The uninformed definition of a gourmet coffee bean is that it comes from the arabica tree and that commercial coffees come from the robusta tree. It was thought arabica beans were the source of the mild taste associated with gourmet coffee, and that the arabica tree can produce a coffee bean superior in taste but more expensive to grow. This definition also suggested that commercial coffee roasters used the robusta tree, which was more plentiful and therefore produced a cheaper bean.

In truth, the arabica coffee tree accounts for nearly 75% of the coffee produced throughout the world. Obviously, much of this coffee is used in commercial coffee. While the robusta bean does taste absolutely horrible, there are arabica coffees that rival robustas in foul taste!