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Two billion cups of coffee are drunk every day on the planet. In France, 8 out of 10 people enjoy the bitter and caffeinated taste of this hot drink. According to legend, it was a shepherd in Abyssinia who discovered coffee. What is certain is that Arabica coffee plants originated in Ethiopia and that the local populations have been consuming coffee since prehistoric times. In the 17th century, this beverage arrived in Europe, through Italy.
From the two edible species of coffee, Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, its many varieties are now consumed on all continents of the world. So much so that the little black coffee now represents a huge global market. To help you find your way around specialty or origin coffees, espresso, bean or ground coffee and organic coffee, here are a few simple explanations to help you understand everything about coffee, which has become an exceptional product.
In recent years, there has been an interesting movement to transform coffee from a simple beverage to a product of exception. Initiated in the United States in the 1970's, this trend has focused on rare coffees that have been rigorously selected by the most demanding roasters in the coffee business.
Exceptional coffee, also known as specialty or origin coffee, is a beverage of excellence, similar to the grand cru for wine. It is generally a coffee that is remarkable for its rarity and superior quality. It is at the beginning of the years 2000 that this type of coffee is imposed in France. It meets very strict criteria in terms of cultivation, harvesting, but also aromatic complexity.
So what makes an exceptional coffee? The answer can be found in a few points:
Just like wine, exceptional coffee evokes a terroir, appellations, precise methods of cultivation, harvesting, drying, but also preparation (percolation, decoction, infusion, etc.). To be part of this category, the coffee must have obtained a minimum grade of 80/100 from the SCA, the specialty coffee association.
The drying phase is a crucial step in obtaining a specialty coffee. After an extremely rigorous selection phase, the red or yellow cherries, depending on the variety, are dried using different techniques:
Thus, from a simple black coffee, coffee has undergone a real transformation, similar to that of wine or olive oil. Consumers are now more demanding in terms of the origin and quality of coffee, which has made it a truly exceptional product.
Espresso is the most consumed coffee in the world. OfItalian origin, it is prepared according to very strict rules.
Espresso, a French term derived from the original Italian name "espresso", is also called short or strong coffee. It is obtained by percolation, a process that consists of passing hot water under high pressure through ground coffee. Served in small cups, it is characterized by its very intense aroma. It is one of the most consumed coffee formats in France and, of course, in Italy, the country of origin.
Contrary to what its full-bodied and concentrated taste might lead you to believe, an espresso contains much less caffeine than an Americano, which is a very, very long coffee. In fact, the greater the quantity of water, the more caffeine the beverage contains.
To enjoy a good espresso coffee, it must be prepared according to the rules of the art, using a percolator. This is a machine that extracts coffee very quickly by a pressure system. To deserve its title, this little black coffee must respect a very strict preparation protocol.
So, for an ideal tasting, it will be necessary to pay attention to the following points:
It is indeed the respect of all these elements that will allow you to enjoy a tasty espresso, both in the café and at home.
The recommended dose for the grind is between 8 and 10 grams, which should be packed evenly so that the water moistens the entire grind cake. The ideal temperature of the water is about 95 degrees to extract all the oils contained in the coffee. In Italy, an espresso contains 3 cl of coffee. In France, it is between 3 and 6 cl. With a percolator, the extraction is done in about 30 seconds.
But, before you start preparing this short and strong coffee, it is advisable to grind your coffee yourself, using a manual or electric grinder. This way, you can enjoy all the freshness of the beans. Be careful, because the quality of the espresso will depend on the degree of grinding. The grind must be fine to guarantee a good extraction. It is also possible to buy ground coffee, specially selected for the preparation of this beverage. There are also blends that combine the finesse ofArabica with the power of Robusta.
It is not by chance or by simple fashion that coffee beans have become the big trend in recent years. And lovers of exceptional coffee have not been mistaken, since coffee beans allow them to enjoy the best. They can choose the size of the grind, its freshness and of course the origin of the coffee. This way, they control a good part of the preparation of their favorite beverage. A sign of this craze: sales of grinding machines have increased by 70% in 2021!
