In cafes and canteens of the Soviet period, the assortment of coffee, if we can talk about it at all, was extremely meager: black, with milk - and that’s all.
The technological map required that 6 grams of ground beans be used for 100 grams of the finished drink, and there was no question of the possibility of diversifying it with some other ingredients.
Today, any self-respecting establishment offers visitors a choice of dozens of options for an invigorating drink.
Many of the recipes you like can be used at home, especially since we have smart technology and a variety of useful coffee accessories at our disposal.
Types of coffee
There are several varieties of the drink. In the ranking of the most delicious coffee, which type is in the lead? Undoubtedly this is Arabica. Its taste is soft and rich at the same time. Arabica is considered the world leader in production and consumption in ground form.
Robusta has a stronger taste with a slight noble bitterness. The cultivation of this variety of beans is not as widespread as the Arabica variety, but it is Robusta that is used for the production of instant drinks.
In addition to these most famous types of coffee, there are also less common ones:
- Liberica - this species has a tart and bitter taste, which is why it is rarely used in its pure form. Most often, Liberica serves as a flavoring additive to milder Arabica beans. It is difficult to find this species on sale; most often it can only be purchased in Africa, where it is grown.
- Excelsa is a rare type of grain that is grown in Vietnam, Congo, Kenya and the Philippines. It has a very specific aroma, which is why it is used as a flavoring additive to other types. It is used to produce a drink known as mocha.
- Maragojipe has large coffee beans. It has a strong, rich aroma.
On the open market you can find Arabica coffee, which differs in the types and tastes of coffee due to different roasting methods, as well as flavoring and aromatic additives.
Photo: varieties of coffee
Espresso
Americano
Doppio
Lungo
Romano
Ristretto
Latte
Latte macchiato
Cappuccino
Viennese coffee (Kon Pana)
Affogato
Frappe
Glasse
Mocha or mochaccino
Raf coffee
Oriental coffee
Vietnamese coffee
Cold brew
Coretto
Irish
People often ask: does coffee dilate blood vessels or constrict them? Our article will answer the question.
Types of Pele coffee (Cafe Pele), brand history, reviews of the drink are presented in this material.
You can find quotes about coffee here: https://chay-i-kofe.com/kofe/informaciya2/tsitaty-i-aforizmy-pro-kofe-izvestnyh-lyudey/
Elite varieties
The taste characteristics of coffee depend not only on the type of beans, but also on their processing. Elite varieties of the drink are not only expensive, but also have a unique, memorable taste:
- Kopi Luwak is a variety of grains that is known for the fact that one of the stages of processing is its passage through the gastrointestinal tract of the musang animal. There it is fermented with gastric juice and civet, giving it a unique taste.
- Chon is a Vietnamese coffee variety that is processed in a similar way, although martens are used instead of musang. The cost of a kilogram of such grains reaches 11,800 rubles. (200 dollars).
- Black Ivory is a Thai drink whose grains are collected from elephant excrement. With this method of processing, coffee is free of bitterness and has light fruity notes.
- Coffee Yauco Selecto is an unusual variety that has a specific but pleasant taste. The cost reaches 2,900 rubles. ($50) per kilogram.
- Starbucks is a drink from a famous manufacturer. It has a bright, memorable taste with a pleasant sourness.
- Blue Mountain is a Jamaican coffee with a light and pleasant taste, devoid of any bitterness. Especially popular in Japan.
These varieties of grains are difficult to find on the open market, but they are worth trying for the unusual taste sensations.
How to distinguish coffee varieties
The name of existing coffee varieties is compiled according to a template, which indicates the country of origin, the region within the country (for example, Costa Rica Tarrazu). The unique identifier is the name of the farm where the coffee trees are grown. Thus, the name of the coffee variety will be indicated as Costa Rica Tarrazu La Pastora. There is also information including the height of the trees, the size of the grain and how they are processed. However, the full terminology is used in professional circles; for the average coffee lover, it is enough if the name is more concise, for example, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, Ipanema Dulce Brazil, Colombia Bourbon, Cuba Serrano, etc.
