robusta

noun

ro·​bus·​ta rō-ˈbə-stə 

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

While Vietnam is the world’s largest supplier of robusta, extreme weather and years of low profits prior to last year’s price surge led some farmers to switch to other crops. —Dayanne Sousa, Fortune Asia, 2 Mar. 2024

Researchers are confident there are other varieties of robusta in Vietnam with qualities worth studying. —Nhung Nguyen, Washington Post, 15 May 2023

London futures for robusta surpassed $2,600 a metric ton last week, and on May 22 reached their highest closing level since 2010, according to research firm BMI. —WSJ, 30 May 2023

Farming this way makes stronger robusta and eventually, Nguyen said, tastier coffee. —Nhung Nguyen, Washington Post, 15 May 2023

Vulcanops hails from New Zealand, home of burrowing bats including the now-extinct Mystacina robusta, shown here in an artist rendering. —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 11 Jan. 2018

Significant research is being poured into robusta, widely understudied until recently. —Nhung Nguyen, Washington Post, 15 May 2023

On his six acres Mr. John now has just 50 robustas, and 1,000 Libericas. —Somini Sengupta, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2023

Shohet believes, then and now, that high-quality robusta can compete with arabica. —Dallas News, 7 Feb. 2023

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