The main advantage of coffee beans is of course their freshness. When you buy roasted beans, all you have to do is grind them when you prepare your coffee. These freshly ground beans will offer incomparable aromas in terms of strength and complexity. True coffee lovers know that a freshly ground coffee is a guarantee of a tasty coffee that will reveal all its character.
By buying coffee in this form, we are also certain of its origin (Brazil, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Colombia, etc.). You can therefore choose a particular region and origin, which is the assurance of tasting coffees adapted to the tastes of each person and to a particular preparation method. Indeed, the packages of coffee beans often specify the preparation that is most suitable. A Robusta grown in a specific area will, for example, be perfect for a full-bodied and powerful Italian espresso. An Arabica grown at high altitudes will be better suited to preparation with a filter coffee maker that will bring out its aromatic nuances.
Another advantage of coffee beans is that they are environmentally friendly. Indeed, it is the least processed form of coffee. It does not undergo any industrial process, unlike ground coffee. Coffee beans do not produce any waste, apart from their packaging. It is possible to use coffee grounds for various domestic uses: fertilization of plants, fight against certain insects and bad smells, especially in the refrigerator.
The only drawback to coffee beans is that they require the use of an electric or manual coffee grinder, as well as the adjustment of the fineness of the grind according to the type of preparation chosen. There is also the problem of its conservation. However, a perfectly sealed box will protect the coffee beans from any alteration.
But, before it reaches us, how is the coffee bean prepared?
Once harvested and sorted, the beans, still green, are roasted, that is to say they are heated. This is what will allow all their flavors to reveal themselves. Under the effect of heat, the beans will caramelize because of the sugars they contain. They will change from a green to a brown and then black color. During this process, the aromatic elements and the character of each variety of coffee will be expressed. The coffee beans are then left to rest for a few hours until they have released all the carbon dioxide they contain. It is the CO2 contained in the roasted beans that explains the presence of a valve on the packages of coffee beans. Then comes the last step: the packaging of the coffee and its shipping. To be fit for consumption, the coffee beans must undergo this roasting process.
Ground coffee is the darling of consumers! It represents 56% of the market. It must be said that this form of coffee has a very practical side that can only seduce. In addition, it is sometimes a truly exceptional product that offers a choice according to the consumer's tastes: the strength of a robusta, the balance of an arabica or the subtlety of a moka.
In addition to the quality and origin of the coffee you want, you must pay attention to the fineness of the grind. Indeed, each type of preparation requires a more or less ground coffee. Depending on the coffee machine used, you will have to choose a certain type of grind:
Unlike coffee beans, the ground form will be more delicate to preserve. Beware of air and oxygen which are the enemies of ground coffee. Indeed, when it is in contact with the air, the ground coffee oxidizes, which leads to a deterioration of the coffee's aromas. It is therefore advisable to keep ground coffee away from air. For this, an airtight box will prove to be perfect. Remember that humidity and sunlight are not good for ground coffee either.
So, to avoid any inconvenience, it's better to buy small 250g coffee bags rather than a large package.
In recent years, coffee has been the subject of a growing craze around the world. And this success is not without its ecological problems. So, to limit the negative impact on our planet, why not turn to organic coffee? In terms of taste, it is certainly difficult to tell the difference between organic and non-organic coffee, but in terms of the environment, the distinction is clear.
It is to protect our own health, but also that of the planet that we choose to consume organic coffee. Organic coffee is indeed cultivated without chemicals or pesticides, which we know are damaging to nature, but also to humans. Coming from an agriculture using organic fertilizers, that is to say natural, organic coffee is therefore better for your health.
To deserve the organic label, the plantations must produce their coffee without any chemical product for at least 5 years. In addition, organic coffee cultivation favorsagroforestry, i.e. the cultivation of coffee trees in a natural forest environment or one planted by man. By associating on the same plot of land the presence of large trees that provide shade (of different species for greater biodiversity), this type of cultivation preserves the natural environment of the forests, essential to the health of our planet.
