How much coffee You Should Drink in 2022?

study after study seems to suggest the coffe has significant long-term health benefits. Among a few of the highlights:

A 2018 study of 500,000 British adults over a full decade showed that coffee drinkers were 10 percent to 15 percent less likely to die from any cause than non-drinkers, possibly according to the study authors, because, “coffee contains more than 1,000 chemical compounds including antioxidants, which help protect cells from damage.”

In 2017, researchers funded by the American Heart Association and the University of Colorado School of Medicine found that every additional cup of coffee people drink each day drops their risk of heart failure or stroke by 8 percent.

A smaller study from Stanford University suggested that people who drink caffeinated coffee (but not decaf, sorry) live longer, perhaps because the caffeine counteracts naturally occurring inflammation, which is in turn associated with “90 percent of all noncommunicable diseases of aging,” according to the study’s author.

Another big study, from the Harvard School of Public Health, which 200,000 doctors and nurses over 30 years, found a correlation between increased coffee consumption and lower risk of death from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, neurological diseases—even suicide.

Finally, drinking “even more coffee” provides an incremental benefit over drinking “more coffee,” up to a surprisingly high count, according to a 10-year study of almost 20,000 people over 10 years. (“Our findings suggest that drinking four cups of coffee each day can be part of a healthy diet in healthy people,” said one of the study’s authors.)

Truly we could go on and on, but let’s be sure to add one of the newest studies, which also suggests a short-term benefit many coffee drinkers might be familiar with: better moods.

A study of 5,000 European adults suggested that drinking a cup of coffee (containing about 75 milligrams of caffeine) every four hours can result in feeling better moods during the day.

In our enthusiasm, we should add a caveat: Stop at five cups. Once you get past that, according to a study of nearly 350,000 coffee-drinkers from the University of South Australia, you might start to increase the risk of heart disease.

“Based on our data, six [cups] was the tipping point where caffeine started to negatively affect cardiovascular risk.

coffee with lemon or vinegar saves from high pressure

The problem of high pressure is known to many. In Japan, they told about an unusual way to reduce it. This will require acetic acid and one very popular drink that is found in every home. The Japanese doctor assures: the result will not keep you waiting!

The doctor explains which ingredients should prevent the development of atherosclerosis and how many cups a day you need to drink

coffee is one of the drinks that can lower blood pressure. The book “50 tips for Lowering blood pressure without medication” explains why coffee is recommended for people with hypertension.

Director of the clinic “Sibaura” Hiroshige Hiroshige Itakura told us about the ways of drinking coffee, which will have a positive effect on the body. If you are concerned about your health, be sure to try them.

Recent studies have shown that coffee is a health drink. Add vinegar or lemon to it

Three to four cups of coffee a day to hold the action of polyphenols

There are many drinks that help lower blood pressure, coffee is one of them, and all thanks to the strong antioxidant effect of chlorogenic acid, a type of polyphenol.

Chlorogenic acid, which gives the bitterness and color of coffee, has a number of useful properties, including antibacterial action in the intestine, prevention of liver function decline, as well as myopia and presbyopia.

It also helps to burn more fat, which leads to an increase in energy consumption. In addition, this acid suppresses inflammation in the body, reduces the formation of plaques on the walls of blood vessels and protects endothelial cells in them, helping to maintain their elasticity.

It stabilizes blood pressure and also prevents the development of atherosclerosis, Dr. Itakura emphasizes. In the course of research conducted by the beverage manufacturer Nestlé among Tokyo housewives, it was found that coffee is the source of 47% of consumed polyphenols.

Although polyphenols can be obtained from other beverages and foods, coffee contains twice as much of them as green or black tea, and three times more than tomato juice, so it is recommended to drink three to four cups a day.

The action of polyphenols lasts only for a few hours after consumption, so it is recommended to drink coffee at certain intervals, for example, during a meal or snack.

Some consider caffeine to be the cause of poor health, but if taken in the right amounts and at the right time, it can have a number of positive effects, for example, eliminate drowsiness and provide a boost of energy. For those who are still in doubt, as well as for pregnant women, decaf coffee will be a good alternative.

It contains the same amount of polyphenols as regular coffee, so the effect will be similar, Itakura notes.

Add a teaspoon of vinegar to the coffee

If you want to enhance the effect of chlorogenic acid in coffee, we recommend drinking it with vinegar. The effect becomes stronger than from vinegar and coffee separately. Acetic acid also helps to lower blood pressure by gently stimulating its hormonal regulation in the body. Some may doubt the combination of coffee and vinegar, but a teaspoon of vinegar does not significantly affect the taste of an invigorating drink.

On the contrary, a slight sourness is combined with the bitterness of coffee, giving it a soft and deep taste, Dr. Itakura notes. Meanwhile, it is better to drink it warm, because in cold form it becomes more acidic. It is possible to brew coffee in a drip way, but even in a soluble product, chlorogenic acid does not lose its useful properties. If you are not used to drinking coffee, then start with instant, and then gradually switch to drip.

If you don’t like vinegar, then you can add thinly sliced lemon or lemon juice — you will get lemon coffee.

This fruit contains polyphenols – eriocitrin, which prevents the absorption of fats and prevents obesity, and narirutin, which helps prevent runny nose and sneezing. Together they are very good for health.

In addition, hesperidin strengthens capillaries and improves blood flow, so it is assumed that it prevents atherosclerosis.

Chlorogenic acid in coffee:

– Gives a strong antioxidant effect

– Suppresses inflammation in the body

– Protects endothelial cells of blood vessels and maintains their elasticity

– Reduces blood pressure

– And acetic acid and hesperidin from lemon further enhance the latter effect!

Features of coffee with vinegar

You can use instant or drip coffee. Add one teaspoon (five milliliters) of vinegar to one cup. Up to four cups a day, but it’s best to drink three cups a day. Choose vinegar to taste. You can also add a little brown sugar or honey to the drink.

Features of lemon coffee

Coffee can be instant or drip. Lemon can be cut (one or two slices), squeezed or bought in the store lemon juice. The recommended amount of juice is one teaspoon (five milliliters) per cup. It is worth noting that lemon is very useful together with the peel.

Profile 

Hiroshige Itakura is a doctor of medicine. Certified clinical nutritionist. Graduated from the Medical Faculty of the University of Tokyo. He took up his current post after working as a lecturer at the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Tokyo and Director of Clinical Nutrition Research at the National Institute of Health and Nutrition.

He has published several papers, among them – “Nutrition in terms of blood sugar, blood pressure and high cholesterol.”

