profiles, and general lack of harsh or unpleasant characteristics. Muuuuuuuuch tastier. 

Humble Brag’s signature coffee blend is 100% Arabica coffee grown in the world’s coffee powerhouse - Brazil. Ethically sourced, we know you’ll love the complex flavours and satisfying body in your cup.