What Are the Two Basic Types of Coffee?

What are the two basic types of coffee? There are two main varieties of coffee beans available in American grocery stores: Arabica and Robusta. You might be asking, are there any differences between Arabica and Robusta? Absolutely, there are. Let's dive in.

Arabica

Arabica is considered the most popular coffee type. Many coffee enthusiasts prefer using Arabica beans because of their sweet taste and more complex flavor, with usual hints of sugar, fruit, and berries that you can drink straight. This coffee variety also tends to have higher acidity, giving them a wine-like taste. As a result, Arabica is usually more expensive. Arabica is also grown in Africa and Papua New Guinea but predominantly in Latin America. Interestingly, even though it's the most popular, Arabica doesn't have as much caffeine as Robusta. 

Robusta

While the most widely consumed coffee bean is Arabica, Robusta is a more potent variety. Robusta has a more robust and harsh flavor, with hints of grain and a nutty finish. This coffee variety has twice the caffeine content of Arabica beans, so it packs a bunch. Due to its naturally bitter taste, Robusta is commonly utilized in espresso beverages and instant coffee blends. Some robusta varieties are highly valued, particularly in espressos, for their rich flavor and good crema.

Robusta is also simpler to cultivate. It thrives at lower elevations than arabica plants and is less susceptible to pests and weather conditions. It bears fruit much more rapidly than arabica plants, which take several years to mature and produce a higher yield per tree.

Robusta is grown only on the Eastern Hemisphere, primarily in Africa and Indonesia. Colombia only produces arabica beans, while some countries like Brazil and India produce both robusta and arabica beans.

Differences Between the Arabica and Robusta

Once the beans are roasted, they might appear quite similar to the untrained eye. Arabica and robusta beans differ in taste, growing conditions, and price, making it essential to understand the distinctions when choosing coffee:

1. Taste

Robusta beans are known for their robust and bold flavor, often described as earthy or woody, with a more pronounced bitterness. They typically have a higher caffeine content, which contributes to their bitter flavor.

2. Caffeine Content

If you prefer a morning coffee with a strong kick, opt for Robusta beans. With up to 2.7% caffeine content, they offer a potent and bitter flavor. However, if you enjoy a milder, sweeter cup that offers a subtle energy boost, Arabica beans are the way to go, as they contain approximately 1.5% caffeine.

3. Lipid & Sugar Content

Arabica has nearly 60% more lipids and almost double the sugar concentration compared to Robusta. This likely significantly influences our preference for Arabica's taste profile.

4. Price

Arabica Coffee Beans, on average, are more expensive than their Robusta counterparts, with the price going significantly higher for speciality or premium Arabica beans. Because the Robusta plant is hardier and more resistant to plant diseases and pests that can damage the beans, it can be produced in larger quantities and is typically used in blends and instant coffee.

5. Yield and Farming

Due to the higher caffeine content, which acts as a natural defense mechanism, robusta plants are easier to cultivate, produce a higher yield, and are less vulnerable to insects. These advantages contribute to increased supply and reduced production costs for farmers. Consequently, many coffee roasters used to incorporate Robusta into their blends to cut costs and boost profits. However, this practice led to a decline in the overall quality of coffee in the 1900s as companies prioritized maximizing profits over maintaining quality.

6. Usage in Blends

In espresso blends, the use of Robusta varies. Interestingly, Italian-style blends still commonly incorporate Robusta, to enhance the crema. Despite Arabica often being considered higher quality, Robusta beans are prized in espresso blends because they produce a rich, thick crema. The crema is the creamy, frothy layer that forms on top of an espresso shot, and robusta beans contribute to a denser and more visually appealing crema due to their higher oil content.

7. Shape

The arabica and robusta coffee bean species can easily be distinguished by their shape and size. Arabica beans are oval, while Robusta beans are round. Arabica beans are oval due to the shorter plants they come from, while Robusta beans are rounder because the plants that produce them are taller. These differences in bean shape indicate broader variations between the two types of coffee, including instant coffee.

Overall, robusta coffee beans play a significant role in the coffee industry, offering unique characteristics that differentiate them from their arabica counterparts.

Which types of coffee beans have the most caffeine?

