Coffee is perhaps one of the most amazing and interesting beverages in the entire world. Nothing can even come close enough to it, when it comes to popularity. It has had its effect on the human kind since 900 BC, and ever since, it has not failed to excite and enliven our senses.
People all over have explored the various ways in which coffee can be prepared, modified and consumed. There are interesting stories associated with coffee and its origin. With the passage of time, it is now not only a beverage, but a way of living, and more than that, it is a concept that is being explored every passing day.
Today, there are more cafes in a city than eateries. Everyone likes a hot steaming cup of coffee irrespective of the season, the weather or the mood. If one is sad, it perks up the mood, and if one is already happy, he just gets merrier; great way to start a conversation, and carry it on with rounds of coffee in the future.
We hit the cafes and love to order our favorite numbers. Some like it black and authentic, some like it deliciously contaminated with a dash of milk and some like a little hint of chocolate or cocoa in their coffee. We know our coffee flavors, but many a times we do not know the details of it. We shall now take a look at some of the most common and popular types of coffee beverages and their composition.
• Let us begin with the purest form and that is, black coffee. It is simply, coffee that is served without any milk. The most authentic way of preparing it is by grinding the coffee beans neither too coarse nor too finely and adding boiling water to it and putting aside the coffee pot covered, to let it get infused and never for more than five minutes. This form is the bitter one that makes you realize that you are taking in anti oxidants with every sip. It is extremely invigorating though.
• A Cappuccino is perhaps the next most favorite among all people. It consists of a 30% of coffee extract, a 50% of milk that is textured and a remaining 20 % of creamy or foamy milk or froth. The frothy milk gives Cappuccino its character and specialty and that is what distinguishes it from Latte. Latte is basically, Cappuccino without the froth.
• Next on our list is Caffé Mocha. You would get a delicious cup of Caffe Mocha by adding, chocolate syrup or cocoa powder to 30% espresso, 50% textured milk and 20% of froth or whipped cream. You can add a dash of shaved chocolate or some cinnamon to add a touch of elegance to your cup.
• Caffe Latte basically means coffee with milk, and this is variously named in different parts of the world. In French it is called, Café au lait, in Poland it is called Kawa Biala, meaning white coffee, Milchkaffee in German, Café con leche in Spanish etc.
• Café mélange is a popular coffee beverage of the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria and it is prepared by topping Black Coffee with whipped cream.
• Greek frappe coffee as the name itself suggests is a very popular drink in Greece but now has gained popularity all over. It is basically, iced coffee covered with foam. It is a great drink for the summers when the sun is high and the breeze is warm. The coffee used to prepare this drink is spray dried instant coffee. Frappe in Greece denotes shaking.
• One of the most favorite varieties of coffee is Indian Filter Coffee, also known as South Indian filter coffee or Madras filter coffee or Kaapi is prepared by combining 70 to 80 % of dark roasted coffee beans, 20 to 30 % of chicory, milk and sugar. This beverage tastes sweet and milky and is very popular in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
• There are innumerable ways in which coffee can be prepared and served. The ratio in which milk, espresso, and other ingredients are combined makes all the difference. So, it is understandable that coffee has more number of varieties than one can think of. The last variety that we shall talk about is liquor coffee and as the name itself suggests, it is coffee with any kind of liquor. Like, if whiskey is added to espresso, we get Irish Coffee, if it is Vodka, then it becomes Russian coffee, Brandy mixed with Espresso makes Brandy Coffee. Liquor coffee has many forms, as we can guess. People never stop experimenting and the exploration goes on and on.
Finally, we can say that there is a complete world of coffee and its beverages out there altogether and there is no end to finding out more about it or exploring its variety and form. If you are an ardent coffee lover, you would love to know more about coffee with each drink. It is captivating and encircles you in an aroma that is hard to miss. If you are feeling lazy and a little dull on a cozy afternoon, grab a cup of hot steamy, heart warming coffee and I can bet that you will fall in love with its richness, its welcoming aroma and will see the transformation in your mood sooner than you think.
