What is the difference between Arabica and Robusta beans?
There are two basic categories of coffee: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica beans (named for the Arabs) are considered to be of much greater quality and taste than Robusta beans. Therefore, at New England Coffee, we only use 100% Arabica beans. Arabica beans are more flavorful and aromatic and have a sweet, acidic taste. They have less caffeine (about half the amount found in Robusta) and are predominately grown in higher elevations. These beans are extremely delicate and are threatened by, direct sunlight and disease making them more difficult to grow and harvest. These hand-picked beans account for 75% of all world coffee production. Conversely, Robusta beans (named for their hardiness) have a strong, harsh, and bitter taste. They are grown in low altitudes and are much more resilient and disease-resistant that Arabica beans. These machine-harvested beans are mostly used in instant coffee and commercial blends.
There are two basic categories of coffee: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica beans (named for the Arabs) are considered to be of much greater quality and taste than Robusta beans. Therefore, at New England Coffee, we only use 100% Arabica beans. Arabica beans are more flavorful and aromatic and have a sweet, acidic taste. They have less caffeine (about half the amount found in Robusta) and are predominately grown in higher elevations. These beans are extremely delicate and are threatened by, direct sunlight and disease – making them more difficult to grow and harvest. These hand-picked beans account for 75% of all world coffee production. Conversely, Robusta beans (named for their hardiness) have a strong, harsh, and bitter taste. They are grown in low altitudes and are much more resilient and disease-resistant that Arabica beans. These machine-harvested beans are mostly used in instant coffee and commercial blends.
