Experts see bright prospects for local Robusta coffee
MANILA, Philippines — Thanks to its geographical position, climate and soil condition, the Philippines has been a home to four of the most commercially cultivated varieties of coffee: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsa.
With the increased efforts to improve the industry and more coffee species emerging from unexpected origins, Filipinos are starting to take interest in local coffee beans, particularly in one variety.
Also known as coffea canephora, Robusta coffee is becoming more popular in the industry nowadays, especially here in the Philippines. This is not a surprise as Robusta was the most produced variety of coffee in the country, accounting for 65.7 percent of total output, according to a 2019 report from the Philippine Statistical Authority.
But despite growing abundantly in different parts of the country, awareness must be raised, as well as more research and development is needed to improve the quality of locally grown Robusta coffee.
This is what the Barista and Coffee Academy of Asia (BCAA) has in mind in organizing the first-ever processing class on Robusta coffee in the Philippines. BCAA is a technical training institute whose mission is to help address the growing needs and requirements of the specialty coffee industry and offers world class barista training, coffee education and consultancy.
Around 30 coffee experts, farmers, roasters, instructors, and aficionados took part in the Coffee Science Series VII: Best Harvesting and Processing Practices on Robusta of BCAA held at Brgy. Pigtauranan, Pangantucan in Bukidnon, Northern Mindanao where some of the notable Bukidnon Robusta Coffees thrive.
In partnership with Equilibrium Intertrade Corp. and Curve Coffee Collaborators, the Coffee Science Series is a sequence of lectures and hands-on practices on the science of coffee.
The four-day class includes new discoveries on coffee farming processes and techniques on Robusta coffee and focuses on improving coffee farm productivity and sustainability of small holder coffee farmers from world- renowned coffee expert, Manuel Diaz, a social anthropologist and accomplished coffee scientist who has worked with various farmers and farming communities in developing post-harvest studies and processes.
He is an accomplished coffee policy consultant, educator, master roaster, and a Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) Arabica and Robusta Q Instructor.
Meanwhile, the nine farmers who participated in the class were sponsored by Equilibrium Intertrade Corp. to help them improve their harvest of Robusta coffees in Bukidnon.
What is Robusta?
Unlike Arabica, Robusta coffee is often overlooked because of its supposed poor quality. Robusta is a sturdy variety of coffee with low acidity, high bitterness, high caffeine content, and thrives at lower regions. These coffees are also less susceptible to destructions and resistant to illnesses.
It is one of the oldest coffee species with the widest genetic diversity and adaptation capabilities, but has limited selection and improvement done and is not being given the proper attention that it deserves.
Coffee experts see the potential of Robusta in the coffee industry, that is why more development are being done to improve this variety.
According to the International Coffee Organization, Robusta increased its share in the world coffee market to 41 percent or around 60 million bags of coffee by 2013, and is projected to grow by 50 percent in 2020.
Considering that the Philippines is a Robusta-producing country, the future for Filipino Robusta farmers is bright.
Free classes for the farmers
Aside from the Robusta class in Bukidnon, BCAA has also organized two lectures with Diaz for the farmers in Southern Luzon. Equilibrium Intertrade Corp. has sponsored the participation of the farmers to help them improve their produce in their respective farms.
The first lecture was held in Lipa City, Batangas, focusing on Coffee Farm Management for the liberica or barako coffee, which is the most commonly known and beloved coffee by the southern Tagalog people.
On the other hand, the other lecture was held in Puerto Prinsesa City, Palawan, which was about Proper Coffee Farm Management.
Equilibrium, through BCAA and Curve Coffee Collaborators, is privileged to work with coffee farmers, growers, and processors from different parts of the Philippines. These partnerships help communities to flourish and their hard work be recognized beyond their places of origin.
Aside from buying coffees at better market prices, Equilibrium supports local farmers by providing free trainings, farm implements and facilities to help them improve the quality of their harvest.
Equilibrium Intertrade Corp. is the Philippines’ leading distributor of a diverse range of top-quality products and innovative solutions for coffee, tea and specialty beverages that provides the best customer experience while reducing environmental footprints.
Stimulating the Filipino coffee industry, Equilibrium has more certified coffee experts with eight Q and five R Graders, globally-certified graders and certifiers of Arabica and Robusta specialty coffees certified by the CQI in the US.
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