robusta coffee

A BBC World Service Asia Specific podcast examines how robusta coffee beans are withstanding the effects of climate change better than other varieties, particularly arabica. The programme explores what makes robusta more heat- and disease-tolerant and what this means for coffee farmers and global supply. Listeners are engaging with the topic as coffee prices and crop viability come under pressure worldwide.

Researchers report that treating ordinary Liberica coffee beans with a recipe derived from gut bacteria transformed them into award-winning specialty coffee. The fermentation-based approach reportedly improved the beans' flavor profile enough to win recognition in specialty coffee evaluations, drawing attention to Liberica as an alternative to Arabica and Robusta.