Robusta coffee is derived from the word 'robust', which means strong, according to the description of posture (body) or a strong level of consistency. Robusta coffee is not a species because these types derived from the species Coffea canephora.
Robusta can grow in the lowlands, but the best location to cultivate this plant at an altitude of 400-800 meters above sea level. Optimal temperature for development ranges 24-30oC robusta coffee with rainfall 2000-3000 mm per year.
Robusta coffee is very suitable to be planted in the wet tropics. With intensive cultivation will begin to bear fruit at the age of 2.5 years. In order to bear fruit well, this plant requires a dry period of 3-4 months in a year with a few drops of rain.
Robusta coffee plants require loose soil rich in organic matter. The level of soil acidity (pH) is ideal for this crop 5.5-6.5. Robusta coffee is grown under shade trees recommended another.
Branch reproduction or Robusta coffee grows upright. Coffee fruit is produced from primary branches that grow horizontally. The primary branches sufficiently flexible to form a canopy like an umbrella.
Rounded leaf shape like an egg with the pointed ends to blunt leaves. Its leaves grow on the trunk, branches and twigs. On the trunk and branches grow perpendicular to the alternating arrangement of the leaves. While on the twigs and branches of the pair leaves grow horizontally on the same plane. Robusta is relatively resistant to leaf rust disease.
Robusta coffee plants have started flowering at the age of 2 years. Flowers growing in the armpits primary branches. Each armpit there are interest groups 3-4. Flowers usually bloom in early summer. In contrast to arabica, robusta coffee flowers are cross-pollinating.
The young fruit is green, turn red after riped. Despite having a full fledged, robusta coffee cherries securely attached to the stem. Duration of flowering until the fruit is ready for harvest around 10-11 months.
Robusta coffee plants have shallow roots. Therefore, it requires fertile soil and rich in organic content. The plant is also quite sensitive to drought.
Robusta coffee clones
Robusta coffee is derived from some species, especially canephora. Perhaps for that reason, the source of plant seeds for robusta varieties but not called clones.
Same with the varieties of arabica, robusta clones in Indonesia was developed by the Research Center for Koka. Here are some types of Robusta coffee clones recommended the agency:
- BP308 clones. This clone is superior plants that are resistant to nematode attack. Another specialty robusta clone is tolerant of infertile soil. BP308 is recommended to be used as rootstock, while the upper trunk connected with the other clones are adapted to local agro-climatic.
- Clones BP42. Clones of this type have productivity 800-1200 kg / ha / year. Medium stature with many branches and short ruasnya. The resulting large fruit and dompolannya meeting.
- Clones SA436. Has a fairly high productivity, reach 1600-2800 kg / ha / year. These clones form of small grains and the size is not uniform.
- BP234 clones. Productivity 800-1200 kg / ha / year. Stature slim with long, flexible branching. Fruit grain size is rather small and not uniform.
Product Characteristics
in Market, robusta coffee is sold at a lower price than the arabica. This causes a disincentive to farmers. So as to save the cost of production of robusta coffee farmers tend to ignore the post-harvest handling. In turn would make the quality of the resulting coffee is low.
Robusta coffee flavour is not as strong as Arabica, with a viscosity level (body) moderate to severe and bitter flavors. The caffeine content of Robusta coffee more than doubled arabica, which ranges from 1.7 to 4%.
Commerce of Robusta coffee
Approximately 99% of the world coffee trade is robusta and arabica. Robusta coffee produced by the countries of Asia-Pacific and Africa, while arabica coffee produced by South American countries. The largest producer of robusta coffee is Vietnam.
There is a paradox in the development of robusta coffee trade. In the 1950s when it was first traded on the London market, the price is relatively the same level with arabica. At that time the proportion of robusta coffee market share of 25-30% and 70-75% arabica.
Things began to change when there is an increase in production of robusta coffee. Currently where its market share rose above 30%, the price dropped by almost half under arabica. Of course this is very worrying given more than 80% of Indonesia's coffee production is robusta.
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