Coffee is definitely one of the world’s foremost drinks. There are many coffee brewing methods and types of coffee beans which have their differences.
Coffee is usually consumed along with breakfast — or in some cases, it is the breakfast itself — and is generally served hot, especially in the morning or during coffee breaks. Yet, in some instances, it is also served as a cold beverage, especially on warm summer days. The addition of sugar and milk, different types of coffee beans and coffee brewing methods create a whole plethora of taste varieties of this popular drink.
Many Americans are avid coffee drinkers. They often indulge in coffee breaks during mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and these coffee breaks usually last from 10 to 20 minutes. In consideration of this habit, many companies and employers usually make provision for these short coffee breaks to ensure that their employees are satisfied.
Moreover, most business and corporate meetings are incomplete without cups of coffee being served as refreshment in lieu of liquors.
Coffee Preparations and Names
Coffee is prepared in various ingenious ways and these clever ways of preparing coffee baffle even regular coffee drinkers. Sometimes coffee is prepared and brewed as an espresso or in a French press, and sometimes it is brewed as a drip or pour-over coffee.
Of course, if you are a coffee lover, you would surely be familiar with coffee terms like espresso, caffe latte, and cappuccino because these are the popular ways in which coffee is brewed. But I bet you would surely ask: “what is pour over coffee?”
If you have a refined taste for coffee, you could readily distinguish the nuances of each coffee taste. You could likewise keenly differentiate the subtle texture of each brew.
Interestingly, you would also readily recognize each brew by simply looking at its appearance. But if you are just a simple coffee drinker, you would surely get confused with those different coffee brewing methods.
Hence, to give you a heads-up on which coffee brew you should order next time you go to a coffee shop, here is a list of the most popular types of coffee brewing methods:
This brew is prepared by pressing hot (88 to 94 ℃) water through finely ground coffee beans to produce a thickly brewed coffee. Other coffee blends like cappuccino, latte, and macchiato are based on espresso. Additionally, espresso basically contains more caffeine per volume than other coffee beverages.
2. French Press
This brewing process is achieved by pouring hot water over ground coffee beans inside a french press beaker and letting it steep. After a couple of minutes, the press plunger is forced down to separate the ground coffee from the liquid. French press coffee is less thick than the espresso.
3. Drip Coffee
This brew is produced by pouring hot water over ground coffee and letting the brew drip through a filter. Drip coffee is a very popular brewing process and the drip coffee maker is a common item in many homes and offices.
4. Pour Over Coffee
This coffee brewing method is very similar to the drip method as both processes rely heavily on gravity to extract the brew. However, in the pour over the process, hot water is manually poured over to ensure even water distribution over the ground coffee.
The Benefits of Drinking Coffee
It is a well-known fact that caffeine, coffee’s main ingredient, is addictive and can cause anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, and rapid heart rate. However, these side-effects are usually due to an excessive intake of caffeine.
On the upside, caffeine—an active ingredient of many drugs—is known to enhance your health by improving energy levels, stimulating brain function, burning body fat, revitalizing the nervous system, and protecting you from dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease.
Drinking coffee provides you with vitamins B2, B3 and B5 as well as minerals like manganese and potassium. Coffee can also diminish depression and improve your mood, making you happier in life. Moreover, some studies have shown that drinking coffee does not cause heart disease.
Instead, it may even lower your chances of having a stroke or heart disease. Furthermore, you will be happy to know that coffee drinkers have a lower chance of developing liver or colorectal cancer. This is because coffee is known to be the primary source of antioxidants, especially, in the Western diet.
Lastly, drinking coffee is known to promote longevity; so, expect to live a long and meaningful life if you are a regular coffee drinker.