Robusta is a sturdy species of
coffee bean with higher acidity and high bitterness; it is used primarily in
instant coffee,
espresso, and as a filler in ground coffee blends. The bean comes from the
Coffea robusta variety of the
Coffea canephora plant (widely known itself by the synonym
Coffea robusta) which has its origins in central and western sub-Saharan
Africa. Robusta is easy to care for, has a greater crop yield, has almost double the amount of caffeine and more antioxidants, and is less susceptible to disease than
arabica coffea. Roasted robusta beans produce a strong, full-bodied coffee with a distinctive, earthy flavour, but usually with more bitterness than arabica due to its high
pyrazine content.