Coffee Facts
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Coffee Beans and Coffee Blends

Beans are classified into two botanical types – Arabica and Robusta. The coffee used in commercial production, which you usually see in instant coffees are Robusta. Arabica, on the other hand, is the older type of coffee that could give you premium-tasting cups.

Roasting

Although the growing factors of each coffee bean provides their distinctive taste, the process in which the beans are roasted will have a greater affect on the overall flavor. Generally, when the beans are roasted lightly, it will taste milder and when roasted darker, gives a richer, stronger and more flavorful taste.

Depending on the type of beans used, some coffees are best when lightly roasted while others taste better when darkly roasted. Professional roasters can identify coffee bean traits and use these them to produce different kinds of coffee flavors. During the roasting process, some manufacturers add chocolate, cinnamon, nuts and other blends to enhance the coffee’s flavor. For this reason, you should look for natural coffee products to avoid chemical coloring or flavoring.

Many people prefer to roast their beans at home to produce the freshest coffee possible. This can be done on your oven, stove or roasting machines. To take advantage of the freshly roasted beans, you should let them sit for at least 24 hours before brewing. Although home roasting usually results in inconsistent tastes, you have the choice of customizing it based on your taste buds.

Understanding Coffee Blends

Blends will affect the overall taste of the coffee because they enhance certain tastes and balance the traits of different beans. The most common coffee blend is mocha-java, which combines the smooth and rich Indonesian Java and the Yemen Mocha to provide a sharp and distinctive taste. The great thing about blends is that your can mix the beans to suit your taste. Most companies who sell beans allow you to mix and match different blends, which they usually record for your next purchase.

Some people have health problems that require they reduce their caffeine intake. If this is your case, you can still drink coffee by choosing decaffeinated types. Most decaf products taste lighter than the original blends; however, if you purchase decaf coffee from an experienced roaster, you will get the same taste as the ‘real’ thing.

Unfortunately, people with heart disease as well as pregnant women should not be drinking very strong coffee. Consult with your doctor for recommendations on the appropriate types of coffee for your health condition.

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