Most of the coffee beans you see at the supermarket, market, cafeteria and coffee shop are Arabica coffee. Some brands mix Arabica and Robusta coffee beans, especially espresso blends. But most of it is Arabica coffee. A big difference between Arabica and Robusta coffees are the conditions in which they are grown.
Arabica coffee is grown more than 600 m away on mountain tops and tropical environments. Whereas Robusta coffee is grown anywhere from sea level to about 600 m. Robusta coffees also produce harder fruit and are therefore not as susceptible to annoying insects. Arabica, on the other hand, is more fragile and can be damaged by insects.
The grain, which is now mainly produced in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, accounts for approximately 2% of the world's coffee supply. Arabica beans are by far the most popular type of coffee bean, accounting for about 60% of the world's coffee. As mentioned before, Arabica is the most common (and certainly the most commercialized) type of coffee in North America. In fact, it represents between 60 and 70% of the coffee produced worldwide, but there are other types that are much less common in the United States.
The extra effort is worth it, as you'll get significantly better flavor and freshness, no matter what type of coffee bean you choose. If you're an avid coffee drinker, you've probably wondered how many different types of coffee beans there are and what makes them unique. At the end of the day, if taking a daily dose of caffeine is taking a daily dose of caffeine in a cup of coffee, you would probably do just as well to opt for a standard cup of Robusta and cut out the flavor with cream and sugar.
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