For those new to coffee, the dazzling array of names on a menu can often leave them at a loss. In fact, although coffee drinks on the market come in countless varieties, they all ultimately build on two major species: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica has a delicate flavor and lower caffeine content, making it the mainstay of specialty coffee; Robusta, on the other hand, is highly resistant to adverse conditions and has a pronounced bitterness, and is mostly used in instant and blended products. On this basis, by adjusting the proportions and combinations of ingredients such as espresso, milk, water, chocolate, and whiskey, classic styles such as black coffee, white coffee, cappuccino, latte, mocha, americano, Irish coffee, and Vietnamese coffee are derived. This article will systematically sort out the characteristic differences between the two major coffee species and introduce the recipe features of ten common coffee drinks one by one, helping coffee enthusiasts quickly build an introductory knowledge framework.
Coffee on the market is mainly divided into two species: Arabica (Coffee Arabica) and Robusta (Coffee Robusta).
1. Black Coffee──coffee brewed directly from coffee beans, without adding milk or other elements that would affect the coffee's original flavor.
2. White Coffee──coffee with milk added.
3. Espresso──Italian-style espresso, made by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee powder.
4. Cappuccino──espresso brewed under steam pressure plus milk that has been frothed (or steamed), sometimes with cinnamon, spices, or chocolate powder added as desired. Usually the proportions of coffee, milk, and milk foam are each 1/3.
5. Caffe Latte──coffee with a large amount of hot milk and sugar. It consists of one part espresso plus two or more parts hot milk.
6. Flavored-coffee──according to local tastes, different seasonings such as chocolate, syrup, fruit juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange blossom are added to coffee.
7. Caffe Mocha──coffee with chocolate, milk, and whipped cream added, sometimes with ice.
8. American Coffee / Americano──espresso with a large amount of hot water added. It is milder than ordinary espresso.
9. Irish Coffee──coffee with whiskey added, topped with cream.
10. Vietnamese Coffee──place coffee grounds in a special metal brewing filter, pour in boiling water, and let the coffee drip drop by drop into the cup. After the coffee has finished dripping, add sugar or a little condensed milk according to personal taste, stir well, and drink.
Coffee Beans
The two major species of coffee consumed globally are Arabica (Coffee Arabica) and Robusta (Coffee Robusta).
The higher-quality, more expensive coffee beans all come from Arabica. It is the most widely cultivated coffee bean in the world, accounting for 70% of the coffee supply, and is mostly produced in the tropical regions of Central and South America. The Arabica coffee tree needs to be planted on sloped land at high altitudes. Because the coffee beans have a distinctive aroma, a rich flavor, and less caffeine, they sell for a higher price.
Robusta coffee beans account for about 20 to 30% of world production. They have extremely strong resistance to tropical climates and are mainly planted at 200 to 300 meters above sea level. This kind of coffee bean has a relatively poor aroma, strong bitterness, and insufficient acidity, and its caffeine content is twice that of Arabica. It is mostly used for brewing iced coffee, instant coffee, and canned coffee, as well as for blending.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
