Coffee knowledge: From history to tasting, explore the secrets of the world's black gold

The History of Coffee

Coffee is a drink that originated in Africa and its history can be traced back hundreds of years. According to legend, coffee beans were discovered by an Ethiopian shepherd in the 9th century AD. He noticed that his sheep became unusually active after eating the berries of a certain plant. So he tried boiling the berries and drinking them. This discovery sparked people's interest in this magical plant.

Over time, coffee became popular in the Arab world. People discovered that grinding and brewing coffee beans made a delicious drink that had a stimulating effect. Arab merchants brought coffee to other places for trade, and it was introduced to Europe in the 16th century.

Coffee culture in different countries

Each country has its own unique coffee culture and habits. For example, in Italy, espresso is one of the most popular choices, while in France, people focus more on enjoying slow-brewed coffee with friends. Turkish people like to grind coffee into powder and drink it after boiling it with water. In the United States, filtered coffee and Starbucks-style latte are the mainstream.

In addition to different brewing methods, each country also has its own unique coffee drinks. For example, Italy's cappuccino is made of espresso, milk and milk foam; Turkey has a special drink called "King of Cups" that adds spices and sugar.

Coffee tasting

To truly appreciate and taste good coffee, you need to master some basic skills. The first is to choose high-quality coffee beans. High-quality beans usually have a full-bodied and complex taste, with a rich and lasting aroma.

The second is to grind and brew the coffee beans correctly. Different types of brewing equipment are suitable for different degrees of coarseness and fineness (from coarse to fine: drip coffee, French press, moka pot, espresso machine and hand brew), so you need to choose the right grinding degree according to your own equipment.

When tasting coffee, you can experience its flavor by smelling, tasting, and evaluating. When smelling, put your nose close to the mouth of the cup and take a deep breath to try to capture the aroma of the coffee. When tasting, hold a small sip of coffee in your mouth and use your tongue to distribute it throughout your mouth. When evaluating, you need to pay attention to the acidity, bitterness, sweetness, and aftertaste of the coffee.

Explore the world's black gold

There are many different types and origins of coffee beans to choose from around the world. Each origin has its own unique soil and climate conditions, which affect the flavor characteristics formed during the growth process of the beans.

For example, Brazil is one of the world's largest coffee producers, and beans grown there often have a nutty, smooth, and sweet flavor. Colombia, known for its warm, humid, mountainous conditions, produces coffee beans with bright, refreshing acidity.

In addition to the origin, the processing method of coffee beans will also affect their flavor. Dry processing will give the coffee beans a strong and natural fruity aroma, while wet processing focuses more on retaining the original acidity and freshness of the beans.

Conclusion

Whether it is tracing the history of coffee, tasting special drinks from different countries or exploring different flavors of black gold from around the world, coffee is a fascinating drink that deserves in-depth research and exploration. By understanding its history, learning how to taste it, and mastering the unique culture of each country, we can better appreciate and enjoy this delicious and refreshing black gold.