robusta

noun

ro·​bus·​ta rō-ˈbə-stə How to pronounce robusta (audio)
often attributive
1
: a hardy shrub or tree (Coffea canephora) that is indigenous to central Africa but has been introduced elsewhere (as in Java) and yields seeds that form a usually lower quality coffee of commerce than that of arabica
2
: the seeds of robusta especially roasted and often ground

Examples of robusta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Although farmers combated the fungus with a shift to supposedly resistant robusta crops in the 1950s, the reprieve was short-lived. Lily Peck, The Conversation, 17 Feb. 2026 In warmer areas of Brazil where arabica can’t grow, coffee producers are finding ways to produce robusta and mitigate the impact of hotter temperatures. Renata Carlos Daou, Fortune, 30 Nov. 2025 The two most common varieties are Coffea arabica and Coffea robusta. Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025 An espresso martini takes on the bold profile of robusta beans typically used in ca phe sua da. Bao Ong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for robusta

Word History

Etymology

New Latin robusta, specific epithet of Coffea robusta, synonym of Coffea canephora

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of robusta was in 1909

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Robusta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/robusta. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

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