Coffee rating by country of origin
The taste of natural coffee is incomparable, which is why its beans are highly valued all over the world. However, there are several countries that are at the top of the ranking in terms of taste and quality characteristics of the resulting drink:
- Brazil is the largest country in the supply of quality coffee beans. There are about 40 varieties of Arabica that are produced in this state.
- Coffee beans produced in Guatemala are not as widespread as Brazilian varieties, but remain no less beloved by gourmets.
- The drink from Kenya has a currant flavor and a pleasant sour aftertaste.
- Coffee from Colombia has a pleasant, light taste. These beans are great for making refreshing coffee drinks.
Cuban, Caribbean and Yemeni drinks are also considered good. However, these countries are not the world leaders in grain production.
Major global coffee suppliers
The climatic and natural conditions of Belarus are not conducive to growing coffee trees in our country. Therefore, we are forced to import this product from other countries. It is believed that optimal conditions for growing coffee are observed in countries that are located in areas limited by 10 degrees south and 10 degrees north latitudes.
However, there are exceptions. Thus, Madagascar, which also belongs to the “coffee country,” is located significantly further from the equator. The climatic conditions of 80 countries around the world are suitable for growing coffee trees, but only 50 of them produce it on an industrial scale. Only 6 countries can be considered world leaders (Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam, Ethiopia, India and Indonesia).
The world leader in coffee production is South America , which accounts for more than 50% of global coffee exports. It is here that Brazilian Arabica is produced, which is the cheapest, and therefore the most popular, variety of coffee in the world. Brazil's share in world coffee production is about 32-35%.
In Colombia and Peru, coffee is produced, although much less than in Brazil, but on the scale of the world market the volumes are quite significant. It is worth noting that Colombian coffee is the most highly valued on the market.
In Central America, the largest amount of coffee is grown in Honduras and Guatemala, in Asia - in Vietnam and India, in Africa - in Ethiopia and Côte d'Ivoire. In addition, Indonesia is a major player in the coffee market.
Rating of famous brands
These coffee brands are the most common in Russia. They can be found on the shelves of any store. Which coffee is the most delicious of the most affordable brands:
- Jardin is an optimally roasted Arabica coffee that has a bright coffee taste, making this brand loved by many fans.
- Kimbo is an Italian brand that offers quality drinks for every taste and budget.
- Gut! The brand is known for its high-quality coffee of both types - both Arabica and Robusta.
- Lavazza is an Italian brand that offers consumers both single-origin and various blends. In addition, the company produces a flavored drink.
- Malongo is a coffee produced in France. Coffee lovers note that the beans from this manufacturer produce excellent espresso.
These measures have different price categories, but are freely available, which is why they are loved by the population.
Types of coffee drinks: names and descriptions
Arabica and robusta in different proportions, with certain flavoring additives, make it possible to prepare many varieties of coffee and coffee drinks. Let's look at some of them. Other types of coffee can be found here.
Espresso. The most popular black coffee, the base for many coffee drinks. It is prepared in coffee machines from strong roasted beans.
For a cup with a volume of 35-40 ml, 1 teaspoon of a mixture of Arabica and Robusta is consumed.
The drink is decorated with light creamy strong foam, which, if mixed with liquid, will give the entire drink an even taste.
Espresso is usually served after a meal, and drunk quickly in a few sips, without allowing it to cool.
Americano is espresso diluted with water - from 90 to 120 ml of boiling water per 30 ml of coffee.
The taste of the drink remains rich, but the strength decreases. Americano can be even softer if you add cream to it.
Find out more about what Americano coffee is, as well as recipes for its preparation, here.
Doppio is a coffee for those who are not satisfied with the size of the espresso serving. Doppio contains twice as much drink, which is why it is called “double espresso.” You can learn more about what espresso is and its types here.
It is not recommended to prolong the pleasure in the case of doppio - it is especially tasty hot, with cane sugar.
Lungo is considered an intermediate option when comparing the strength of Americano and espresso. Its proportions are 7 g of ground grains per 50-60 ml of water.
Sometimes the drink is called American-Italian. If a coffee shop visitor indicates his order this way, the barista will definitely understand it. We recommend that you read our material about lungo coffee at this address.
