A lot of people love this beverage so much that they can’t begin the day without a cup of it. So what is in a coffee?
Origins
The plants grown in various parts of the world today was native to Madagascar and tropical Africa. There is a legend stating that a herder in Ethiopia discovered the effects of the berries he ate. He asked an abbot about it, who in turn made a drink that helped him feel awake in the evening. It became popular and was cultivated in the Arabian peninsula and spread to other parts of the world. Coffee houses became more common and at one point it was even called Satan’s drink because of the taste.
Coffea
The evergreen shrub has different species grown all over the world. It is the source for the berries from which coffee is made. Collectively they are classified under the Coffea genus. Commercial coffee are taken from the Coffea canephora and Coffea arabica. The former is called robusta coffee, the later the Arabica coffee. Robusta is known for its higher caffeine content and bitter but less acidic taste, while Arabica is less bitter and has lower caffeine.
Benefits
Many studies have been conducted to determine the effects of coffee in the body. When consumed moderately, coffee improves energy levels and even affect your memory and mood because it increases adrenaline levels. It also has antioxidants, essential vitamins, and boosts the body’s metabolic rate, so it burns fat fast.
However, long-term coffee drinkers who consume too much coffee will have problems in digestion, bowel movement,and mineral absorption. Coffee increases the release of stress hormones (that is why you feel awake) so it increases tension, stress, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Types
The types of coffee are classified into how they are prepared. The most common are espresso, Americano, cappuccino, latte, macchiato and mocha.
1. Espresso is black coffee made by high pressure-roasted beans.
2. Americano is a type of diluted espresso.
3. Cappuccino is a combination of espresso and steamed milk.
4. Latte is espresso plus three parts milk.
5. Macchiato is usually a combination of espresso, milk and caramel.
6. Mocha is either cappuccino or latter mixed with chocolate syrup or powder.
Brewing
Although you can purchase well-made coffee at any of the various coffee shops around Singapore, there’s nothing more fulfilling than preparing it yourself.
Whole bean coffee are ground first . At home you can do this with a blade grinder or a burr grinder. You can also choose to have it ground to order.
Next, pour six ounces of water for every one or two tablespoons of ground coffee in the brewer. You can adjust the ratio if you want. The temperature of the water should be between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. Espresso is brewed for 20 to 30 seconds. In a French Press, 2 to 4 minutes should be enough, while 5 minutes will do for the drip system. Again, this can be adjusted based on your preference. Finally, serve and enjoy.
