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

Since it was prepared as an infusion for the first time in Arab countries and was later exported and Spread throughout Europe in the 17th century, coffee has become one of the most consumed beverages worldwide. world.

Highly known for its stimulating properties and its ability to combat fatigue and tiredness, as well as for other beneficial properties, from the origins of its consumption different forms of preparations have been elaborated, existing nowadays a wide variety of types of coffee that we can drink. That is why throughout this article we will see some of the most common and well-known on 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 briefly mention what we call coffee.

We call as such the drink obtained by infusion made with the roasted beans (whether whole or ground) of the coffee tree or coffee plant, a small shrub native to Africa and Asia

and which has subsequently been exported all over the world. With a 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 large extent on the conditions in which the plants from which the grains are to be obtained grow, being for example light, humidity, climate, the method of separating the grains and the roasting process prior to grinding elements to take 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 where coffee trees are grown, the truth is that at a general level we can find three large types of coffee in function of the variety of the plant that is cultivated, being mainly two species used and the third of the options the combination of the grains of both guys.

arabica coffee

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

This species from Ethiopia and with 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 level of caffeine. 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 in general, this variety has the important characteristic of having a much higher level of caffeine than the previous one, something that pIt causes the flavor it produces when drunk to be much more intense. and with a much more bitter tone.

combinations

A large part of the coffees that we drink do not come solely from one of the two previous species and its varieties, but in general we find ourselves before a mixture in different proportions of both. The exact ratio may depend among other things, the type of production that is intended to be carried out.

Main types of coffee depending on its preparation

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

1. Expresso/ Black coffee

One of the most basic and simple types of coffee, it only consists of a coffee infusion 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 Arabic variant is common. 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 for it a smaller proportion of water.

3. cut or macchiato

One of the most demanded in general, we call cortado or macchiato a type of espresso coffee to which a slight amount of milk is added, which stains or stains 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 preparation, resulting in a product with a less powerful flavor and somewhat more watery, something that makes it less bitter and facilitates a sweet taste. In this case an espresso would be made first and boiling water would be added externally to it.

5. long/length

The so-called long coffee is a type of coffee in which the extraction of water in contact with the coffee beans is carried out for a longer time, which entails a greater amount of infusion. It differs from the previous one in the fact that here it is directly the infusion that 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, in addition to the infusion, a certain amount of some spirit drink is added, the most general being brandy, pomace or whiskey. For this generally First, the previously heated liquor 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 end up with the so-called coffee brulé.

7. Coffee with milk

Similar to cortado, coffee with milk involves adding milk to coffee, only this time an equal or similar proportion of dairy and coffee is used. It tastes sweeter and much less intense, but it is still potent at the level of caffeine presence.

8. Bonbon coffee

A much sweeter version of the café con leche is the well-known variant of café bombón, in which regular milk is replaced by condensed milk. The usual thing is that this is put first and then add the coffee.

9. Cappuccino

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 some cocoa is usually added in a sprinkled way powdered to give it a sweeter taste.

10. Mocha

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 obligatorily used.

11. Irish coffee

A type of double espresso in which whiskey is added and a consistent layer of whipped cream or cream. It is usually served in a cocktail glass..

12. viennese coffee

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

13. frappe

One of the few variants that can be conceptualized directly as cold coffee, the frappe is made with ground instant coffee, ice, and milk 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 scoops of ice cream, regardless of flavor (but usually chocolate). It is practically 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 that are more or less common in different countries or regions, and even today others that incorporate new aromas or ingredients are coming out from time to time.