Discoveries in a Cup: 10 Facts about Coffee from Café Mokha 1450 in Dubai

Café Mokha 1450 in Dubai shares intriguing facts about coffee that will broaden your perspective on this beverage:

Pressure Reduction with a Cup of Coffee: Moderate coffee consumption indeed contributes to lowering blood pressure due to its antioxidant properties.
Arabica and Robusta: Arabica coffee, known as the coffee bush of Arabia, offers a wide flavor spectrum and contains half the caffeine of Robusta coffee, commonly used in soluble coffee worldwide.
Exclusive Coffee Experience: Mokha 1450 is the first coffee boutique in Dubai, offering Ethiopian Geisha coffee, a predecessor to the renowned Panamanian Geisha, the world’s most expensive coffee usually sold at private auctions.
Coffee in History: In the 16th century, when coffeehouses were just opening in Europe, women were prohibited from entering, and the drink was considered a symbol of subversives and radicals.
Past Energy Bar: Ancient Ethiopians used green coffee beans coated in animal fat as an energy bar until they discovered the method of roasting them to make a drink.
Coffee Growing as Cherries: Coffee actually grows like cherries on trees and is harvested once a year. The taste quality depends on sunlight, rainfall, and other agronomic methods.
Coffee in the Beauty World: Freshly ground coffee is popular among beauty enthusiasts, used in stimulating scrubs with organic almond oil, sea salt, and organic brown sugar.
Pre-Workout Energy: Gym-goers regularly consume cold coffee before exercising as a means of boosting energy and burning fat.
Calorie-Free Breakfast: While coffee is often considered the first port of call for breakfast, it actually contains no calories.
Time of Freshness: Coffee oxidizes and loses its qualities within just two minutes after grinding.

Russia.. Only 6.4% of consumers choose coffee without milk

In the last decade, Russians have acquired a new habit – to buy takeaway coffee in a coffee shop and take it with them for a walk.

One of the largest coffee shops in Russia, COFFEE LIKE, shared with The DairyNews data on the taste preferences of customers, seasonality and cost of the most popular coffee drinks.

Russians prefer to take out cappuccino

The COFFEE LIKE coffee chain analyzed sales for 2019-2021 and identified the TOP 3 popular coffee drinks that Russians most often take away. All three leaders contain milk or cream.

The undisputed winner was cappuccino, which is preferred by 36.3% of Russians, latte (19.9%) and raf (17.9%) are in second and third place. Drinks without milk – espresso and Americano – account for only 6.4%. The most popular volume of coffee with you is 0.3 liters, it is chosen by 44.7% of buyers.

“Based on sales data for the last 2 years, we have identified the months when Russians buy coffee with them the most. They were September, August, April and May. Coffee consumption in these months increases from 10% to 16%, – says Tatiana Kuznetsova, executive director of the COFFEE LIKE chain of coffee shops.

Coffee is a seasonal drink

The growth of coffee sales in spring and early autumn is directly related to the temperature of the air outside. April is the first warm month after winter: Russians resume long walks, coffee sales increase by 10% during this period.

In August, September and May, the most comfortable weather is established in most regions of Russia in order to spend time outdoors, These months are leaders in the number of takeaway coffee purchased: sales increase by 16% compared to the monthly average. In addition, business activity increases at the beginning of autumn, this is especially noticeable in large cities. “More and more people started taking coffee to take away. This is due to its availability. Now a lot of coffee shops are opening and it is quite easy to find a quality drink according to your preferences. Espresso-based milk drinks are the most popular, they are more difficult to prepare at home, and they cope well with the role of a pleasant reward in between work,” says Tatiana Kuznetsova.

In the summer months – June and July – the number of purchases of coffee with you comes to an average monthly value, since in the heat, soft drinks are more relevant – water, lemonade, kvass. In addition, many people go on vacation or out of town, which also affects the volume of coffee sales. During the cold period (December-February), the number of sales decreases by 30% of the monthly average.

What affects the cost of coffee with you?

The cost of each drink consists of the cost of its components. The main ones are coffee beans, milk, packaging. For example, the structure of the cost of cappuccino is as follows: coffee 27%-38%, milk 42%-50%, packaging 17%-23% (depending on volume).

Over the past 4 months (September-December 2021), the purchase price of coffee has increased by 16%, glasses have risen in price by 12%. At the same time, the growth of the final cost of the takeaway coffee chain, for example, in the COFFEE LIKE network, was restrained in the range of 2-5% until the end of the year. From this it follows that the owners could afford not to raise product prices due to long-term contracts with suppliers, a short supply chain and a high level of vertical integration. However, at the beginning of the year, due to the increase in cost, we should expect an increase in prices for the finished drink. Indexing will vary depending on the price segment in which the coffee shop operates.

“There are two reasons for the increase in the price of raw materials: a lean year in Brazil and strikes in Colombia, which complicates supplies,” says Tatiana Kuznetsova. – In addition, the delayed demand for coffee outside the home also played a role – coffee shops had to buy more raw materials to meet demand. All this together creates a situation of coffee shortage, which leads to its rise in price.”

Nevertheless, despite fluctuations in the catering market due to the coronavirus pandemic, the expert does not expect a strong drop in demand for coffee products. According to the association of producers “Roschaikof”, the difference in consumption of coffee beans to instant coffee was 55% versus 45%. The popularity of coffee returned to Russia in 2000 and has increased significantly over the decade. If in the 2000s one person consumed about 0.5 kg of coffee per year, then in 2019 this figure increased to 1.5 kg per year. Largely due to the tradition of taking coffee for a walk with you in recent years, the dynamics of consumption of coffee beans among Russians is steadily growing.

“The value of a coffee drink for the consumer increases annually, and this increases the elasticity of demand with an increase in price. Good coffee will continue to be bought, even if it becomes a little more expensive. However, the mission of coffee shops in such a situation is still to provide a product at an affordable price,” concluded Tatiana Kuznetsova.

On average, the proportions of the ingredients of classic takeaway milk drinks are distributed as follows: coffee 13%-44%, milk/cream 17%-50%, packaging 13%-23%.

The increase in prices for each ingredient entails an increase in the final cost of the drink.

The high season is considered to be April, May, August and September, when, thanks to the warm weather, takeaway coffee sales volumes are growing.

What is the 5th Wave of coffee?

The 5th Wave™ reflects a powerful new era of scaled boutique hospitality and is the current ideology shaping business trends across the global coffee industry. Put simply, 5th Wave implies scaling up consistent high quality to achieve a highly successful, customer-centric and sustained business outcome.

The concept of 5th Wave was developed by Allegra Strategies consultancy and refined within Allegra World Coffee Portal following two decades of coffee industry research and analysis. 5th Wave is the culmination of all four previous ‘waves’ of industry development as laid out in the World Coffee Portal Stages of Coffee Industry Development Framework (above).

The 1st Wave describes traditional 20th century coffee drinking and reflects differing historical cultures and geographies. The 2nd Wave is typified by the early growth of lifestyle branded chains, such as Starbucks Coffee Company, 3rd Wave by craft or artisan coffee, and the 4th Wave by the ‘science of coffee’. Each era has its merits and has added significantly to the depth and growth of coffee enjoyment.

A reflection of the era in which we live, the 5th Wave represents a quantum leap in the calibre of vision and execution required to meet the desires, needs and aspirations of today’s highly savvy and technically engaged millennial audience and tomorrow’s Gen Z.

