14/09/ 2025, 11:50 Arabica vs Robusta Coffee Beans | Starbucks® Coffee at Home
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Why Arabica?
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14/09/ 2025, 11:50 Arabica vs Robusta Coffee Beans | Starbucks® Coffee at Home
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COFFEE AT HOME
QUICK FACTS
The two most common coffee tree species
01/ (02
ARABICA
refined flavor with higher
ROBUSTA
harsher that
taste ’s often
acidity and more complexity compared to burnt rubber
CAFFEINE CAFFEINE
approx . 1% A approx . 2%
£ caffeine
caffeine by “ by
weight weight
ELEVATION
grows best ELEVATION
at higher thrives
elevations j at lower
elevations
PRODUCTION PRODUCTION
70.98 million bags 41.86 million bags
exported globally * exported globally *
‘Source: International Coffee Organization
Range: Feb. 2015 - Feb. 2016
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ft
W A A X.
^ XX X « X X
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Beans
At first glance, robusta might seem like the preferable tree: it ’s more
resistant to diseases, drought and pests, grows at lower altitudes,
produces more coffee cherries and is cheaper.
“So, what ’s the problem? Well, the flavor. It comes down to flavor .
And that less refined flavor is absolutely the reason we don’t even
touch it,” said Starbucks coffee engagement manager Aaron
Robinson.
The high - quality flavor of arabica beans is grounded in elevation.
Arabica trees thrive at higher altitudes than robusta, typically
between 3,000 and 6,000 feet. At these elevations, hot days and
cool nights slow down the growth of coffee cherries. This gives the
cherries and the coffee beans inside more time to develop, creating
a more refined flavor.
“It can be elegant. It can be complex. It can have body and acidity
that is interesting and can be used and played with and blended into
new, interesting tastes,” Robinson said.
That’s why Starbucks only buys arabica coffee beans.
BLEN
'
What are Green
“Attiie end of the day, ourT ..'^*-
Sustainable
11
Robinson s '/iS!”
Sustainability
1 SOURCING
Coffee Beans? Coffee Farms is at the Heart
of Starbucks
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vvneie LU Duy
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