Robusta coffee beans have higher caffeine than Arabica beans, making them an excellent choice for a Monday morning pick-me-up.

How many types of coffee are there?

We have covered the two most common types of coffee beans, but there are four other varieties available: Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa, and Liberica. Find out more here.

Types of Coffee Drinks for Coffee Lovers

Nothing quite compares to a piping hot mug of coffee to kickstart your morning. Whether you prefer a classic black brew or a creamy and sweet mocha latte, here are some popular choices for coffee connoisseurs.

• Black Coffee: Essentially the basic form of coffee, Black Coffee is made by steeping plain ground coffee beans in high-temperature water. It is typically served without any additional sugar, milk, or flavorings. To sound sophisticated, you can refer to it as black coffee's proper name: cafe noir. Because it's not mixed with milk or sugar, the quality of the coffee is particularly important. Try our coffee bundle to discover your preferred type of morning hustle fuel.
• Decaf: Naturally, coffee beans contain caffeine, but roasters can employ various methods to eliminate almost all of it. Decaf coffee is prepared using decaffeinated beans.
• Espresso: Espresso shots and black coffee use the same beans, but their brewing process differs. Espresso uses finely ground beans and a higher grounds-to-water ratio, creating a thicker and more concentrated liquid with a stronger coffee flavor.
  A single shot of espresso can be drunk or used as the base for coffee beverages such as lattes and macchiatos.
• Latte: The latte is the most widely enjoyed coffee beverage. It typically consists of 1/3 espresso and 2/3 steamed milk, which is then finished with a thin layer of foam.
  You can experiment at home with flavored syrups such as vanilla and pumpkin spice or create a nondairy version by using oat milk.
• Cappuccino: Cappuccino is a latte with a higher proportion of foam than steamed milk. It is often topped with a sprinkling of cinnamon or cocoa powder. This espresso drink has a thicker, frothy top layer.
• Macchiato: Macchiato is one of the popular types of espresso-based drink. It has a small amount of steamed milk or foam. In Italian, macchiato means “stained” or “spotted,” so a caffè macchiato refers to coffee that's been “stained” with milk.
• Americano: The Americano has a flavor similar to black coffee and is made by diluting an espresso shot with hot water. When you order an Americano, you'll receive a shot of espresso diluted with hot water. A pro tip for making your own Americano is to pour the espresso first and then add the hot water.
• Café au Lait: This fancy-sounding French drink is actually quite simple: It consists of equal parts coffee and steamed or scalded milk.
• Cortado: This beverage, originating from Spain, consists of equal parts espresso and steamed milk. In contrast to various Italian coffee beverages, it generally has minimal to no foam. It is commonly presented in a 4.5-ounce glass.
• Flat White: This type originates from Australia and New Zealand. This beverage is similar to a latte, as it contains espresso and steamed milk, but the proportion of espresso to milk is greater. Baristas also incorporate a folding technique when steaming the milk, resulting in a smoother texture. 
• Mocha Latte: This latte variation is sweetened with sugar and chocolate, typically in the shape of cocoa powder, melted chocolate, or syrup.

What are the strong coffee drinks?

If you're having trouble deciding between these coffees and want a robust taste, opt for the Ristretto. Ristretto is made with even less water—no milk or sugar—resulting in espresso's pure, intense coffee flavor.

What is the sweetest type among the popular coffee drinks?

If you enjoy the impact of caffeine in your morning cup of coffee but don't particularly like its bitter flavor, you might prefer a sweeter taste. The most readily available and sweetest is a mocha latte, which includes chocolate for sweetness and milk to cover the bitterness.

The Best Types of Coffee Beans for You

Roasting plays a big part in the quality of coffee. We know this, so at Hustle Coffee, we roast our bold Robusta beans only to the highest standard as determined by the IAC. Our roasters have years of experience, bringing out the best quality in our blends while keeping them strong and robust.

In the end, it all comes down to personal preference. Some all-arabica blends may be overly floral and intense for your liking, while robusta's strong, bold qualities can enhance a blend. It's important to remember that robusta contains double the caffeine content of arabica, so this should be considered when choosing the right blend. You can try our coffee blends in the shop if you want to explore your preferences.

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