12 most frequently asked questions about coffee

  1. What is fancy coffee?

Answer: Fancy coffee generally refers to pure coffee as the base (usually espresso), using coffee machine steam to make milk foam, garland, or add cream, sugar paste, cinnamon powder, chocolate sauce, and other auxiliary materials Coffee drinks, such as Cappuccino, Latte, Macchiato, etc.;

 

  1. Is black coffee a single-origin coffee?

Answer: Not entirely true. Single-origin coffee without sugar and milk can be called black coffee, but the same black coffee without sugar and milk may not be a single-origin. Black coffee refers to pure coffee without any auxiliary materials. It is called fast coffee, but the type of coffee beans is not limited. The single-origin coffee refers to the pure coffee that is made from a single coffee bean produced in the place of origin, and generally does not add milk or sugar when drinking, such as Mandheling, Blue Mountain, Colombia, etc.;

 

  1. Why some coffees are sour and some are bitter?

Answer: The origin, altitude, variety, processing method, roasting degree, and production method of coffee beans will all determine the difference in coffee flavor. For example, beans in Africa are generally brighter in acidity, while coffee in Southeast Asia is usually more mellow; coffee grown at high altitudes will be more acidic than grown at low altitudes; new beans have better acidity than old beans; lightly roasted beans can retain acidic substances. The bitterness of deeply roasted beans is heavier; as the grinding degree becomes finer, the bitterness increases and the sourness becomes weaker; as the water temperature increases, the bitterness increases and the sourness becomes weaker; as the brewing time increases, the bitterness increases and the sourness becomes weaker;

 

  1. Why are the coffee beans different in size?

Answer: The unit for measuring the size of coffee beans is "mesh", 1 mesh = 1/64 inch, for example, 18 mesh represents a diameter of 18/64 inches (ie 7.14 mm), that is, a sieve with a mesh diameter of 7.14 mm is used Sift the coffee beans with a net, and the beans with 18 meshes or more are left on it. Under normal circumstances, the larger the beans of a single variety, the better, because large-grained coffee beans are more nutritious and flavorful, but different varieties of coffee beans cannot be distinguished by size. Relatively small, but it has a great flavor and texture. If you open a bag of espresso coffee beans and see uneven sizes, this is a normal phenomenon, because espresso beans are blended, that is to say, two or more types of coffee beans are used for a certain proportion The purpose of this is to integrate coffee beans from different producing areas and varieties to achieve more flavor and taste characteristics;

 

  1. How to store unused coffee beans?

Answer: Whether it is unused beans that are unpacked or coffee beans that are packaged intact, avoid direct contact with air and sunlight, keep them in a dry and cool place, and be moisture-proof and heat-insulated. Coffee beans that have been unpacked should be Store in a sealed container;

 

  1. How long is the shelf life of coffee beans?

Answer: The shelf life of coffee beans is usually 12 months, but the best appreciation period is one month after roasting. The flavor of coffee beans will gradually decay with the increase of storage time; so if you buy a good coffee, drink it while it is fresh and don't store it;

 

  1. Do I still need to "raise beans" for the coffee I just bought?

Answer: The freshly roasted coffee beans contain more CO₂ in the beans, and the molecules in the beans are too active and swell badly when exposed to water. The coffee produced is not stable after being made. At this time, the beans can be properly awakened. For example, in freshly roasted Italian coffee beans, the oil extracted when making Espresso will be rougher, dissipate quickly, and the color of the oil is not uniform, the taste is brighter and less mellow, and the beans will be more stable after 3-5 days. The taste is more mellow;

 

  1. The coffee beans are out of oil, does it affect the taste?

Answer: The "oil" evenly spread on the surface of the coffee beans is not actually "grease", but a water-soluble organic substance that looks like oil. The oil production of coffee beans is mainly related to temperature, roasting degree, and time. Generally speaking, the lighter the roasting degree, the less oily the surface of the beans; the deeper the roasting degree, the more oily the surface of the beans will be. Some darker roasted Italian coffee beans begin to produce oil when they are baked, and some begin to produce oil after they are left for a day or two. The oil produced in this case will not affect the flavor and taste of the coffee beans. Another situation is that the coffee beans have been stored for too long and the oil is not fresh. This kind of "oil" smells dull and even has a stale smell. Such coffee beans have a great influence on the flavor and taste;

 

  1. Do coffee beans have to be ground fresh? Can I buy fans?

Answer: After roasting, the volume of green beans will increase by 30-60% due to the formation of CO₂, the structure will be changed and the density will be reduced. When zooming in, you can see countless pores of CO₂ packages as shown in the figure:

CO₂ can prevent the oxidation of roasted coffee beans to a certain extent, but the grinding of coffee beans into powder speeds up the emission of CO₂2, and at the same time increases the contact area between coffee and oxygen, thereby deteriorating volatile oils and shortening the shelf life. So coffee beans must be ground freshly;

 

  1. What are the common brewing methods for coffee?

Answer: The common ones are drip filter, Italian espresso machine, American electric coffee pot, French press pot, Siphon pot, Moka pot, Pour over,etc.;

 

  1. What is the ratio of powder to water for single beans?

Answer: The American Specialty Coffee Association (SCAA) recommends a powder-water ratio of 1:18.18; the European Specialty Coffee Association (SCAE) recommends a powder-water ratio of 1:16.7; personally recommend a powder-water ratio of 1:16. Since everyone has different tastes, you can make more adjustments between the above ratios to find a more suitable method;

 

  1. Can drink coffee help lose weight?

Answer: The caffeine contained in coffee, after being absorbed by the body, moves in the body to make the body secrete adrenaline, and this substance can promote the decomposition of fat cells in the blood, and then be excreted as fatty acids. But in the process, you must also grasp the time and master the methods. Drinking a cup of black coffee within 30 minutes to 1 hour after lunch is the best time to lose weight;