Did you know that there are several types of coffee in the world and that the beverage we enjoy every morning is made from one of these varieties? Well, I can tell you that among the most popular and widely consumed coffees in the world is the Robusta variety, and it's probably the one you usually buy in supermarkets. Since you probably don't know where this coffee, so special to you, comes from, I'll briefly describe its origin, its characteristics, and its popularity in the international market.
Its full name is "Coffea Canhepora," but it is also known as "Robusta coffee," a species native to the equatorial forests of West Africa that accounts for 40% of global production. It grows mainly in Africa and Brazil, where it is known as "Conillón." Upon its discovery, it was found to be immune to the fungal pest known as "Hemiliea Vastatrix," which wipes out the "Arabica" coffee species, which is the most flavorful and most widely produced and sold in the world.
Origin of Robusta coffee
Its origin dates back to the 19th century and comes from the former Belgian Congo and the tropical forests of Uganda. It originally grew in West and Central Africa in countries such as Ethiopia, Tanzania, Liberia, and Angola. In 1900, it expanded to Southeast Asia and even reached South America, primarily Brazil. The appearance of the coffee leaf rust outbreak in 1800 forced producers in these regions to abandon the cultivation of Arabica coffee, as Robusta coffee varieties proved much better adapted to the hot, humid lowlands of Indonesia, Ceylon, India, and other regions where Arabica coffee had failed. Although it was soon discovered that the quality of the Robusta bean was significantly inferior to that of the Arabica variety, Robusta coffee displayed very favorable characteristics for these regions, as I will describe.
Characteristics of Robusta coffee
- It is a shrub or small tree that grows up to 10 meters tall.
- Its leaves are wide, large and pale green.
- The flowers are white and fragrant.
- The cherries are small but numerous and form large clusters.
- It usually gives consistent performance.
- It is resistant to pests and weather changes.
- It has a high concentration of caffeine, almost twice that of other varieties.
- It is a variety widely used for the espresso layer of cappuccino or latte.
- Its flavor is strong, earthy, bitter and not sweet.
- Robusta coffee is used to produce all the instant coffee that supplies every supermarket in the world.
Differences between Arabica coffee and Robusta coffee
You already know that although there are more than one hundred coffee varieties, only two are produced and sold: Arabica and Robusta. And although we know of the superiority of Arabica coffee, it's important to note some differences between the two, which, aside from the flavor, don't diminish the quality of the Robusta variety but rather strengthen it.
- Robusta beans are round and Arabica beans are oval.
- Arabica has a mild, sweet flavor. Robusta has a strong, bitter flavor.
- Robusta coffee contains almost twice as much caffeine as Arabica coffee, so it contains more antioxidants.
- Arabica requires a stable climate. Robusta tolerates a variety of climates.
- Arabica coffee is more susceptible. Robusta coffee is more immune to pests and fungi.
- The Arabica variety is native to Ethiopia and is now widely cultivated in Latin America. The Robusta coffee variety is native to West Africa but is now cultivated in Southeast Asia, with Vietnam being the main producer.
- Regarding quality, although the superiority of Arabica is recognized, it's important to note that high-quality Robusta coffee is very good, even if it isn't widely available. Furthermore, many excellent espresso blends use this variety for its strength and superior crema.
Robusta coffee in today's market
Robusta coffee production figures are growing steadily, and this strength is due to the fact that it is the raw material used in the majority of instant coffee sold worldwide. It is also a widely used ingredient in high-quality commercial coffee blends.
One of the countries considered new to the global coffee market is Vietnam. Since 1990, its production has increased considerably, becoming the second-largest coffee producer in the world, especially through the cultivation of the Robusta variety.
Finally, I would like to inform you that in Colombia, the world's leading producer of mild coffee, the possibility of promoting the cultivation of Robusta coffee is being studied, considering that the supply of mild coffee has decreased, especially due to the way climate change has affected the producing areas. Remember that the Robusta variety can be grown in warm, low-lying, and humid areas, a stimulus that has led to the consideration of lands such as the humid Caribbean in the north, Putumayo in the south, and the Eastern Plains in the center as future growing and producing regions of the Robusta coffee species or variety.