Explained :: Top Coffee List From Around the World
It's a Coffee Aficionado's World
If you're a coffee devotee like me, one of the first things you do every morning, after letting the dog out to do his business, is flick the switch on the coffee machine. We love it. Can't get enough of it (to a certain extent).
That smell, oh, that smell of fresh coffee is like an addiction all on its own, isn't it?
So, here we have an A to Z of coffee types and recipes from all over the world. Feel free to add your own, if we've missed your favorite, in the comments section below.
The Most Common Coffee Drinks
In the United Kingdom, the most commonly drank form is the 'instant coffee'. Most instants have a nasty, sharp taste to them. But that's the way we're used to drinking them (I live in London). Although my 'normal' cup is a drip pot coffee, I have been known, when I'm short on time, to reach for that jar of instant!
I'm not proud of it, but sometimes if I'm seriously busy, I have no time to wait if I want a warm drink!
Caffe Latte - The latte is made from an espresso being poured into a steamed cup of milk, with a foamy top. If you just ask for a normal coffee, this is what you will get in coffee shops, if you're not more specific.
Espresso - A quickly made shot of strong coffee, forced out of the coffee machine at high pressure to extract the maximum flavor. The perfect espresso will have a thick foamy, golden crema on top.
Cappuccino - Made from layers of hot strong espresso, finished with frothy milk and a fine chocolate powder. The name originated from the Capuchin monks because it was the same color as their robes! (1)
Caffe Americano - The Americano is a strong drip coffee made from espresso and water. It is created from water added to the extracted espresso. Or simply - the Lazy Mans Coffee!
My Favorite Coffee :: Greek/Turkish
Greek Coffee - An extra-ordinarily strong coffee which can be made in several ways:
- Glykys (vari glykos) - honey sweet.
- Glykys vrastos - sweet and boiled a couple of times to lose its froth.
- Sketos - strong and bitter
- Metrios - medium sweet
The variants are basically how sweet they are.
Greek coffee is drank slowly, enjoyed with a glass of water. This is high on top of my list of favorite food & drink from Greece!
In the similar region of the world, the Turkish coffee is virtually the same thing as a Greek coffee. It is made in exactly the same way, in an ibrik/cezve. The ground beans and sugar are boiled a couple of times, then poured in to smaller than average cups, and drank with a glass of water. (2)
The coffee is so strong, you need the water to wash it down - much like Oozo! Now, there is an amazing drink that burns on the way down your throat. Again, only the tough (or the dumb..) drink it without water!
Here is How to Make My Favorite :: Greek Coffee!
If You Like More Than Just an Espresso!
Cafe con Miel - Made with a single shot of latte, honey and vanilla or cinnamon flavoring.
Cafe de Olla - Made with cinnamon, cloves, piloncillo (Mexican brown sugar) and strong dark roasted coffee.
Cafe Mocha - One third espresso, two thirds steamed milk and topped with a milky froth and chocolate powder - is a mocha coffee. It was named after the lost principal port of Mocha (Mokha) in Yemen. Have you tried an iced Mocha yet...delicious and thirst quenching on a sunny summers afternoon?
Caffe con Zucchero - Simply, an espresso with sugar!
Caffe Lungo - The caffe lungo is made by using twice as much water as espresso. Made from Arabica beans for a really smooth taste and finished off with a fine crema. The name means long, in Italian.
Espresso con Panna - The Panna is basically an espresso, either single or double, topped with whipped cream.
Espresso Doppio (Double Espresso) - The Double Espresso is exactly that - a double shot of espresso! (Strangely enough, Doppio means double in Italian) If you want a caffeine boost, the Doppio is for you..!
Espresso Macchiato - Also called the caffe macchiato. It is made from a shot of espresso, topped with a little hot frothy milk.
Espresso Romano - Take 1 shot of espresso and a strip of lemon and you have the basics of an espresso romano!
Frappuccino Coffee - A registered trademark of Starbucks. The Frappuccino is made from crushed ice.
Better Than Just an Espresso?
Latte Macchiato - The Latte Macchiato is almost the opposite of the espresso macchiato - espresso poured over hot frothy milk.
Nespresso - The Nespresso is a branded name of Nestle (Nescafe) - it is the companies best selling coffee!
Ristretto Coffee - What is a ristretto? Whilst the coffee connoisseurs around the world disagree on the exact definition of a ristretto, the name from the Italian restricted implies it to be the best of the best espresso coffee.
Spicy Viennese Espresso - If you want to spice up your espresso, the spicy Viennese is my choice. Its made with cinnamon, cloves and all spices and topped with whipped cream! How do you fancy an iced spiced espresso?
Is There a Problem With Decaffeinated Coffee?
Yes.
It usually doesn't taste anything like what you'd expect, having 'coffee' in its name. That's because it has 97% of the caffeine removed, which helps make it more acidic.
And, decaffeinated coffee has been shown to increase LDL cholesterol (that's the bad stuff), which on it's own can lead to an array of health problems.
So, stick to normal coffee or just drink water to avoid any confusion! (3)
Don't Be Fooled by Decaf!
Coffee Drinking Poll
Do You Bother to Take the Time to Make a Decent Cup of Coffee?
But How Much Coffee is Drank Around the World?
Since coffee was introduced to western civilization around three hundred years ago, the amount of people who drink coffee has exploded. It's popularity, not just as a kick start to the day with that all important caffeine fix, but it is now a social beverage which is widely accepted as a must have when visiting someone's home, or when meeting a friend out somewhere.
From it's origins in Ethiopia, to the first coffee bean roasting in Yemen and the wealthy coffee houses in the Sufi Muslim community, this wine (as it was first known) seriously upset the French wine makers at the time. Because, on it's arrival to France in around 1675, it was seen to be stealing the wine makers customers.
You can read more about coffee's origins and how this 'wine' affected so many people, with it's introduction to the West, including how it even upset the married women of London, on our website http://coffeealera.com, where we share much information about coffee, caffeine and even green tea.
As well as more information on the best types of coffee for your 'buck', you can also find more about the original coffee houses of Egypt and Persia.
So How Much Coffee is Actually Consumed?
In the United States alone around 54% of adults drink coffee on a daily basis. Whether it's for that kick start in the morning, or if it's just because there is a coffee machine at the office, people everywhere love the sometimes bitter taste of this dark brown and mysterious beverage we call gourmet coffee.