Today’s 5th Wave businesses create and consistently deliver highly engaging and aspirational experiences to clearly defined customer target audiences. These forward-thinking businesses are highly commercial and possess the mindset to constantly strive toward excellence, meticulously engineering and refining every process. They are typically run by ambitious, well-funded entrepreneurial professionals who understand the importance of people culture, of streamlined systems and process, of training and development and investment into seamless, enabling technology – not for ease, but because of their obsession with winning positive customer experience.

Quality and scale can be relative. 5th Wave does not necessarily mean an offering needs to be inordinately expensive, nor does it need to be expanded across hundreds of outlets.

Scaling quality for each and every customer interaction requires unflinching discipline, herculean stamina, authentic flair and relentless innovation. 5th Wave is not just limited to the coffee sector. Numerous other industries deeply identify with today’s need to ‘scale up’ quality and heighten client experience in order to maintain a competitive advantage.

These include sectors from retail to restaurants and hotels to fitness and technology. In the coffee sector, brands such as Blue Bottle, Bluestone Lane, Caravan, Department of Coffee, and many others, are examples of smart businesses setting new benchmarks for quality and customer engagement. Equally, the Starbucks Reserve concept creates a new dimension of customer experience within the world’s largest coffee operator.

Further detail will follow on the definition and characteristics of 5th Wave companies. No doubt this is only the beginning of the journey. In the meantime, keep your eye on the next big step in global coffee shop evolution – the 5th Wave, a new era for The Business of Coffee.

source : Allegra World Coffee Portal

Why is it getting more expensive to ship coffee?

It’s estimated that around 90% of global goods are transported by sea at some point. Over half of these goods – including, fruit, vegetables, and coffee – are shipped in large stainless steel containers on cargo ships.

Market analysts predicted that approximately 5.2 million containers (otherwise referred to as twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUS) would be manufactured in 2021. However, in spite of this, there have been mounting reports of container shortages since the beginning of the year.

These shortages don’t just lead to lost or delayed shipments, however; they also cause freight prices to soar because of increasing competition for container space. But how does this affect the coffee sector?

To learn more, I spoke to Sam MacCuaig, a trader at Keynote Coffee in Bristol, UK and a Perfect Daily Grind contributor. He provided us with some insights as to how the freight crisis is disrupting the coffee supply chain. Read on to learn more.

SHIPPING CONTAINER SHORTAGES & THE PANDEMIC

The pandemic has had a devastating impact on global trade. There are reports that over 97,000 businesses in the US have permanently closed due to the economic challenges of the past two years.

When stay-at-home orders forced businesses to temporarily cease operating and consumers to remain indoors, both supply and demand fell dramatically.

“Thanks to Covid-19, the freight industry collapsed and shipping companies reduced their capacities,” Sam explains.

“Let’s say that you needed a million units of shipping capacity prior to Covid-19. At the start of the pandemic, everything closed down, so global capacity shifted to around half of the demand, which would be 500,000 units.”

However, with global vaccination rollouts bolstering economic growth, both supply and demand are steadily increasing to near pre-pandemic levels.

Sam tells me: “When the economy bounced back from Covid-19, businesses needed to replenish stocks that they allowed to run down.

“They haven’t been stocking the inventory or shipping anything because industries halted, so they reduced their inventories,” he states. “Now that supply chains are moving again, they need to order three times as much as they normally would to build up their stock levels.”

This has resulted in significantly more competition for container space on cargo ships. Stronger demand means there is less available space on the ships, as well as fewer containers themselves.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT GLOBAL INDUSTRY?

Shipping delays have a range of devastating effects on global supply chains – including in the coffee sector.

In late March 2021, a 400 metre-long cargo ship by the name of Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal for almost a week. It was carrying some 18,300 containers at the time. However, its unintentional blockade also delayed the movement of 369 other ships, which were unable to pass through the canal.

Around 12% of global trade passes along the Suez Canal each day. This led experts to estimate that businesses operating via the canal were collectively losing up to US $15 million per day because of the blockage.

The combination of increasing shipping demand and reduced freight capacity has resulted in numerous reports of shipment delays and bottlenecks.

In the US, it is estimated that 4 out of 10 shipping containers enter the country via two ports in California, before being distributed across the country.

The BBC reported that in September 2021, some 73 ships were waiting to unload in Los Angeles – one of the highest waiting figures ever recorded. The article goes on to add that before the pandemic, no more than one ship would typically be waiting to unload at any given time.

Sam explains that because social distancing measures forced ports to close, significant delays are now not uncommon.

“It can take up to two weeks longer to unload a ship and to get haulage out of the port,” he says. “In Brazil, you would normally be able to get a booking on a ship within a week. Now it takes a minimum of six weeks.”

There are also continuous reports of empty containers stockpiling at ports in some countries.

“It’s more cost-effective for companies to send empty containers back to Asia to fill up with goods and send them back than it is to just do the normal route,” he says. “As a result, the containers aren’t where people need them to be.”

WHY DOES THIS LEAD TO HIGHER PRICES?

Coffee prices hit a seven-year high in July and October this year. Just a few weeks ago, they topped that to hit the highest price since 2012.

This actually began earlier in the year with a sudden frost in major coffee-producing regions of Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer. In Brazil, temperatures dropped as low as -1.2°C (29°F) in July – causing irreversible damage to coffee plants which could affect the global supply for years to come.

Estimates of the losses range from 2.5 to 5.5 million bags, a significant volume for the global market. This, alongside the forecasted long-term impact, resulted in prices closing above US $2/lb at the end of July 2021.

However, these extreme weather events are compounded by logistical issues and container shortages, which have also affected the frequency of exports. According to the Brazilian exports association, Cecafé, the country’s coffee production in May 2021 fell by 20%.

The most expensive routes are the ones that are the most in demand: generally from Asia or increasingly Brazil,” Sam explains.

Bloomberg reported in July that the price of a single shipping container travelling from Brazil to the US had hit figures around US $4,000. In contrast, before the pandemic, one container would cost around US $2,000.

Other reports suggest that containers travelling from Shanghai to the Netherlands were being sold for US $10,000 – more than a 540% increase.

“Essentially, companies are hiking up prices,” Sam explains. “They’re prioritising the lines where they receive the most cash. It’s a bidding war.

“It means that shipping lines often roll over on contracts. You might have a booking for a container to leave Brazil at a certain date, but if another company comes along and offers an extra US $2,000 per container, your shipment will just be pushed back.”

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE WIDER COFFEE SUPPLY CHAIN?

Those buying and importing coffee in major consuming countries are among those directly affected by these rising freight costs.

“Ultimately, the price has to get passed along the supply chain,” Sam says. “The roaster pays in the end.”

However, consumers also have to be prepared for increased costs. A recent article by Reuters said that consumer prices may not increase at large chains, such as Starbucks, but prices of supermarket coffee may start to rise if logistical problems persist.

This is because large-scale chains tend to buy coffee much further in advance, which means their stocks are less likely to run out in the short term. However, for smaller specialty coffee roasters with less of a capacity for logistics, this is shaping up to be a serious concern.

