Do you ever feel like you’re the only person in the world who doesn’t like coffee? Well, I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone. In fact, there are an estimated 1.5 million people in the United States who say they don’t like coffee. But, We’re here to tell you that you can still drink it, and enjoy it.
What is Coffee
Coffee is a very common drink in most places. Most people drink it while on the go. It’s available in all kinds of flavors, ranging from milk and chocolate to latte, and more.
As with anything, there is a huge variety in coffee, which has many different names and uses. Let’s start with the basics and explore the types of coffee we can find.
Coffee Varieties
First off, let’s look at the basic varieties of coffee. These are the most popular types of coffee in most countries.
- Arabica – This is the main kind of coffee found in most places around the world. Arabica beans come from the arabica tree.
- Robusta – Robusta is the second most popular kind of coffee. It’s grown mostly in Africa, although some beans are also grown in Central America.
- Kona – Kona coffee is a variety of coffee grown in Hawaii. It’s one of the rare coffees that is not roasted, so it’s called green coffee. It is also the least expensive variety of coffee.
Coffee Types
There are many different types of coffee available, including many that are only available in certain places. Let’s explore some of the different kinds of coffee available.
- Dark Roast – Dark roast coffee is usually darker than light roast coffee. It has a stronger flavor, but it’s often used for cooking or baking.
- Light Roast – Light roast coffee is lighter than dark roast. It has a milder taste, making it more suitable for drinking.
- Decaf – Decaffeinated coffee is coffee without caffeine. It is produced by a chemical process and is available in several varieties
- Fruit Flavors – Fruit flavors are coffee with added fruit extracts. They’re usually added during the roasting process, but they can also be added afterwards.
- Puerto Rican Coffee – Puerto Rican coffee is a traditional coffee that is made from the leaves of the coffee plant. It’s sometimes referred to as “Coffe de palma”, which translates to “palm coffee”.
- Chocolate Flavors – Chocolate flavored coffee is very popular among coffee lovers. It comes in a wide variety of flavors, including milk chocolate, white chocolate, caramel, and others.
- Tea Flavors – Tea flavors are coffee with added tea extracts. They are usually mixed with regular coffee beans.
- Cinnamon Flavors – Cinnamon flavored coffee is coffee with added cinnamon extract. Some people use this as an alternative to sugar, while others just enjoy it.
- Herbal Flavors – Herbal flavors are coffee with added herbal extracts. Some of these extracts are said to boost the immune system and help treat colds.
Where Did Coffee Came From ?
In the 17th century a man named Kaldi noticed that when he made fire by rubbing two stones together, the fire would go out and he would be left with two stones. He thought that the reason was that the fire was too hot.
He went back to his house and did the same experiment. When he rubbed two stones together, the fire stayed lit. Later on, he tried to roast some grains and found that they were much hotter than normal fire.
He continued experimenting with other substances until he found that boiling water made the strongest brew. He also noticed that the ground beans didn’t burn in the fire. By this time the coffee was already called kahweh (Arabic).
Around the same time, a traveler by the name of Mocha was travelling to Mecca for the hajj. One day he had to cross a large river. It was getting dark and he decided to camp for the night. He looked for a place to set up his tent but couldn’t find anywhere. He had no food or drink with him. The temperature was cold and there were no trees nearby. So he just took off his clothes and jumped into the freezing water to sleep.
This was probably the origin of coffee. Next we will look at the geographical area that the coffee bean comes from.
The first coffee plantations were started in South America, Columbia.
The beans were brought from Arabia to the Americas by a man named Pedro Cieza de León. He arrived in the Americas in 1513. His account is still considered an important source for the history of coffee. Colombia is the biggest producer of coffee beans in the world.
Which Country is The Biggest Producer of Coffee ?
According to the International Coffee Organization, the country with the most coffee farms is Ethiopia. It has over 800,000 farms with nearly 7 million coffee bushes on them. That’s a lot of coffee.
Another big producer is Vietnam. While it has fewer farms than Ethiopia, its output is much larger. In fact, Vietnam produces about a third of the world’s coffee.
The third largest producer is Brazil. It’s another huge exporter. And, according to the ICBO, Brazil’s coffee production is the second highest in the world.
With so many farms in Ethiopia, the total amount of coffee produced there must be substantial. In fact, Ethiopia is the largest producer of arabica coffee, which is the kind used to make espresso coffee.
Of course, all of these countries produce coffee. But, where does the rest come from?
The answer is Costa Rica, which produces a lot of robusta coffee. This is the kind used to make instant coffee.
How To Make Coffee for People Who Don’t like Coffee
For those who don’t like coffee, here are the top 9 tips for making great coffee.
1. Keep it simple.
Make sure you use only the essentials in your coffee making equipment. Keep it as simple as possible.
2. Start with high quality ingredients.
A good place to start is with your beans. If you buy bulk coffee, they should be very fresh and ideally, roasted within the last 7 days.
Next, grind your beans. I recommend using a coffee grinder, but a blender will also do the job. You’ll need a minimum amount of ground coffee for espresso, but less for drip.
If you don’t have a grinder, the next best thing is a hand grinder. Hand grinders are great for coffee, but be careful with them. Use gloves and try to keep your hands away from the blades.
3. Use the right amount of water.
I’ve found that most people use too much water with their coffee. It’s best to start with a measured amount of water per cup of coffee grounds.
4. Use the right grind.
I recommend starting with coarsely ground coffee. You can get a nice even grind by placing a coffee filter in the coffee grinder and turning the grinder on and off.
5. Use the right temperature.
When using a stovetop method for coffee, you want to use as little heat as possible. Using a microwave is a no go.
6. Don’t over-boil.
You don’t want to boil your coffee either, but there’s a difference between boiling and steeping. Steeping is when you let your coffee sit for a while to bring out the flavor.
7. Add your own flavors.
The best part about making coffee at home is the ability to experiment. You can experiment with different beans, grinding methods, temperatures, and more.
8. Make a French Press.
French presses make the best coffee. You can also make a french press at home, but it’s a bit harder.
9. Make a cold brew. Cold brew coffee is delicious and great for iced coffee. It’s a little more labor intensive, but worth it.
