Is Robusta Coffee Vegan?

What is robusta coffee?

Robusta coffee, also known as coffea canephora, is a species of coffee that calls Central and western sub-Saharan Africa its home. It’s a species of the flowering Rubiaceae plant family and produces a greater crop yield and higher caffeine level than most other coffee plants. 

Where is robusta coffee grown?

Whilst it may have originated in Central and Western parts of Africa, the crop is now also grown across the globe in Vietnam, Indonesia and other parts of South-East Asia. Robusta makes up around 25% of the coffee grown worldwide.    

Why do people drink robusta coffee? 

As well as having a higher caffeine content (around 25% more than arabica), robusta has lower acidity levels too – this generally means that it tastes much less sweet and it’s also been known to produce tones of wood or burnt rubber due to its less complex acidity and flavour profiles. 

Is robusta coffee vegan? 

Yes, as with all types of coffee bean, at its most basic level it is vegan-friendly as it’s purely plant-based. Things become a lot less clear around how ethical some coffee is, but that’s another topic (always opt for Fairtrade where possible).

If you’re making a pot, we take ours with oat milk!