According to Bloomberg, reports in March 2021 indicated that US coffee stockpiles had reached six-year lows in the face of rising demand.

However, it’s not just major consuming countries that are feeling the impact. Sam says that container shortages and delays are also preventing producers from shipping coffee and receiving payment.

“If these logistics issues do prove to be long-term problems, it’s going to put price pressure on at origin level as well,” he says. “This is because it’s another variable to control through risk management.

“For instance, in Vietnam, there are cheap coffee offers with plenty of demand, but spots are expensive. Their coffee is massively in demand, but producers are struggling to sell it.”

WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS?

This freight crisis isn’t expected to end anytime soon, with market analysts anticipating that shipping prices will remain high throughout 2022.

In the long term, delays will reduce coffee quality, which could have a serious impact for specialty coffee.

“It’s problematic for the specialty coffee supply chain because the green coffee needs to stay fresh,” Sam explains. “The longer it takes to get coffee out of the country, the more concern there will be about maintaining quality.”

In general, green coffee can stay fresh for up to a year, but roasters should ideally receive green coffee within a few months to maximise freshness.

Sam adds that if shipping problems persist, larger coffee companies will also start to feel more of the financial repercussions.

“Logistics issues present a real problem for commercial coffee traders. The more commercial your coffee business is, the more problematic logistics issues are, because margins are slimmer.”

He adds that the uncertainty surrounding when shipments will arrive may also drastically affect stock levels, and lead to more spot buying (where roasters purchase coffee with no prior commitments).

“You can’t plan for the timings of shipments, which is a real issue for consistency. If you’re a medium-sized specialty coffee roaster, you might plan to have one shipment arrive in December, one in May, and one in September, spread out evenly through the year.

“But if you’re not holding enough inventory to cover your stock for another three or four months while you wait for coffee to arrive, you will have to spot buy coffee.”

At scale, spot buying can be disadvantageous for both roasters and producers. Spot coffee tends to be less fresh, but costs more. Furthermore, without contractual agreements, farmers are in a weaker position. For a financially sustainable coffee industry, the stability provided by prearranged contracts is key.

These ever-growing logistics problems are a concern for the coffee industry, but there are ways for the entire supply chain to handle them effectively.

Continuous communication from everyone across the supply chain is essential. It’s more difficult than ever to provide a timescale for your customers, but constant updates go a long way towards maintaining healthy trade relationships.

While it seems that these container shortages and shipping delays will be persistent for another few months at least, staying as prepared as possible will help the coffee industry remain resilient and adaptable across the board.

World Barista Championship 2021: How coffee producing countries took centre stage?

Earlier this year, the World Barista Championship (WBC) made headlines in more ways than one. After a 30-month hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it returned to the stage at HostMilano in late October 2021.

However, as well as this, the competition saw Diego Campos (Colombia) crowned World Champion as well as Martin Shabaya (Kenya) making the top 6. Campos was the third winner from a coffee-producing country in the last 20 years.

This raises a question: does his victory and Martin’s placement as a finalist set a precedent for future championships? Will we see more and more winners from producing countries in the years to come?

To answer this question and learn more, I spoke to Federico Bolanos, Sasa Sestic, David Ngibuini from Maguta Estate, and Sara Yirga from YA Coffee Roasters. Read on to find out what they said.

You might also like our article addressing colonial inequalities in the coffee sector.

THE 2021 WORLD BARISTA CHAMPIONSHIP: AN OVERVIEW

The World Barista Championship focuses on promoting excellence in coffee, advancing the barista profession, and engaging a worldwide audience by hosting an annual championship event. This serves as the culmination of local and regional events around the globe.

WCE-certified judges from around the world evaluate each performance on the taste of beverages served, cleanliness, creativity, technical skill, and overall presentation.

Out of 50 competitors, the top 15 highest-scoring competitors from the first round, plus a wild-card winner from the Team Competition, advance to a semifinal round. The top six competitors in the semifinal round advance to the finals round, from which one winner is named World Barista Champion.

The top six competitors at WBC 2021 were:

1. Diego Campos, Colombia

2. Andrea Allen, United States

3. Hugh Kelly, Australia

4. Emi Fukahori, Switzerland

5. Martin Shabaya, Kenya

6. Wojciech Tysler, Ireland

Two of the six winners hailed from coffee producing countries. For them, the victory represented a personal triumph, as well as serving as a milestone for their countries’ coffee sectors.

Diego Campos took the winning title using Colombian coffee. Draped in the yellow, blue, and red Colombian flag, Campos dedicated his victory to his country in an emotional speech.

“I love my country; I love Colombian coffee,” he said. “This is for you, Colombia. This is for you — all the farmers, all the families, all the pickers, all the hard work.”

Similarly, Martin Shabaya from Kenya becoming the first African champion to place in the finals was an historic moment. Much like Campos, Shabaya’s victory was doubly momentous because he placed in the top six using Kenyan coffees.

THE CHAMPION’S JOURNEY: BECOMING “PRODUCER-LED”

Diego and Martin’s journeys to become barista champions involved the hard work, determination, skill and commitment that one would expect. But each of their stories is inspiring for another reason.

Paying tribute to Colombia

Federico Bolanos was Diego Campos’ coach for this championship. That means in total, he has coached three WBC champions, two finalists, five semi-finalists and 18 national champions.

He told me about his own journey as a barista from El Salvador, and how it ended up intersecting with Diego’s:

“It gives me goosebumps to think about my dream and how I started,” he says. “The first time I walked into a competition arena in 2006, I had no idea about this world.

“But I knew, the moment I walked in, I wanted to be the first barista champion from a producing country, or at least contribute to making that happen.”

He tells me that at the time, most people found it impossible to imagine a barista from El Salvador competing internationally, let alone winning.

Five years later, he proved them wrong at the 2011 WBC in Bogotá when his student Alejandro Mendez, also Salvadoran, was crowned world champion.

“When we won that championship, it was an incredible feeling of victory. Winning in Bogotá felt like an even greater win for Latin America. I remember feeling indebted to Colombia.

“Life is funny that way; I got drawn back to Colombia to coach Diego, which helped me fulfill that promise.”

Putting Kenya on the map

Saša Šestić is a world champion barista, the founder of ONA Coffee and Project Origin, and Martin Shabaya’s coach for the 2021 WBC.

He tells me that Martin’s victory really started with David Ngibuini, a coffee farmer from Maguta Estate who grew the coffee Martin used.

“David reached out to me in 2019 to learn more about processing and fermentation,” Saša says. “He had read my book, The Coffee Man, and was interested in the processing methods I wrote about.”

Saša explains that David had just inherited his farm at the time, and his coffee was fine, but there was room for improvement. However, impressed by his eagerness to learn and determination to elevate his community and country, Sasa decided to work with him. This led to a partnership through Project Origin.

The alliance gave Sasa the idea to get an African barista to the WBC finals, as part of a wider objective to drive the coffee sector forward and to improve Kenya’s visibility.

