Coffee is mainly drunk in the morning, due to its high caffeine content it has a stimulating effect, it is valued for its incredible taste and aroma that improves mood. It also has many valuable health properties.
Brief history of coffee
Coffee was already known a thousand years before our era, it reached Europe only in the 16th century. Initially it was not very well known and people were reluctant to reach for it. Over time, it began to be drunk as a medicinal substance and was sold as medicine in pharmacies.
In Poland it appeared only in the 17th century, it was served without any additives, only over time people began to use various types of spices.
Coffee production
Coffee comes from Africa, it occurs there in the form of coffee tree fruits, which in turn occurs in the form of a green shrub or tree, there are several dozen species of them.
Production begins with collecting the fruits, or in other words beans, which after drying are roasted and then ground. Only after grinding can coffee be prepared.
Types of coffee
Coffee comes in four basic types:
- Green coffee – this is the same coffee as in the case of black coffee, only after harvesting the beans are not roasted, hence the green color. This coffee is very good for people on a diet, because the beans contain chlorogenic acid, which together with caffeine facilitates weight loss, in addition green coffee stimulates and limits the absorption of sugar from food.
- Roasted coffee – similar to green coffee, only additionally the beans are dried, roasted and finally ground. For coffee to be of good quality, the type of shrub from which the beans are harvested, the type of soil, the harvesting method and storage of beans are important. Moreover, brewing coffee itself is a true art today.
- Ground coffee – has significantly more active substances than instant coffee and has twice as much caffeine. Ground coffee is suitable for specific preparation methods depending on composition, degree of roasting and grinding thickness. Different brewing methods require different types of grinding.
- Instant coffee – is produced in a technological process where beans are dried through freeze-drying, thanks to which coffee has the form of crystals, it has less caffeine than traditional roasted coffee.
Serving methods
The most classic and at the same time the base for preparing other coffees is Espresso, it is served in a cup with a capacity of 50 ml together with a glass of water to rinse the taste buds before the first sip of coffee.
Another type is cappuccino, which consists of espresso, warm milk and milk foam. It is served in cups with a capacity of up to 200 ml, sprinkled with cinnamon on top.
Coffee with milk, or traditional latte, is another way of preparing a coffee drink. It is also prepared with espresso and steamed milk.
American tourists looking for weaker coffee but in a large version invented coffee called americano, which is traditional espresso diluted with hot water.
Latte macchiato is another coffee with milk, but here it is important to first pour milk into the glass, then add delicate foam and finally pour espresso. Finally, you can sprinkle with cocoa.
Properties of coffee
It has not been clearly demonstrated that coffee has an impact on health, although some studies suggest that coffee has medicinal properties. In any case, thanks to its high caffeine content, it has stimulating properties, as well as improves thinking efficiency and reduces physical and mental fatigue.
Coffee is also a frequent ingredient in body care cosmetics, it improves blood circulation and helps fight fatty tissue. It improves skin appearance, reduces cellulite, while coffee grounds can be used as a body scrub.
In addition, coffee lovers claim that it reduces the risk of liver cirrhosis, improves concentration and circulation, moreover reduces the risk of developing gallstones and prevents the development of tooth decay.