Romano. This drink has the same characteristics as classic espresso, and the addition of a slice of lemon or a strip of zest - long, beautifully curled.
But they don’t put sugar in this coffee, and it’s not customary to serve desserts with it. This coffee recipe is sometimes called Roman espresso. We wrote about the benefits and harms of coffee with lemon in this article.
Ristretto is the strongest, most concentrated espresso. Ingredient ratio: 7 g of ground beans per 20-25 ml of water.
This drink usually ends the meal, served with a glass of cold water (it helps flush out the taste buds to fully enjoy the flavors of the coffee). We will tell you what options for making ristretto coffee are in the next article.
Latte is prepared on the basis of espresso with the addition of milk (40 ml of each is required for 1 serving).
The brewed coffee is poured into a tall glass, then milk heated to 60 degrees is added. Another 40 ml of milk is whipped using a cappuccino maker and also poured into a glass.
And the added syrups (they can be different - creamy, nutty, chocolate) make the taste of the drink, which already resembles a dessert, more original. Drink latte through a straw. Read more about latte coffee recipes in our separate article.
Latte macchiato. The composition of this drink is the same as that of a latte. The differences are in the order in which the glass or glass (necessarily transparent) is filled with ingredients.
If in the case of a latte they start with coffee, then here they start with milk and foam. Then carefully pour in the espresso in a thin stream.
The finished drink looks very elegant, and this beauty is not disturbed - sip the drink through a straw without mixing the layers.
Cappuccino. This popular drink is similar in its components to a latte, but most of the milk it contains is in a whipped state. Find out what else is different between a latte and a cappuccino here.
The foam rises above the coffee like a beautiful head. It is sprinkled with cinnamon, grated chocolate, cocoa, and other options are possible.
They make drawings or inscriptions on the thick cappuccino foam and even use the “language of coffee” to declare their love by depicting a heart. You can learn the basics of latte art or how to make drawings on coffee foam in this publication.
Viennese coffee (Con Panna), made from two shots of espresso and 50 ml of whipped cream, is often garnished with grated chocolate or nutmeg.
Drink from large cups without stirring. This drink can be served as a dessert. They often offer baked goods to go with it.
Affogato is also good as a dessert, but if Viennese coffee is a winter option, then affogato is a summer option.
Place several balls of ice cream in a wide glass and pour a portion of espresso over them. Whipped cream, citrus zest, and chocolate would not be out of place in this company. We have a separate article about affogato.
Frappe. This is a cold drink that returns freshness and vigor to the summer heat. The answer to the question “What is frappe?” you will find it at the link.
Glace is also a refreshing drink, but instead of milk and ice, it uses ice cream balls (50 g of ice cream per 50 ml of chilled espresso). A sprinkle of chocolate and cinnamon is quite appropriate. You can find all popular iced coffee recipes at this link.
Mocha, or mochaccino. The drink is prepared on the basis of espresso, supplemented with hot milk, whipped into foam, and chocolate syrup. Grated chocolate is usually used as a topping. More information about mochaccino coffee can be found here.
Raf coffee. The classification “cocktails” is suitable for this drink. Its basis is a shot of espresso, cream and vanilla sugar, which can be replaced with vanilla syrup.
An unusual taste is obtained if you use honey as a sweet ingredient (1 teaspoon per serving of raff coffee). This drink is called “honey raff”; its structure is thick and viscous. Other raff coffee recipes are in this publication.
Oriental coffee. The recipe for this drink has existed for a long time; it was invented in those days when people did not prepare coffee in machines, using various coffee “gadgets.”
Even today it is cooked in a regular pot on hot sand (and if at home, then with salt). Oriental coffee brewed over an open fire should not be brought to a boil.
The degree of grinding of the beans should be very high; the coffee itself must be freshly ground.
We recommend that you read our article about Turkish coffee.
Vietnamese coffee (or Thai coffee as an option) is a rather exotic drink, but not in terms of content (its main ingredients are quite traditional), but in terms of its preparation method.