“He said I was crazy,” Saša says. “But I was adamant, and even did it on my own time.

“With Martin and David, we created this beautiful triangle. It started with the coffee and producer, and then led to the barista and the WBC. Martin’s journey was producer-led.”

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR COFFEE PRODUCING COUNTRIES?

On social media and in producing countries, Diego and Martin’s triumphs have been celebrated.

This is in no small part because of the perceived implications this has for the coffee sector, and for producer countries in particular.

Greater visibility

Diego participated with Coffea eugenioides grown at Finca Las Nubes, from Inmaculada Farms. The obscure species became the talk of the industry after the event, bringing great visibility to the producer, and to Colombian coffee in general.

However, David tells me that Martin used varieties from his estate that are not widely known: Batian and Ruiru.

“The coffee industry would normally select an SL-28 or SL-24, but not this. The WBC has popularised and recognised other varieties that have potential, when processed in the right way.

“Since Martin won, more people are asking for samples and contacting me, it’s driving business.’

Creating jobs at origin

Sara Yirga is the founder and manager of YA Coffee Roasters in Ethiopia, and a promoter of coffee consumption and value addition at origin.

She says Martin and Diego’s success can inspire other baristas in coffee producing countries to see coffee as a possible career.

“For us, it’s about job creation,” she says. “We need to access the important conversations that happen around coffee, to build our consumption and professionalise our sector. Winning the WBC is one way of doing that.

“[Young baristas] now see it’s possible. Having someone represent Ethiopia [would be] a dream. I just know it’s going to happen, and we’re working on it.”

Meanwhile, Federico says he has seen evidence of this in El Salvador since Mendez won the WBC in 2011. The barista profession, in his opinion, is now more professionally recognised.

“People now understand they need to acknowledge baristas, invest in their education and reward them more in terms of income differentiation.”

Internal consumption

David says that in Kenya, internal consumption is low. However, following Martin’s success, he’s seen discussion about reviving previously abandoned national championships for latte art and the AeroPress.

He also says that the government appears to be renewing efforts to boost domestic coffee consumption, using the recent success as a way to drive interest.

Knowledge transfer

According to Sasa, Martin is now more eager than ever to pass on his knowledge.

“He’s connecting with neighbours to share his knowledge, drive this momentum and share the benefits. It’s a beautiful thing.

“I hope this can be a springboard… hopefully, we start seeing Kenya and neighbouring countries get inspired by the opportunities ahead.”

DOES WHERE YOU’RE FROM INFLUENCE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING?

Almost all coffee producing countries are located in the global south, where access to equipment, finance, coaching, knowledge and technology can be more restricted. This can make preparation and training tough for baristas.

However, while Federico agrees with this, he says he doesn’t want to promote a “defeatist attitude”.

“It’s true, but we can’t sit around and mope,” he says. “I always try to tell baristas in Latin America and coffee producing countries that they should never think they are at a disadvantage.”

Sara, meanwhile, says that there is a need to push forward and resolve existing inequalities where resources and opportunities are concerned.

“We should be integrating coffee into our curricula, creating professional platforms, and building a market for higher value coffee,” she says. “We are the origin of coffee, and we should be taking ownership of our product.”

Federico, meanwhile, believes that while there may be access restrictions, competitors from these countries have some other unexpected advantages. For instance, they’re closer to the coffee, and can more easily speak to farmers in person to learn from them.

While regional resource inequity undeniably exists, competing at WBC level still requires exceptional skill, knowledge, and commitment that are rare to find in any individual, in any country.

CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BARISTAS FROM PRODUCER REGIONS

So, what can we do to make WBC barista training more accessible to baristas from coffee producing countries?

Educate younger generations

Sara says the best place to start is tapping into young generations who are passionate and eager to learn.

“We need to expose young and driven people to coffee and the opportunities it has to offer,” she says. “It all starts with education at a young age, when they are open to learning new skills and building knowledge.”

To this end, Sara says she is currently working with GIZ on creating an online coffee school. Her aim, she says, is to make coffee a viable, inclusive profession in Ethiopia.

Tailor competitions to local realities

Federico tells me that the WBC and other similar competitions have not been designed for coffee producing countries.

“As coffee producing countries we need to start valuing ourselves more and stop attaching ourselves to competitions that are already there,” he says. “Instead, we should look at creating opportunities that reflect our own realities.’

In Ethiopia, Sara is collaborating with Hyatt Regency Addis on an amateur (but serious) annual barista competition that brings visibility to the barista profession, creates some noise around it and shows it as a valuable skill.

They bring in international judges and facilitate training in preparation for the event. This kind of opportunity could well prove to be an important step for building young baristas’ confidence.

The success of 2021’s WBC competitors from producing countries does more than achieve global recognition of their expertise. They are also bringing visibility to their countries’ respective coffee sectors, boosting internal consumption, and positioning the barista profession in a totally new light.

Diego and Martin’s wins were momentous. Moving forward, the hope is that barista champions hailing from coffee producing regions will become a more regular sight.

To push towards that will require change, but promoting education, establishing more geographically inclusive competitions, and cultivating meaningful connections will certainly help make that happen.

SOURCE:

WBC 2021: Reflecting on how coffee producing countries took centre stage

Famous types of coffee in the world

More than 80 states grow coffee trees. Coffee varieties are classified according to different parameters: the quality and type of grains, the type of fruit processing or the degree of roasting. Arabica grows on 75% of the plantations, the rest of the fields are occupied by robusta. South America remains the leader in the export of coffee beans, the second and third places belong to Asia and Europe.

Historical information

The history of coffee began in the X century. in the Kaffa region in Ethiopia. At first, the ground fruits were prepared, later they learned to fry and grind them. The trees were taken from Ethiopia to the Arabian Peninsula. In the XV century, Turkey became the main exporter of coffee beans.

The fruits came to Europe at the end of the XVI century. thanks to the Venetian merchants. In the XVIII century. European sailors brought grain to South, Central America, Asia.

The world’s main suppliers of coffee products

In 2019, more than 130 million bags of harvest (60 kg each) were collected on the territory of 50 coffee-producing countries. The main suppliers of products were the following states (million bags):

Brazil (35.5);

Vietnam (27.9);

Colombia (13.5);

Indonesia (8,3);

Honduras (7,1).

Ethiopia is among the top ten major exporters in the world, with a market share of 4% (up to 4 million bags).

Most of the arabica grows here in the wild. The most elite varieties of coffee are considered to be Sidamo, Harar and Yirgacheffe.

  • Classification of coffee, what is it

Coffee is classified according to the type of tree, the type and hardness of the grains, the method of processing, the country of growth, the degree of roasting. The marks that indicate these parameters are always applied to the packaging of products.

By type of coffee tree

There are such basic types of coffee trees:

Arabica. Her homeland is Ethiopia, Yemen. Trees with red or red-purple fruits grow up to 5 m. The highlands (900-2100 m above sea level) are suitable for plantations. The light brown grains are shaped like an oval up to 1.5 cm long. Arabica does not tolerate cold well and is susceptible to diseases.

