terça-feira, 5 de outubro de 2010

A Strong Taste

Coffee is considered the third most consumed beverage in the world. People across the globe have incorporated coffee in their daily routines and they believe it is a strong drink that can give them energy or heart diseases. There is much debate if coffee is a benefit or harmful to people's health. It was first planted in Ethiopia, then the cultivation spread to Saudi Arabia, Europe and then to the Americas.
There are two most common beans known as coffee arabica and Robusta. They are blended and roasted to give different flavors and smells.
Cultivation and production consist in planting twenty seeds in the same hole, but just a few of them will sprout.
Bushes can reach 1,50 meters high and the harvest happens 12 months later.
The beans are picked, processed and dried. The bean of arabica has a smoother taste, however, the robusta has a bitter or acid taste. That is why 75% of blended coffees are arabica and just 25% are robusta.
The beans are firstly washed to remove the layer of mucilage. Then the seeds are dried. The next step is roasting. The temperature can reach 200°C, but even this can change the aroma and flavor. Coffee after being roasted is labeled as light, medium light, medium, medium dark and dark, or very dark.
Lighter roasts have more fiber content and stronger flavor, more acidity. Darker roasts have less fiber content and a more sugary flavor.
Once it is roasted, its storage must be properly done to preserve the fresh taste.
Last year, Brazil was the world leader in green coffee production, followed by Vietnam, Indonesia and Colombia, and it is still the largest coffee exporting nation. Although Brazilian coffee is found around the world, barists and experts claim that Colombian coffee is the best.
It is impossible to discuss about coffee and not mention its pros and cons.
According to most studies, the regular consumption of coffee reduces the Alzheimer, Parkinson and heart's diseases. It prevents free radicals from damaging cells. Coffee prepared using paper filters remove an oil that can cause coronary heart disease.
Coffee is rich in caffeine, which is considered a stimulant, and carbohydrates. The green beans are rich in vitamin C, but it is lost when heated in high temperatures.
On the other hand, scientific studies show that the consumption of coffee causes heart disease, headaches, irritation, insomnia and raises blood pressure.
While there is not a clear understanding of the pros and cons of coffee, coffee followers can be found in every corner in different countries. Cafes are gaining their space, they are becoming more sophisticated, and they offer varieties of coffee flavors and their mixtures.
It is also combined with whiskey in Irish coffee and many others sophisticated coffee beverages.
Sitting down at a cafe and watch people walking by and, at the same time, savoring an espresso is something really good that everyone should try.