Ice is first thrown into the glass, then espresso and condensed milk are poured. The composition is completed with milk and whipped cream, but more often these additional ingredients are dispensed with.
Cold brew is a cold brew drink.
The desired result is achieved in different ways: ground coffee is infused for a long time in lukewarm water, water is dripped through the coffee so that it “pulls out” all the aromas from it, or the drink is brewed in the traditional way, and then cooled very quickly.
Coretto opens the list of drinks with alcohol. In this case, it is liqueur added to classic espresso.
The Italians came up with such a coffee-alcoholic drink, and they were the first to experiment, replacing the liqueur with fruit brandy or sambuca.
In countries with colder climates, cognac, whiskey, and vodka (the main “warming” drinks) are preferred as additional ingredients.
The recommended proportions of coretto are 35 ml of espresso and 20 ml of alcoholic beverage.
Irish. In addition to espresso, this drink uses different types of alcohol (remember that when there is a lot of alcohol, the drink can be harmful to health) and whipped cream.
Coffee for this cocktail is usually prepared without sugar; its role is played by toppings - chocolate or cream.
Strong coffee varieties
Despite the fact that Arabica remains the leader in consumption due to its mild taste, Robusta does not lose its leadership among lovers of stronger drinks. Robusta has a high caffeine content, in addition, it is from it that the instant drink is made.
Connoisseurs of a strong appearance should pay attention to the following varieties of grains:
- Robusta Uganda.
- Kubito.
- Sulawesi Toraha.
- Yemen Mocha.
In addition, the following strong blends are available for sale:
- Dead Wish is the leader in strength among all existing types. It is not for nothing that its name is translated as “Suicide Note”. This brand of coffee contains an explosive mixture of the strongest varieties. In addition, the caffeine content is 1.5 times higher than in espresso.
- Espresso IR is a strong drink with unique nutty notes that are formed during roasting using a special technology.
- Paganini is a strong blend of Arabica and Robusta.
These blends are difficult to find on the open market, so if you want stronger coffee, you should pay attention to varieties that are labeled “espresso.”
Growing regions
The range of coffee presented on the world market is indeed very wide. This is Arabic coffee, products from Africa, Vietnam, Jamaica. Brazil and Colombia have been considered the undisputed leaders in the market for many decades. In these countries, vast territories are occupied by Arabica and Robusta plantations, and grain exports constitute the main income of the state and its population.
Vietnamese coffee and its preparation method are gaining popularity in Europe
More than 50 countries around the world grow coffee. But the most important producer of this finished product is Italy. Italian coffee is judged by its main drink - strong, aromatic and invigorating espresso. Many Italian brands have created a variety of special espresso blends so that every lover can prepare a delicious drink at home.
In addition, among the coffee drinks for which special blends are created, lattes and cappuccinos stand out, not as strong as the ubiquitous espresso, but very tasty and original in terms of presentation.
How to choose coffee?
What is the best coffee? How to choose the right grain so that it meets your expectations in terms of quality and taste? You should pay attention to the following points:
- Manufacturer country. The higher above sea level the grain is grown, the softer and lighter it will be. This concerns the taste of Arabica coffee, since almost all Robusta is grown in lowland areas.
- The degree of roasting is divided into light, medium and long. Light is characterized by softness and tenderness of taste, it is ideal for refreshing coffee drinks. Medium enhances the smell, but gives it bitterness. Long or French roasting makes the drink more aromatic, adding bitterness and astringency to it.
- Grinding degree. There are three degrees - coarse, medium, fine grinding. Coarse is used for cooking in a French press, fine is used for cooking in a Turk, medium is considered universal.
In addition, you should pay attention to freshness, because it also plays an important role in the taste characteristics of the resulting drink.
Choice of ground coffee
Most often, coffee lovers prefer to buy already ground and packaged drinks. In order to choose the right coffee, you should pay attention to the following points:
- the beans may contain caffeine or may be decaffeinated;
- the packaging must be hermetically sealed;
- the date of manufacture should be as late as possible;
- The packaging should indicate the degree of grinding, roasting, and grade.
It should be remembered that after opening the pack, the contents should be poured into a hermetically sealed container.