Robusta. Congolese coffee can be distinguished from Arabica by photos. Trees that reach 10 m in height are grown at a height of up to 900 m. The beans have a round shape with a dark red shell.

Liberica. On tall trees (up to 20 m), oval fruits up to 2.5 cm long appear. Due to the weak taste, it does not represent much industrial value.

Arabica has a sweet taste. Robusta is characterized by bitterness due to the increased caffeine content (2.7%).

By type of coffee beans

There are large, medium, and small grains in size, but different countries have their own labeling. Indonesian manufacturers use the letters L, M, S. In Africa, they mark AAA (large), AA (medium), AB (small). Depending on the hardness of the grains , the following marking is adopted:

SHB – arabica of the highest degree of hardness, growing at an altitude of 1400 m above sea level;

HB – hard grains from plantations at an altitude of 1200-1400 m;

MHB – fruits with medium hardness, growing on the plain;

LGA – soft grains that are used for low-quality coffee.

Elite Arabica has the highest hardness.

  • According to the method of processing coffee beans

After harvesting, the fruits are subjected to dry or wet processing. In the first case, the grains are washed, left to dry for 3 weeks. Then they are cleaned and screened to remove the remnants of the peel. Wet processing involves placing the grains in water for 24 hours. There is a primary fermentation of fruits, so they become softer. After washing, the grains are cleaned using machines.

  • By grain quality

The labeling differs in different regions. The letters A, B, and C are often used, which correspond to high, medium, and low quality. Some manufacturers have such a designation:

AA is the best grade;

AV is good;

WA – medium quality coffee;

BB is a low-quality product.

EP (European preparation) means that up to 8 defects were removed from 300 g of coffee.

AP (American) implies the removal of up to 23 defects from a similar quantity of goods.

According to the degree of freshness

There are 2 varieties of coffee beans. New crop means packaging immediately after harvesting and processing, old crop — last year’s harvest. The mature label is placed on coffee that has been stored in a warehouse for 1 to 3 years. For more aged varieties (6-10 years), the designation vintage/aged coffee is used.

By fortress

The strength is influenced by the variety, grinding, roasting and brewing method. The following types of strong coffee are distinguished depending on the concentration of caffeine (mg/ml):

espresso – 2;

in Turkish – 0.8;

filter coffee – 0.6;

americano, cappuccino – 0.4.

Sometimes the strongest is called ristretto – black coffee made in a coffee machine.

This drink has a richer taste due to the presence of essential oils, but contains less caffeine than espresso.

According to the degree of roasting

According to the intensity of heat treatment , there are such degrees of roasting:

Easy. The process lasts until the first click. The grains become dry, acquire a light brown color.

Average. The beans turn out darker.

Strong. The grains turn dark brown, their caramelization occurs.

The highest degree. The fruits are glossy due to the essential oil, acquire a black-brown color.

Light processing is suitable for high-altitude varieties with a loose structure. Strong is used to make coffee from Cuba, Guatemala, Africa.

By country of production

South American varieties have a mild flavor with medium saturation. Grains from Ethiopia, Burundi, Zambia, Uganda are famous for their strength. In the Congo, robusta is grown with a tart taste, and Kenyan Arabica has a mild aftertaste.

There are plantations of classical Arabica in Yemen. In Vietnam, robusta with a pronounced cloying aroma is common.

Rating of coffee producers

The list of the largest producers of grain and ground coffee includes the following companies:

Lavazza.

Paulig.

Kimbo.

Malongo.

Jardin coffee is popular. The company receives Arabica from Kenya, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Colombia, Guatemala.

The best coffee varieties

South America, Ethiopia and Yemen are considered to be the producers of the best products. Most of the plantations are located at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level, so the grains get an unusual taste and rich aroma.

Brazilian Bourbon Santos

It was named after the island of the same name in the Caribbean Sea. For him, the first 3 harvests are harvested from trees. Coffee turns out to be oily with sourness. The drink has a rich taste with a nutty chocolate smell and notes of orange.

Maragojip

A distinctive feature is large grains, which are 3.5 times larger than standard Arabica. This drink has a complex taste: spicy with an admixture of wood, wild berries, nougat, flowers. There is always a sourness, the aroma includes tobacco notes.

Medellin

The Colombian variety grows at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level. The grains are lightly roasted to preserve a soft wine-fruit sourness with a caramel aftertaste. The description of the smell is dominated by a light nutty aroma.

Colombia Excelso

Coffee plantations are located at an altitude of 900-1800 m in the Cordillera mountains. Columbia Excelso grains are medium-sized, have a dense structure with a light fruity sourness and sweetness. The fragrance includes citrus or nutty notes.

Maracaibo

The photo of this Venezuelan variety shows the main difference from other types – yellow grains. Maracaibo with a slight taste of dry white wine grows in the states of Trujillo, Tachira, Merida. The low quality of raw materials is compensated by the grape aroma.

Costa Rica

This coffee is considered elite. It has a spicy aroma and high strength. It has a multifaceted taste: cocoa is combined with fruity, vanilla, honey notes.

Decaf

Decaffeinated coffee is produced by treating green beans with a solvent, steam, activated carbon or liquid carbon dioxide. This drink is more acidic and mild compared to the others. In Russia, decaf has blue or green packaging, abroad — orange.

Supremo

For such coffee, the highest quality grains with a length of more than 7 mm are selected. The variety is grown on the northern slopes of the Cordillera in Colombia. There is almost no acid in it, but chocolate feels good. The aftertaste contains apple-almond notes.

Dalat

This Arabica variety grows in the central part of Vietnam at an altitude of 1400-1600 m above sea level. Dalat is a strong coffee with fruity, caramel, nutty shades. The fragrance includes notes of rosehip, lemongrass, orange.

Altura

Coffee beans are grown in the Cuban region of Sierra Maestra at an altitude of 600-800 m. There is little acid in the variety, but it is strong. The drink is famous for its bitterness, which is combined with a tobacco flavor. The aroma is sweet, tart with an almond-caramel tint.

Antigua

Elite coffee from Guatemala has a dense texture with a slight sourness and sweetness. When describing Antigua, attention is paid to a thick, spicy aroma with notes of smoke. The drink feels like cocoa, prunes, fruits.

Oksana

The plantations are located in the southern states of Mexico. The Oxaca variety stands out with a light consistency, a slight bitterness, and a subtle aroma. Depending on the degree of roasting, the taste of caramel, maple syrup, vanilla or hazelnuts appears.

Antigua and Coban

If the Antigua variety is characterized by the aroma of fruits and prunes, then light floral notes predominate in Cobano coffee from Guatemala. It is strong with a slight sourness, has a rich nutty taste. Grains are more expensive due to complex care.

El Salvador Chalatenango

Arabica grows on the Los Plains plain (altitude more than 1500 m above sea level). The drink of this variety has a thick structure with sweetness. At first, almonds are felt, later a floral aftertaste appears.

