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The 17 types of coffee (and its characteristics and benefits)

The 17 types of coffee (and its characteristics and benefits)

March 10, 2024

Since in Arab countries it was prepared in infusion for the first time and later it was exported and spread by Europe in the XVII century, coffee has become one of the most consumed beverages in the world.

Highly known for its stimulating properties and its ability to combat fatigue and fatigue, as well as for other beneficial properties, since the origins of its consumption have been developed different forms of preparations, existing today a wide variety of types of coffee that we can take . That is why throughout this article we will see some of the most common and known in the market.

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What is coffee?

Although it is a widely known concept, before talking about types of coffee it may be convenient to make a brief mention of what we call coffee.


We call the beverage obtained by the infusion made with the roasted beans (whether whole or ground) of the coffee or coffee plant as such, a small shrub native to Africa and Asia and that has subsequently been exported to the whole world. With bitter and intense taste, it is a product high in caffeine, which has stimulating and activating properties for our body.

The type of flavor and properties of the drink obtained will depend to a great extent on the conditions under which the plants from which the grains are going to grow, for example light, humidity, weather, the method of separation of grains and the roasting process prior to grinding elements to be taken into account in addition to the existence of different species and varieties to explain the variations in terms of flavor and potency.


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Three basic types depending on the origin of the plant

Although there is a large number of countries in which coffee trees are grown, the truth is that at a general level we can find three types of coffee depending on the variety of the plant grown, two species being used and third of the options the combination of the grains of both types.

Arabica Coffee

The type of coffee that is used the most and in turn that is the most appreciated is that which corresponds to the first variants used to make the drink: Arabica coffee.

This species from Ethiopia and several subspecies tends to be delicate and to provide a grain with a very aromatic flavor and a considerable amount but less than the other existing variety in terms of caffeine level. Despite its African origin, it is currently more cultivated in the countries of South America, Asia and Central America .


Robust coffee

Although it tends to be less used at a general level, this variety has the important characteristic of having a much higher level of caffeine than the previous one, something thatrovocates that the flavor it produces when drinking is much more intense . and with a much more bitter tone.

Combinations

A large part of the coffees that we drink do not come only from one of the two previous species and their varieties, but usually we have a mixture in different proportions of both. The exact proportion can depend among other things, the type of elaboration that is intended to be carried out.

Main types of coffee depending on their preparation

Besides the type of coffee from which it is obtained, it is very useful to take into account that there is a wide variety of types of coffee based on the type of preparation we carry out with the grains or if we accompany it with elements such as milk, cocoa or even alcoholic drinks. Some of the best known are the following.

1. Expresso / Café solo

One of the most basic and simple types of coffee, only consists of an infusion of coffee which it is made by boiling water in contact with the grain . It can be prepared in a few seconds. It is a type of short coffee, and its size is usually around 30 cl. The use of coffee of the Arabian variant is usual. Usually it usually has some foam on top.

2. Ristretto

This variant of espresso is characterized by having the same amount of coffee as the previous one but using it a smaller proportion of water .

3. Cut or macchiato

One of the most commonly demanded, we call sliced ​​or macchiato a type of espresso coffee to which a slight amount of milk is added, which stains or dyes the coffee.

4. American

American coffee is a type of coffee derived from espresso which is characterized by adding a much larger amount of water than usual in this type of preparation, resulting in a product with a less powerful flavor and something more watery, something that It makes less bitter and facilitates a sweet taste. In this case an espresso would be made first and boiling water would be added externally .

5. Lungo / long

The so-called long coffee is a type of coffee in which the extraction of water in contact with coffee beans is carried out in a more prolonged manner, which entails a greater amount of infusion. It differs from the previous one in the fact that here is directly the infusion which is produced in greater quantity , without having to add water externally. It is usually served in cups or even long glasses.

6. Carajillo

The carajillo is a coffee prepared as an espresso to which is added in addition to the infusion a certain amount of some spirit, being the most general brandy, orujo or whiskey. For this generally first the liquor previously heated is made , to which the coffee will be added and later other elements such as sugar can be added. If brandy is used together with lemon zest, we have the so-called coffee brulé.

7. Coffee with milk

Similar to the cut, the coffee with milk supposes the incorporation of milk to the coffee, only that in this occasion an equal or similar proportion of the milk and the coffee is used. It has a sweeter taste and much less intense, but it is still potent in terms of the presence of caffeine.

8. Chocolate coffee

A much sweeter version of coffee with milk is the well-known coffee-chocolate variant, in which normal milk is replaced by condensed milk . It is usual to put this first and then add coffee.

9. Cappuccino

The cappuccino is another of the most common coffees, being similar to coffee with milk with the exception that in this case we will only find about a third of coffee, the rest being milk. Usually much of this is foamed, and it is usually sprinkled with some cocoa powder to give it a sweeter taste.

10. Mocca

It is a variant of coffee with milk in which, in addition to milk and coffee, chocolate or cocoa in the form of syrup or powder is compulsory.

11. Irish coffee

A type of double espresso in which Whiskey is added and a layer consisting of whipped cream or cream. Usually served in a cocktail glass .

12. Viennese coffee

A type of coffee that can be simple or double espresso which it is accompanied instead of milk by cream or cream , in a lower proportion than the coffee itself.

13. Frappé

One of the few variants whose conceptualization is directly like cold coffee, the frappe is made with instant ground coffee, ice and cream or cream.

14. Aztec

Little known and also conceptualized as cold coffee, this variety is characterized by incorporating in addition to coffee, ice and milk one or more ice cream balls, regardless of their flavor (but the general chocolate). Practically it is closer to a dessert than to an infusion.

Other types

Those cited so far are probably the best known types of coffee, but they are far from the only ones. There is a large number of possible variants more or less common in different countries or regions, and even today they come out from time to time others that incorporate new flavors or ingredients.

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