Kristaloop: Some Facts about Coffee

Everybody knows coffee. Some people can’t even imagine surviving one day in the office without this aromatic hot beverage. Do you know where coffee is originated? How do the green beans look? Which countries are famous for their high coffee consumption? Below are listed a few facts about coffee that you might find interesting.

Coffee Growing Areas

Coffee is originated in Ethiopia, Africa. Today coffee growing areas are in the countries located near the equator, in subtropical and tropical areas. There are various sorts of coffee beans available but only Arabica and Robusta are used in the coffee industry.

Arabica vs. Robusta Beans

These two sorts of beans differ in appearance, taste and amount of caffeine. Robusta coffee beans (Coffea canephora) are round, with a straight cut in the middle. Arabica coffee beans (Coffea arabica) are bigger in size compared to Robusta beans, they are oval shaped and have an S cut in the middle. Arabica is known for its mild, fruity to chocolatey taste and fine acidity. Robusta has a woody to earthy aroma and taste, and contains twice as much the caffeine as Arabica. Robusta coffee is cheaper than Arabica one. Therefore, it doesn’t surprise me that Robusta is commonly used, for example, for the production of instant coffees. Usually, these two sorts of beans are blended in order to improve the taste of the hot beverage. Robusta is especially important for the preparation of perfect espresso.

After the cherry beans are harvested, the pulp is removed and the beans are dried, they can be stored up to two years. Beans are roasted and milled. Afterwards they are extracted with hot water or overheated steam in order to prepare the hot beverage people enjoy every morning.

Green Coffee Beans

Cinnamon Roast

American Roast

Vienna Roast

French Roast

Spanish Roast

As you can see in the pictures, there are different degrees of roasting from light Cinnamon Roast to dark Spanish Roast. By the way, the roasting process takes place in the country where the roasted coffee beans are consumed. It is worth to mention that people in northern European countries like the light roasted coffee, whereas people in the southern part of the continent roast the beans dark, almost black. During roasting of coffee, the beans undergo various physical and chemical changes: they expand in volume, change in colour, the aroma and flavour substances are formed. Interesting fact is that the beans make a silent cracking sound during roasting. The first crack is an important indicator for a coffee roaster for distinguishing the beginning of the light roasting degree.

What do you think, where is the largest coffee consumption in the world? Italy? Spain? Greece? France? You’ll never guess. Look at the map and be surprised as much as I was. People in Scandinavia seem to love this beverage and are the ones who consume coffee in large quantities. Well, the reason for this could be long and cold winters or perhaps the fact that when you order one cup of coffee in the coffee-shop, a second cup of coffee you get for free.