The Strongest Coffee in Switzerland?
"Strong" can mean three different things, and only one of them comes from the bean. Here is what actually puts more caffeine in your cup, and why Vietnamese Robusta is the answer most people are looking for.
Short answer: if you want the most caffeine per cup, choose 100% Robusta. Robusta beans carry roughly twice the caffeine of Arabica, about 2.2–2.7% of the bean's weight against 1.2–1.5%. Our Saigon Drip is 100% Robusta from Buôn Ma Thuột and the strongest coffee we sell. How you brew it matters almost as much as the bean.
Three Kinds of Strong
How much it wakes you up. This comes from the bean: Robusta has about twice as much as Arabica, so the Robusta share of a blend matters most.
How heavy and concentrated the cup feels. This comes from the brew ratio: more coffee, less water. A phin makes a small, dense cup.
How bitter and smoky it tastes. A very dark roast tastes "strong" but does not add caffeine. It mostly adds bitterness.
Arabica vs Robusta
| Arabica | Robusta | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine (share of bean weight) | About 1.2–1.5% | About 2.2–2.7% |
| Taste | Brighter, fruitier, more acidity | Cocoa, toasted grain, nuts, low acidity |
| Body | Lighter | Heavier, thicker crema in espresso |
| In our range | Hanoi Haze, 100% Arabica | Saigon Drip, 100% Robusta · Da Lat Dawn, 60% Robusta |
Strong is a ratio, not only a bean
Vietnamese coffee is strong for two reasons at once: the bean is Robusta, and the phin uses a lot of coffee for very little water, about 20 g for 100–120 ml. That is why a small glass of cà phê sữa đá can feel stronger than a large mug of filter coffee. More in our phin ratio guide.
How to Brew It Strong
The traditional way. Medium-fine grind, slow drip, small concentrated cup. Over condensed milk and ice it becomes cà phê sữa đá.
Close to a phin in strength and quicker. Use a medium-fine grind and take it off the heat as soon as it gurgles.
Whole Robusta beans work in a bean-to-cup machine. Choose a small cup size so the shot stays short and dense.
Our strongest coffee
Saigon Drip: 100% Robusta from Buôn Ma Thuột, washed, medium-dark roast. Cocoa, toasted grain, nutty. From CHF 9.50 for 200 g.
FAQ
Robusta. It carries roughly twice the caffeine of Arabica by weight. A 100% Robusta coffee such as Saigon Drip has more caffeine than any all-Arabica coffee brewed the same way.
No. Roasting changes the taste much more than the caffeine. A very dark roast tastes stronger because it is more bitter, but the bean decides the caffeine.
Per sip, yes, because it is more concentrated. Per cup, a large mug of filter coffee can contain as much or more caffeine, because you drink more of it.
The European Food Safety Authority considers up to 400 mg a day safe for most healthy adults, and up to 200 mg a day during pregnancy. If you are sensitive to caffeine, start with Da Lat Dawn or Hanoi Haze.
We ship Saigon Drip from Winterthur anywhere in Switzerland with Swiss Post, free on orders over CHF 60. More options in our guide: where to buy Vietnamese coffee in Switzerland.