robusta

noun, often attributive

ro·bus·ta | \ rō-ˈbə-stə

How to pronounce robusta (audio)

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Definition of robusta

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 Vietnam is the world’s biggest producer of robusta used in espresso and instant coffee, and delays could cut shipments in coming months. — Mai Ngoc Chau, Bloomberg.com, "La Nina Deluge Seen Delaying Harvest in Top Robusta Supplier," 18 Oct. 2020 Total output in the world’s largest robusta grower is forecast at 1.7 million tons, a 6% decline from the 2019-20 season, according to 13 traders and analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. — Mai Ngoc Chau, Bloomberg.com, "La Nina Deluge Seen Delaying Harvest in Top Robusta Supplier," 18 Oct. 2020 Almost all coffee producers grow just two species: arabica, highly vulnerable to rust, and robusta, less vulnerable but less tasty too. — Maryn Mckenna, The Atlantic, "Coffee Is Under Attack," 16 Sep. 2020 Other prickly-pear varieties with edible fruit include the dinner plate (Opuntia robusta) and the Indian fig (O. ficus-indica). — Sunset Magazine, "50+ Things to Do in Your Garden Now," 10 Sep. 2020 The coffee bean comes in two basic families, arabica and the inferior (though easier to grow) robusta. — Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, "The War on Coffee," 20 Apr. 2020 What fills our mugs at cafes, the office, and on road trips are from two species: arabica and canephora, known as robusta. — Dawn Mackeen, New York Times, "Is Coffee Good for You?," 13 Feb. 2020 Arabica fills specialty cafes, and costs more than robusta, which fuels instant coffees and some espressos. — Dawn Mackeen, New York Times, "Is Coffee Good for You?," 13 Feb. 2020 In terms of flavor profile, the robusta variety boasts nearly two times the caffeine content of its counterpart and gives off a nutty, full, dark, chocolaty taste. — Fortune, "The First U.S. Importer, Roaster, and Distributor of Vietnamese Coffee Talks of Shifting Industry," 29 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'robusta.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

14 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Robusta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/robusta. Accessed 1 Mar. 2021.

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