If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it is the smell of coffee. There’s nothing like walking into a cafe or even onto your office floor and smelling the cups of coffee being made first thing in the morning. Even if you are not an avid coffee drinker you can’t deny that the scent is pleasant. In our country we know that a day can’t pass without a cup. Even on hot summer days, somehow, we still find ourselves with a cup of joe to start the day and maybe even another cup during merienda time. No matter what kind of coffee you drink, whether you can only afford a 3-in-1 sachet or a barista made drink, here are some tips and tidbits of info that will help you become a coffee connoisseur.
You’ve probably seen different types of coffee bean names on a menu before and wondered what they mean exactly. Arabica? Robusta? What are those exactly and how do they affect your coffee? Well, there are mainly 4 types of coffee beans, let’s go through them one by one.
Arabica - These beans are grown in places that get a lot of rain and are at a high altitude like in Brazil and Colombia. Arabica makes up about 60 percent of the world’s coffee production and is believed to be the first kind of beans to be cultivated. It is the least acidic and is known for its smooth texture and sweet and softer flavor profile compared to other beans.
Robusta - If you like a strong coffee then you’ll probably like Robusta. This type of bean is known for its bold flavor and is usually used to make espresso-based drinks. It may sometimes taste bitter or burnt but it does pack a punch since it’s quite high in caffeine. These beans are usually grown in Central and West Africa, Indonesia, as well as India.
Liberica - This is the most prevalent kind of coffee bean in the Philippines making up 70 percent of all the coffee cultivated. Although it originates from West Africa, it is now mostly grown and enjoyed in Southeast Asia like Indonesia and Malaysia. The flavor profile of this kind of bean is woodsy and it also has a mild bitter taste.
Excelsa - This is a rare kind of coffee bean and only makes up 7 percent of the world’s coffee. It has a fruity flavor profile and is worth seeking out if you want to really be a coffee connoisseur. Although it was first discovered in West Africa, it can now be found growing in India, Philippines and Vietnam.
The next thing we need to tackle after the beans is the kinds of roasts. Typically, we have the light, medium, medium-dark and dark. Think of it as a spectrum. Coffee that falls in the light category will be less bitter while coffee that falls into the dark category will be very bitter. Medium roast is probably the most used around the world since it’s a great in-between. You get a hint of bitterness that is still palatable unlike a dark roast. You also get a bold enough taste without it being too overpowering as well as a lower level of acidity compared to a light roast.
Now that you know the different beans and the kinds of roasts, we can move onto the different kinds of coffee. These are the most common kinds of coffee that are available to us pretty much anywhere. A regular cafe whether they specialize in coffee or not will always have these choices.
Espresso - Espresso is made by making hot water go through finely ground coffee beans with the use of high pressure. This Italian favorite is known for its rich and full flavor with a smooth crema on top. It can be served as a “shot” and usually comes in a demitasse mug and should be consumed in small sips.
Cappuccino - If you find espresso too strong then you might enjoy a variation of it which is a Cappuccino. This drink is made with one part espresso (one shot) and two parts milk, and it even has some fluffy foam on top. Although the rest of the world orders this drink at any time of the day, in Italy a Cappuccino should be had before 11 in the morning only.
Latte - If you like coffee and want the slight caffeinated buzz but without the strong bitter taste then a latte is probably your kind of drink. It is made with one or two shots of espresso combined with steamed milk and has a light layer of foam on top. You can even add some flavored syrups to change up the flavor profile and level of sweetness.
Americano - An Americano is also known as a Long Black in other parts of the world. It is made with one or two shots of espresso that is diluted with water. The flavor is less intense than a regular cup of espresso because of the extra water. This kind of drink was innovated during WWII since soldiers found Italian espressos to be too strong.
Mocha - A traditional Mocha is made with a shot or two of espresso with hot water, steamed milk, and some chocolate syrup. If you like your drinks to have a sweeter flavor profile, then you should try this out. It is usually served hot, but you can enjoy it iced if you live somewhere warm and sunny.
Not only is coffee delicious in all its different forms but it also has some health benefits aside from just giving you an energy boost. Coffee contains antioxidants which are important for your body to fight off free radicals. In some studies, it shows that coffee can also support gut health and support brain health too. However, it doesn’t mean you can drink multiple cups of coffee a day. A normal healthy consumption is 1 to 2 cups per day. If you don’t need the caffeinated boost, then opt for decaf version of your favorite coffee drinks instead.
Now that you have a grasp of the basics when it comes to the world of coffee, you can now go into your local cafe or any cafe in the world really, and confidently order your coffee and make sure you always choose the right one for you!
