Photo: placeholder pending image-fill pass
Arabica vs Robusta in Indian coffee
Indian coffee output is shared between two commercial species: Coffea arabica (arabica) and Coffea canephora var. robusta (robusta). According to Coffee Board of India statistics, total Indian production has grown to roughly 350,000-360,000 tonnes/year, of which robusta supplies about 70% and arabica 30%. The two species differ in elevation range, cup profile, agronomy and pest susceptibility, and Indian growers commonly maintain both in adjacent blocks on the same estate.
Botanical and agronomic differences
| Trait | Arabica | Robusta |
|---|---|---|
| Species | C. arabica (allotetraploid, self-fertile) | C. canephora (diploid, self-sterile) |
| Elevation | 900-1,600 m | 500-1,000 m |
| Temperature | 15-25 °C | 20-30 °C |
| Caffeine | 1.0-1.5% | 1.7-3.5% |
| Cup | aromatic, mild acidity, soft body | strong, full-body, bitter, low acidity |
| Yield (India avg) | 600-900 kg/ha | 1,000-1,400 kg/ha |
| Shade | obligate, two-tier | tolerant, lighter shade or open |
| Leaf rust | susceptible | resistant |
| White stem borer | highly susceptible | non-host |
| Berry borer | susceptible | susceptible |
Indian production geography
Arabica dominates the higher elevations of Chikmagalur, Coorg (Madikeri, Somwarpet), Hassan, the Wayanad-Nilgiri-Idukki belt and the Araku valley of the Eastern Ghats. Robusta dominates Coorg's lower elevations, Wayanad, Travancore (Kerala) and parts of Karnataka's Chikmagalur plains. The Western Ghats account for about 90% of Indian coffee, with the Eastern Ghats (Araku, Pavurallakonda) and the North-Eastern hills as smaller emerging zones.
Variety scope
Indian arabica is built around CCRI Balehonnur selections including Coffee Arabica S 795 Selection, Sln 6, Coffee Arabica Sln 9 Saln 12, Coffee Arabica Cauvery Catimor and Coffee Arabica Chandragiri. Indian robusta is dominated by S.274 and the high-yielding interspecific hybrid Congensis × Robusta — Coffee Robusta Cxr Coffea Canephora.
Pests, diseases and pricing
Arabica is highly vulnerable to leaf rust (Coffee Leaf Rust Hemileia Vastatrix) and to white stem borer (Coffee White Stem Borer Xylotrechus); robusta is largely free of both. Both species are attacked by coffee berry borer (Coffee Berry Borer Hypothenemus). On global futures, arabica trades at a premium of US$1-2/lb over robusta. India's specialty arabica grades (Mysore Plantation, Monsooned Malabar — Coffee Monsooned Malabar Gi) command further premiums in European specialty markets.
Related entries
See also: Coffee Arabica S 795 Selection, Coffee Robusta Cxr Coffea Canephora, Coffee Shade Cultivation Silver Oak, Coffee Leaf Rust Hemileia Vastatrix, Coffee Monsooned Malabar Gi.
Sources
- Indian Coffee Statistics - Coffee Board of India. Coffee Board of India.
- Database on Coffee - CCRI. Central Coffee Research Institute.