All About Coffee
Coffee is one of the most consumed and popular drinks in the world. This beverage has a deep history and dates back as far as the 9th century in the highlands of Ethiopia. The effects of caffeine are said to be the reason for discovering coffee. The legend goes that the goats "danced" after eating the wild coffee berries. After that, the makers of coffee began their journey into the discovery of complex methods and flavorings.
Coffee is prepared from the beans contained in the berries of a coffee plant. After the coffee berries are picked, they are processed and dried. Coffee may also be decaffeinated during the processing stage. Then the beans are roasted according to the desired flavor. A darker roast has a smoother taste because it has more of a sugary flavor due to less fiber content. A lighter roast has more caffeine and a slightly bitter and stronger taste. After roasting, the beans are ground and brewed to make coffee. The coffee can be brewed by several methods including: pressured, steeped, and boiled.
There are many methods for preparing coffee. Whether it is a simple 'instant' coffee from a maker or a more involved espresso brew, you will always find something you can enjoy in a cup.
The most common form of the espresso presentation is simply a "shot". This is a drink with a highly concentrated coffee to water ratio as a result of brewing under high pressure. You can also make other variations of the espresso such as a cafe latte which is steamed milk, a cappuccino is equal parts milk and espresso, and a cafe macchiato has a small layer of hot, foamed milk on top.
Coffee is one of the most popular social foods. Many people meet for coffee in groups, with friends or even casual dates among potential lovers. No one knows for sure why it is so popular socially, but one could speculate it is because of the stimulating effects and the lack of negative effects like drunkenness from alcohol. This is certainly why it is preferred in business settings.
As far as health is concerned, coffee has negative and positive affects, but the extent of its overall benefit or lack there of has yet to be determined among medical professionals. The results are rather conflicting to say the least.
Diving into the world of coffee can be intimidating with all the flavored gourmet coffees, specialty machines, grinders, and various mugs. We will try to make learning this new world as easy and painless as possible. Before you know it, you will be a coffee connoisseur.