Rarely Known Characteristics of Robusta Coffee

Robusta Coffee, the Coffee with Robust Flavor

Robusta derives its name from ‘robust’ which means strong. True to its name, robusta coffee is characterized by a very strong taste, with a more bitter flavor compared to Arabica coffee. The bitter taste of Robusta coffee indicates that it has less sugar content than Arabica coffee and higher caffeine levels. Typically, the flavor of Robusta coffee is less varied, often leaning towards nutty aromas.

The Bold Flavor of Robusta Coffee as an Ideal Base

Due to its bitter and strong flavor, Robusta coffee is well-suited as a base for various coffee creations. Apart from being used in espresso, robusta coffee is often chosen as the foundational element for crafting a variety of milk-based coffee drinks, such as Cappuccino, Latte, Macchiato, and various other coffee delicacies.

Robusta coffee is considered suitable as the base for milk-based coffee drinks because it has a low sugar content, making it ideal for blending with other sugar components such as brown sugar, white sugar, or even palm sugar.

It's not uncommon for people to blend Robusta and Arabica coffee in a single coffee creation, as the acidic taste of Robusta and the flavor variations of Arabica can combine to produce a unique and novel taste.

Read Also: Interesting Facts About Robusta Coffee

Robust Plant Characteristics

To understand the characteristics of Robusta coffee better, we also need to explore the traits of the Robusta coffee plant. Robusta coffee is typically grown in wet tropical climates. It thrives in lowland areas, exhibiting resilience to heat and better resistance to pests. Given the ease of cultivating Robusta coffee, it is often found in Indonesia and is usually available at affordable prices.

Young Robusta coffee cherries are usually green, transforming into a red hue as they ripen. After reaching maturity, the coffee cherries will not fall off; instead, they remain firmly attached to the stems. In terms of shape, Robusta coffee beans tend to be smaller compared to Arabica coffee beans.

The Less-Acidic Robusta Coffee

The taste of Robusta coffee, while bitter, is generally less acidic than Arabica coffee. Arabica coffee carries fruity aromas and flavors, making it slightly more acidic. This also makes the characteristics of Robusta coffee suitable as the base for various coffee drink variations.

If you're not a fan of the bitter taste of coffee, consider sweetening your Robusta coffee with sugar or enhancing it with caramel syrup or milk to balance out the bitterness.

So, those are some characteristics of Robusta coffee worth knowing. If you prefer coffee without the acidic taste, Robusta coffee might be the right recommendation for you. To enjoy Robusta coffee, you can brew NESCAFÉ Classic and try various cafe-style recipes here