Ethiopia Sidamo Mocha

Premium coffee plantations are located on the plateau of Sidamo province (southwest Ethiopia). The drink has a velvety texture with a rich fruity sourness. The taste is dark chocolate, nuts, cinnamon, cardamom. The aftertaste resembles jasmine. The aroma is dominated by chocolate, wine notes with an admixture of blackberries, apples.

Yemen Mocha

Yemeni coffee is grown on high-altitude plantations (above 1000 m above sea level). With strong roasting, the taste of cocoa with spices appears, with weak – citrus. The aroma is dominated by fruity notes.

Elite coffee varieties

The list of elite includes the following types:

Jamaica Blue Mountain. It combines notes of tobacco, caramel, pepper, flowers.

Old Java. Grains are stored in bags from 2 to 6 years to get a rich taste and aroma.

Kopi Luwak. The peculiarity of the production is the fermentation of beans in the stomach of the luwak.

Kenya Ruiruiru (Kenya AA Ruiruiru). The drink has a cherry flavor with a tobacco aftertaste.

Yellow bourbon. Brazilian grains give a taste of chocolate, peanuts, almonds, and the aftertaste is tobacco with earthy notes.

The premium class includes soft Australian Skyberry and exotic Ecuador Vilkabamba.

Organic coffee

It is grown and processed without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, growth activators. Organic products do not differ in taste characteristics from standard types. This group includes varieties San Cristobal (Galapagos Islands), Kona (Hawaii), Tapachula (Mexico), Kilimanjaro (Tanzania).

Coffee Drink Recipes

Coffee beans of varying degrees of roasting are mixed with milk, alcohol, cold water, honey, spices. As a result, new types of drinks are obtained.

Espresso

A strong drink was invented in Italy at the beginning of the XX century . For a classic espresso, you will need 2 ingredients:

7 g of medium ground coffee;

30 ml of cold water.

The drink is prepared in a coffee machine or manually with the help of a Turkey. In the latter case, the raw materials need to be filled with water, put on medium heat.

It is necessary to wait until the foam appears. In the coffee machine, water is passed through the grains for 25 seconds.

Romano

This is espresso with lemon juice. For 30 ml of the drink — 5 ml of fresh lemon juice. For decoration, you can use the zest.

Ristretto

The drink is considered a subspecies of espresso, but differs from the latter by a smaller volume and amount of caffeine. It includes the following ingredients:

7 g freshly ground coffee;

15 ml of water.

Ristretto is prepared only in a coffee machine. Coffee is poured into the holder horn, pressed with tempera. Then they turn on the water spill for 20 seconds. A dense foam of uniform brown color forms on the surface.

Mocha

Classic mocha consists of the following components:

1 tsp coffee beans;

50 mg of dark chocolate;

50 ml of milk (3.2% fat content).

It is necessary to brew espresso. Melt the chocolate on the stove, pour it into a tall glass. Then add the warmed milk and coffee. Decorate the top with whipped cream.

Latte

The peculiarity of the drink is foam up to 1 cm thick. According to the classic recipe, whipped milk (180 ml) is poured into coffee (50 – 60 ml). For lattes, medium or fine grains are used.

Macchiato

The picture shows the distinctive feature of macchiato – lush foam. To prepare a drink, 15 ml of chilled milk is whipped. Then it is poured in a thin stream into a portion of espresso. You can add sugar, caramel syrup, cinnamon.

Cappuccino

The Italian drink is a mixture of a double portion of black coffee (60 ml) with the same amount of milk. Previously, it is whipped with a cappuccino machine until it is increased by 2 times and gently added to the invigorating drink, holding the foam.

Viennese coffee

The traditional recipe includes the following ingredients:

30 g ground coffee;

225 ml of water;

115 ml of milk.

Espresso is prepared in the Turk, left to cool for 10 minutes. Milk is heated to 70 ° C, whipped with a mixer until a thick foam is obtained. Mixed with coffee. Foam is added on top.

Irish

An obligatory part of such a drink is alcohol. It includes the following components:

80 ml black coffee;

30 ml of whipped cream (20-30% fat content);

40 ml of Irish whiskey (Baileys liqueur);

1 tsp sugar.

The drink is poured into a tall glass with a handle. Sugar and warm alcohol are added to the liquid. Gently introduce a thin stream of whipped cream.

Americano

When preparing it, a portion of espresso (30 ml) is diluted with hot water (from 90 to 400 ml) in a large glass. Such a drink turns out to be weak due to the low concentration of caffeine. Fine or medium-sized grains are suitable for Americano.

Frappe

The following ingredients are needed for frappe:

1-2 tsp of instant coffee and sugar;

100 ml of cold water;

ice cubes.

In a container, mix coffee with sugar, pour 2 tablespoons of water. Shake everything up with a shaker. Put ice on the bottom of the glass, pour the finished coffee foam on top. Then add the rest of the water.

Glace

To prepare the drink, you will need 150 ml of coffee and 50 g of ice cream, which is spread on top. It is allowed to use rum, cognac or other alcohol. You can add vanilla, cinnamon, grated chocolate.

Honey raf

The recipe of the drink includes the following components:

50 ml black coffee;

100 ml cream (15% fat content);

1 tsp light honey.

In the brewed coffee, dissolve the remaining elements. Beat the resulting mixture and pour it into a glass glass. Sprinkle cinnamon on top.

Torre

An Italian cocktail is made on the basis of 30 ml of milk and 150 ml of coffee. The first component is whipped until a dense foam is obtained. Sugar is added to the finished coffee, poured into a tall glass. Spread milk foam on top, sprinkle with cinnamon.

Differences and similarities of coffee drinks

The basis of most coffee drinks is espresso. The difference between them is the volume, the number of additional components, the sequence of actions. Latte and macchiato include the same ingredients. However, due to the differences in the methods of preparation, the taste of the drinks is different. If you add less water, you will get a ristretto instead of espresso.

Additional questions and answers

About 1.6 billion cups of invigorating drink are consumed daily in the world. Therefore, it is useful to learn some interesting facts about coffee.

How new varieties of coffee appear

To obtain new coffee trees, 2 methods are used — cuttings and seed planting. In the first case, you can cross 2 species to get a hybrid. Cuttings quickly take root, so they can bear fruit in the first season after planting. Seeds take 6 weeks to germinate. With the second method, you need to wait about 5-6 years to get the first harvest.

How many varieties of coffee are there in total

From 2 to 3 thousand varieties are cultivated in the world. Most of them are located in Ethiopia, where some of the trees grow in the wild. Only about 12 varieties are grown in other regions.

What is the most popular type of coffee

The most common is Bourbon Santos from Brazil. Residents of North, South America and Scandinavia drink weak Americano or moccachino. Muslims make black coffee with spices. Asians love coffee cocktails with ice cream, fruit. The Greeks prefer frappe, the Italians prefer Romano. In Western Europe, they love espresso.

What kind of coffee is the strongest

Robusta has an increased strength, because it has a lot of caffeine. The mixture with the name Death Wish Coffee consists of grains imported from Indonesia, Vietnam. The alkaloid content is 1.5-2 times higher than normal.

