What's Robusta?


As a Coffee Lover-  you prob know there's 2 Main Coffee Bean Varieties:

Arabica  + Robusta 

Modern Trends lean towards lighter roasts and only using 100% Arabica beans. 

But we grew up drinking Italian style, and Vietnamese coffee. So we LOVE full bodied, dark Robusta/Ara blends, or even 100% Robusta beans . 

And it turns out , lots of others do too! So we saw a little niche that deserves to be filled..

Robusta Characteristics:

  • Bold Flavor: Robusta has a distinctive taste with Mocha, Nutty, Choc or Oak barrel notes
  • Higher Caffeine: Contains nearly twice the caffeine of Arabica beans 
  • Vietnamese Tradition: Robusta is the foundation of traditional Vietnamese coffee culture
  • Perfect for Espresso: Creates excellent crema and adds body to espresso blends. Traditional style Italian should contain ~ 30% Robusta.

At F.O.B Vietnamese Coffee, we celebrate the unique qualities of Robusta beans and their important role in Italian + Vietnamese coffee culture.

Green Robusta Beans:

 

Roasted Robusta:

 

Q: Why Use a Robusta blend instead of the usual 100% Arabica?

A: Because it's stronger, more body, and holds up beautifully in milk based drinks, or iced coffee. .. Its the chosen blend for 100s of millions of Italians, Indonesians, Vietnamese and Malaysians.

Q: Is Robusta bitter? 

A: Slightly more because of the high caffeine level in each bean. However we avoid bitterness by carefully selecting only the best beans and roasting carefully.

Q: Why should I try FOB Robusta?

A: Because you want coffee that tastes like coffee right? Not autumn leaves or peaches ...It’s got crema, it’s got punch, and it’s how coffee is done in Vietnam.

Q: Is it strong?

A: Very

Q: How do I brew FOB coffee?

A: However you like—but we recommend:

☑️ Phin filter (traditional Vietnamese drip)

☑️ Espresso shot ,slightly cooler than Arabica  

☑️ Iced coffee with sweetened milk

and some use cold brew


Q: Is Robusta Coffee good for you?

A: Yep—but like all good things, in moderation.  Robusta packs more caffeine and antioxidants than Arabica, which means:

  • 🛡️ Antioxidants: Robusta chlorogenic acids (a natural antioxidant) , which help fight inflammation and oxidative stress.
  • 💪 Fewer chemicals: Robusta plants are naturally pest-resistant, so they’re grown with fewer pesticides than Arabica—especially when sourced from smallholder farms like ours.
  • Much Lower acidity than Arabica, so it's easier on the stomach 

  

 

(Will Nguyen, Fine Cherry producers)

Vietnamese Robusta is considered some of the best in the world for several reasons:

Ideal Climate & Soil – Vietnam has perfect growing conditions for Robusta, with rich volcanic soil, high humidity, and optimal temperatures in regions like the Central Highlands (Buôn Ma Thuột, Đắk Lắk).

Try our FOB Espresso in an almond flat white, or our Vietnamese style with ice and condensed milk and thank us later! 

 David and Lien- FOB Coffee