Coffee bags often say "100% Arabica" as though that settles the question of quality. Others say Robusta and leave you wondering whether you have bought the cheap stuff. Almost all the coffee people drink comes from one of these two species, and they really are different. But one is not simply good and the other bad. They do different jobs, and knowing which is which helps you pick the right bag.
Two different plants
Arabica and Robusta are both coffee, but they are separate species of plant, a bit like lemons and limes.
Arabica
Arabica is native to the forests of Ethiopia. It prefers higher, cooler ground and is a more delicate plant, more easily troubled by heat and disease. It is the species behind most of the coffee sold as specialty, and the one with the widest range of flavours.
Robusta
Robusta is, as the name suggests, the tougher of the two. It grows on lower, warmer ground, copes better with heat and pests, and produces more coffee per plant. Vietnam is the best known Robusta country, and grows it on lower, flatter land in dense, regular rows.
You will also meet Robusta in places you might not expect. Many espresso blends include some of it, because it adds body and a thicker layer of crema on top of the shot.
How they taste
This is the difference you will notice first.
- Arabica tends to be sweeter and more aromatic, with more acidity. Depending on where it is grown, it can taste of chocolate and nuts, of citrus and stone fruit, or of berries and flowers. It is usually lighter in body.
- Robusta tends to be heavier, earthier and more bitter, with less acidity. It tastes roasted, nutty and strong, with a thick body and a long finish.
Neither of those is better. If you drink your coffee black and like to taste fruit, Arabica will suit you. If you want a coffee that tastes strong through a lot of milk, sugar and ice, Robusta does that job better.
Arabica is about flavour, Robusta is about strength - and both have a place.
Caffeine
Robusta generally contains noticeably more caffeine than Arabica. That is part of why it tastes more bitter, since caffeine itself is bitter. It is also part of why the plant is so hardy, because caffeine helps protect it from insects.
If you want a coffee with more of a kick, Robusta is the one to choose. If you are sensitive to caffeine, or drink coffee late in the day, Arabica is the gentler option.
What Steep sells
The Steep range has both, so it is worth knowing which is which before you order.
- Arabica: Brazil Rio Minas, Colombia and Ethiopia Sidamo.
- Robusta: Vietnam.
Each one tastes distinctly of where it is from:
- Brazil Rio Minas is nutty and milk chocolate, low in acid. The most forgiving Arabica in the range, and good with milk.
- Colombia tastes of orange and plum, clean and bright.
- Ethiopia Sidamo tastes of blackberry, orange and chocolate, fuller than an Ethiopian coffee is usually expected to be.
- Vietnam is earthy, roasted and nutty. The heaviest coffee in the range.
Every one of them can be ordered as whole bean or ground coarse, medium, fine or espresso, in Light, Medium, Medium Dark or Dark roast.
Which one should you buy?
Think about how you drink coffee, not which species sounds better.
Choose Arabica if
- You drink it black, or with only a little milk
- You use a pour-over, AeroPress or French press
- You want to taste fruit, chocolate or sweetness
Choose Robusta if
- You drink it with a lot of milk, sugar or condensed milk
- You make iced coffee and want it to stay strong
- You want more caffeine and a heavier, more bitter cup
If you grew up on doodh patti and want coffee with the same strength and comfort, Vietnam is a natural first step. If you are curious what coffee tastes like without milk, start with Brazil, then try Colombia or Ethiopia once you know what you like. Our guide on how to read a bag of coffee beans explains the rest of the label.
Try both
The quickest way to understand the difference is to taste it. Brew an Arabica and a Robusta side by side, black, and then again with milk. You will notice the difference straight away, and you will know which way you lean. For the strong side of that comparison, order Vietnam, our Robusta, delivered across Pakistan with cash on delivery.