Coffee for Beginners: Learn the Basics of Coffee

The origin of coffee

Coffee is a beverage made from ground coffee beans that originated in Ethiopia, Africa. According to legend, a shepherd found that his sheep became unusually active after eating a kind of red berry. So he tried the berry and found that it could keep people awake and energetic. This is the origin of coffee.

Main varieties

There are two common coffee varieties on the market: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica coffee has a strong aroma, soft taste and high acidity, and is considered to be high-quality coffee; while Robusta has a bitter taste and contains more caffeine.

Growth environment

High-quality coffee beans require a suitable growing environment. Generally speaking, an altitude between 1,000 and 2,000 meters, a temperature between 15 and 24 degrees Celsius, and sufficient sunlight are essential for high-quality production. In addition, the pH and humidity of the soil also affect the quality of coffee beans.

Coffee processing methods

After coffee beans are picked, they need to go through a series of processing steps to become the coffee we are familiar with. There are two main processing methods: dry method and wet method. The dry method is to dry the picked coffee berries until the skin falls off, and then remove the inner pulp; the wet method is to soak the berries in water to remove the pulp, and then ferment, wash and other steps.

Baking process

Roasting is the process of treating raw beans at high temperatures to change their aroma and taste. It is generally divided into three stages: light roasting, medium roasting and dark roasting. Light roasting retains the original flavor and has a lighter taste; medium roasting emphasizes more on the rich aroma; and dark roasting has a heavier taste and bitterness.

Brewing method

Brewing is one of the most common and simplest ways to make coffee. Common brewing equipment includes drip pots, French presses, and hand brewers. During the brewing process, the water temperature, the amount of coffee powder, and the soaking time will affect the taste of the coffee.

Tasting Tips

When tasting coffee, you can evaluate its quality by observing its appearance, smelling its aroma, and tasting it. In terms of appearance, high-quality coffee beans are usually uniform in color and have a high gloss; when smelling the aroma, you can look for special smells such as floral, fruity, or chocolate; and when tasting, you need to pay attention to aspects such as acidity, bitterness, and aftertaste.

summary

Understanding basic coffee knowledge is a must to become a qualified coffee lover. From origin to processing to brewing, each link has an important impact on the final output. I hope that through this article, readers can have a deeper understanding of coffee and better enjoy this delicious drink in their daily lives.