---
type: Object
title: Robusta
description: The hardier of the two commercial coffee species (Coffea canephora) —
  higher-yielding and higher-caffeine, but harsher and more bitter in the cup.
aliases:
- Coffea canephora
tags:
- coffee
- species
- botany
- caffeine
resource: raw/coffee-guide.md
timestamp: '2026-07-16T14:53:19Z'
citadel_version: 0.3.0
---

Robusta is the trade name universally used for *Coffea canephora*.[^s1] It is a hardier plant than [Arabica](arabica.md): it thrives at lower elevations and in warmer, more humid climates than Arabica can tolerate, is more resistant to disease and pests, is more forgiving of difficult growing conditions, and produces a higher yield per plant — agronomic advantages that make it cheaper to cultivate.[^s2] In the cup, Robusta is generally described as harsher and more bitter than Arabica, with an earthy or woody character and a heavier body.[^s2]

Robusta contains about twice the caffeine of Arabica, a difference that contributes both to its more aggressive taste and to its natural resistance to insects, since [caffeine](../concepts/caffeine.md) acts as a chemical deterrent in the plant.[^s2][^s3] It is widely used in instant [coffee](coffee.md) and in espresso blends, where it lends body and a thick, stable layer of crema.[^s2]

## See also
- [Coffee](coffee.md)
- [Arabica](arabica.md)
- [Caffeine](../concepts/caffeine.md)

## Sources
[^s1]: [raw/coffee-guide.md](../../raw/coffee-guide.md), line 9 — species name and trade name (ingested 2026-07-16)
[^s2]: [raw/coffee-guide.md](../../raw/coffee-guide.md), line 13 — Robusta's growing conditions, cup character, caffeine content, and uses (ingested 2026-07-16)
[^s3]: [raw/coffee-health-faq.md](../../raw/coffee-health-faq.md), line 33 — Robusta about twice the caffeine of Arabica (ingested 2026-07-16)
