Reference
Robusta and Conilon: one species, two names
Conilon is the Brazilian name for Robusta coffee. They are not two coffees and they are not two grades — they are two trade names for one species, Coffea canephora, used in different rooms.
Are Conilon and Robusta the same coffee?
Yes. Both names describe Coffea canephora. Conilon is the Brazilian regional name, Robusta the international trade name. A coffee sold as Conilon in São Paulo and one sold as Robusta in Hamburg are the same species, and often literally the same coffee under two labels.
The split is historical rather than technical. Brazilian canephora production began in Espírito Santo around a variety group locally called Conilon, and the name spread through the domestic trade while the export market standardised on Robusta. Neither term implies anything about quality, preparation or grade.
Why does the naming matter commercially?
Because buyers search for what they know. A European importer searching for Robusta will not find a page that only says Conilon, and a Brazilian roaster searching for conilon will not find one that only says Robusta. Using both terms together is the only way to be findable in both markets.
It also matters in contracts. A specification that names the species botanically — Coffea canephora — removes any ambiguity about what is being sold, which is why serious contracts do exactly that and use the trade name only as a convenience.
How does Robusta differ from Arabica?
Robusta carries roughly double the caffeine, more body, lower acidity and higher chlorogenic acid content, and it produces markedly more crema. Arabica has higher perceived acidity, lighter body and more aromatic complexity. They are different species priced against different futures contracts.
| Property | Arabica | Robusta (Conilon) |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Coffea arabica | Coffea canephora |
| Caffeine, dry weight | ~1.2 to 1.5% | ~2.2 to 2.7% |
| Chlorogenic acids | Lower | Higher |
| Lipid content | Higher | Lower |
| Perceived acidity | Higher | Lower |
| Body | Lighter | Heavier |
| Crema persistence | Lower | Higher |
| Chromosomes | Tetraploid (44) | Diploid (22) |
| Typical growing altitude | Higher | Lower |
| Disease resistance | Lower | Higher |
| Futures contract | ICE "C", New York, US cents per lb | ICE Europe, London, USD per metric ton |
| Cupping protocol | SCA | CQI Fine Robusta |
Where is Robusta grown in Brazil?
Brazilian canephora is concentrated in Espírito Santo and Rondônia, with meaningful production in Bahia and Mato Grosso. Brazil is one of the largest canephora producers in the world, and most of it is processed as naturals dried on patios rather than washed.
Our coffee is grown in Taquaruçu do Norte, Mato Grosso, by the Carvalho Beans cooperative, and it is milled, roasted and packed in the same state.
How does Brazilian Conilon compare to Vietnamese or Indonesian Robusta?
The differences are agronomic and conventional rather than botanical. Growing region, altitude, harvest method and above all post-harvest processing differ, and Brazil dries a much larger share on patios as naturals in the same infrastructure it uses for Arabica.
That tends toward a sweeter, less astringent profile than the washed and mechanically dried material that dominates some other origins — but the comparison worth making is always between specific lots with specific analyses, not between countries. A carefully prepared lot from any of these origins will outperform a careless one from any other.
Which price contract does Robusta trade against?
The ICE Europe Robusta futures contract in London, quoted in US dollars per metric ton. That is a different instrument from the New York "C" contract, which prices Arabica in US cents per pound. Quoting Robusta against the "C" is the most common pricing error new buyers make.
Physical coffee is normally priced as a differential over or under a named contract month rather than as a flat price, which lets each side fix the futures leg independently of the physical trade.
Is Robusta lower quality than Arabica?
No. Robusta is a different coffee with different properties, not a lower grade of the same one. It is scored under the CQI Fine Robusta protocol, a separate scale from the SCA Arabica protocol, and comparing scores across the two is a category error rather than a comparison.
The species has a reputation problem in specialty coffee that its behaviour does not support. Body, crema and caffeine are the functional reasons traditional Italian espresso blends contain it, and the instant category is built on it almost entirely.
Frequently asked questions
Are Conilon and Robusta the same coffee?
Yes. Both names refer to Coffea canephora. Conilon is the Brazilian regional name, Robusta is the international trade name. There is no difference in species between a coffee sold as Conilon in Brazil and one sold as Robusta in Europe or the United States.
Why do Brazilians call it Conilon instead of Robusta?
Conilon derives from a variety group long established in Espírito Santo, where Brazilian canephora production began, and the name spread through the domestic trade. Brazil kept its own term while the export market standardised on Robusta, so both names now describe the same species in different rooms.
How does Brazilian Conilon differ from Vietnamese Robusta?
The differences are agronomic and commercial rather than botanical. Growing region, altitude, processing convention and post-harvest handling all differ, and Brazil processes a much larger share as naturals dried on patios. Compare specific lots on screen size, defect count and cup score rather than comparing countries.
Is Robusta lower quality than Arabica?
Robusta is a different coffee with different properties, not a lower grade of the same one. It carries more body, lower acidity, roughly double the caffeine and produces markedly more crema. Those properties are why it is the backbone of Italian espresso blends and the instant category.
Which price contract does Robusta trade against?
Robusta prices against the ICE Europe Robusta futures contract in London, quoted in US dollars per metric ton. That is a different contract from the New York 'C', which prices Arabica in US cents per pound. Confusing the two is the most common pricing error new buyers make.
Where is Robusta grown in Brazil?
Brazilian canephora is concentrated in Espírito Santo and Rondônia, with production also in Bahia and Mato Grosso. Our coffee is grown in Taquaruçu do Norte, Mato Grosso, by the Carvalho Beans cooperative, and is milled, roasted and packed in the same state.
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