COFFEE VARIETY
Character |
Arabica |
Robusta |
Fruit Shape |
Round / Oblong |
Round |
Fruit length (cm) |
1.0 – 1.5 |
0.8 – 1.5 |
Seed Shape |
Oval |
Oval |
No. Fresh Berry / kg |
500 – 750 |
650 – 1000 |
% Green Bean from fresh bean |
20 – 25 |
18 – 25 |
Caffeine Content |
0.7 – 1.7 |
2.0 – 2.6 |
Acidity (pH) |
4.95 -5.15 |
5.25 – 5.40 |
Aromatic and Taste quality |
Acceptable |
Very Good |
Arabica
Arabica represents approximately 70 percent of the world's coffee production. The arabica plant is typically a large bush with dark green, oval-shaped leaves that can reach a height of 14 to 20 feet fully grown. Its fruits are oval and usually contain two flat seeds.
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Arabica Roasted Bean
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Arabica Green Bean
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Its content in caffeine is relatively low (between 0,9% and 1,5%). Its cultivation is more delicate and it requires bigger cares. Their fruits are round, soft, slightly sour, chocolate color, and intense perfume.
Caffeine content
Arabica coffee contains less caffeine than Robusta: typical values for roast and ground coffee are 1.3% for Arabica and 2.4% for Robusta. As a result, the caffeine intake after one coffee cup brewed from pure Arabica is normally lower than 100 mg, whereas Robusta can give as much as 200 mg or more per cup.
Beverage quality
It is widely agreed that Arabica blends produce a fine coffee cup with more acidity, refined aroma and caramellic after-taste. Robusta characteristics are contrastingly low acidity, objectionable aromas and a woody after-taste.
Arabica Characteristics
• Self fertility: one single plant may produce vital seeds without cross-pollinating with different individuals (such as the case in canephora)
• Tree posture: erect; the canopy is wide and the shrub may reach a height of 3m in varieties such as Bourbon
• Leaf shape and dimension: the leaf shape is elongated and the dimension is smaller than that of robusta
Fruit and seed shape: both the fruit and seed shape are more elongated than robusta. Seed dimensions range from small to very large (such as the Maragogype variety)
Robusta
Robust or Canephora
Robusta Green Bean
Robusta, which can grow up to 32 feet in height as a shrub or tree, has a shallow root system. The fruits are round and take nearly a year to mature. The seeds are oval and smaller than the arabica beans.
More precocious, more resistant and more productive than the other ones. It is cultivated in low lands, with plants of more span, lower costs and prices, therefore, more affordable. Their grains are fewer perfumed, spicy and astringent, and their content is very superior in caffeine (between 2% and 4,5%).
Its main characteristics include:
• Prostrated tree posture.
• Large leaf dimension.
• Round seed shape.
• High caffeine content.
• Innate pest and parasite resistance.