What is the most expensive type of coffee

The most expensive is considered to be Black Ivory (Thailand). The whole small crop is exported, so they ask for $ 1000 for 1 kg. A cup of drink costs at least $ 50. A feature of the production is the fermentation of grains in the stomach of elephants.

What kind of coffee is the most delicious

The choice depends on individual preferences. Most people love Colombia Supremo for its softness and interesting taste. Connoisseurs of strong coffee will like Dalat. Lovers of the exotic will suit spicy Puerto Rico with a fruity aftertaste.

History of the barista profession

Choosing a profession is one of the most important stages in every person’s life. There is a huge variety of fields of activity where we can realize and manifest ourselves. But there are professions that impress established people, causing a desire to change the field of activity right now. This is exactly the profession of a “barista”.

In the understanding of our generation, a barista is a specialist who knows everything about coffee and knows how to prepare this magical invigorating drink in all its variations. At the same time, few people know that initially this term was applied to professionals of a slightly different profile – bartenders. Translated from Italian, this definition means: “a person working at the bar.” This term acquired a modern interpretation in the early 80s of the last century, when the Starbucks coffee chain, which is popular today, began to actively develop.

It all started with a trip by Govord Schultz, the founder of the Starbucks chain, to Italy, where he saw the virtuoso work of local bartenders, who were called baristas. Schultz was so fascinated by what he saw that he decided to take photos and videos of “tricks” at the bar in order to introduce the skills of professionals into the network of his coffee shops. From that moment on, interest in this profession began to grow steadily. But, unlike in Russia, where a “barista” is called a specialist capable of using a coffee machine to prepare more than forty variants of coffee, in European countries representatives of this profession can perform the duties of a bartender, waiter and even a cleaner.

Who is a barista?

At first glance, it seems that anyone can master the profession of a barista. This opinion is erroneous, because first of all it is a real professional who not only knows how to cook more than forty varieties of coffee drink, but also has a solid number of author’s recipes. A barista must have impeccable taste in order to instantly “catch” the taste preferences of coffee connoisseurs and create fundamentally new  variations based on them.

The duties of a barista also include impeccable knowledge of all varieties of coffee, the degree of roasting of the beans, their places of growth, aromas and flavors of a drink made from one variety of coffee beans and their combination. In addition, a true professional understands how much coffee needs to be placed in a coffee machine, how much water it needs to be diluted, how to tamper and under what pressure to cook so that the drink turns out to be truly divine. This requirement applies to all coffee recipes.

Every year, under the auspices of the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe and the Specialty Coffee Association of America, international coffee mastery championships are held, where representatives from different countries of the world are invited to prepare twelve coffee drinks in fifteen minutes for evaluation by the jury. Isn’t this the best confirmation of the popularity of this profession?

source:

https://www.coffeedom.ru/post/history/istorija-professii-barista

The history of coffee in Europe

Coffee is an invigorating, aromatic drink that is very popular all over the world. There is not a single person who would not like to drink a cup of freshly brewed coffee in the morning to get a boost of vivacity and energy for the whole day.

However, while enjoying this delicious drink, few people think about the fact that it has a rich and rich history of its appearance and development in Europe, which you can get acquainted with right now.

What do the facts say?

It is believed that the history of the coffee drink originates in the first civilizations of the Middle East. There is an opinion that for the first time the unique invigorating properties of coffee beans were noticed by the Ethiopian ancestors of the Oromo peoples around 850 AD, but there is no direct evidence of this to this day.

Later mentions of coffee consumption date back to the fifteenth century. It was then that the monks of Yemen began to prepare a coffee drink to be cheerful from the morning until late in the evening. After that, coffee began to spread first throughout the Middle East, and by the nineteenth century its exceptional qualities were appreciated in Italy and America.

How did coffee appear in Europe?

In Europe, the coffee drink became extremely popular only in the seventeenth century. The first batch of coffee beans was brought by merchants from Venice. It happened only in one thousand six hundred and fifteenth year. Up to this point, the most popular among Europeans was hot chocolate, which was first brought from America in one thousand five hundred and twenty-eighth year.

However, the appearance of coffee divided the inhabitants of Europe into two camps: connoisseurs and opponents of coffee drinks. The last to speak were the clergy, who seriously claimed that the coffee drink is the “black blood of Muslims”, which has a detrimental effect on the souls of Christians. Despite this, the unique properties of coffee beans, as well as the incomparable taste of the drink played a decisive role and in the one thousand seven hundred and twentieth year, the world’s first coffee shop was opened in Venice, which is still operating today.

History of coffee in France

Coffee was first brought to France in the mid-forties of the seventeenth century, but the French tasted it only fifteen years later. Antoine Galland wrote a book about the origin of this drink, where he noted that the French owe its appearance to Arab healers who taught mankind to use it correctly, just like hot tea or chocolate.

The first coffee shop in France was opened only in one thousand six hundred and seventy-two by the Sicilian Francesco Procoopio. It was thanks to his success that establishments where guests were treated to fragrant coffee soon appeared all over Paris. A few years later, the mayor of Amsterdam presented Louis XIV with the first coffee trees, from which a large coffee plantation was made by the one thousand seven hundred and twenty-third year.

Coffee in Germany

In Germany, coffee appeared only in the seventies of the seventeenth century, although earlier residents of this country had repeatedly heard about this drink from travelers. For the first time, a coffee drink was described in his book by the famous German doctor Leonardo Rauwolf in one thousand five hundred and eighty-two. Leonardo traveled a lot around the world, so he became one of the first to taste coffee and described it in his diary.

The Dutch traveler delivered the first coffee beans to Germany in one thousand six hundred and seventy-five. Being a doctor by profession, he recommended using this drink to his patients for the treatment of many ailments, and later founded the first coffee shop.

Since the beginning of the XIX century, a tradition has appeared in Germany to hold women’s coffee parties, to which only high-ranking ladies were invited. On September 26, the Germans celebrate “Coffee Day”, claiming that it is an international delicacy.

The modern coffee industry is the creation of instant drinks, the introduction of freeze-dried recipes, the distribution of decaffeinated coffee, hundreds of the latest coffee blends and the development of the latest varieties. All this suggests that coffee is the most popular drink, the development of which will never stop. And this means that true coffee gourmets can expect a lot of amazing and bright discoveries.

 

source :

https://www.coffeedom.ru/post/history/istorija-pojavlenija-kofe-v-evrope

The history of coffee: to whom do we owe the most beloved drink of our time?

Coffee is not loved except by someone who has never tasted a real high-quality drink. Good coffee should not be bitter, and has its own wonderful taste without the addition of sugar and syrups – this is the drink that true gourmets have preferred for more than a thousand years.

The history of coffee is multifaceted and mysterious: the first historical mentions of it date back to the XV century, but colorful legends testify to the appearance of the drink at least six centuries earlier. The most popular story tells about the Ethiopian shepherd Kaldim from Kaffa, who noticed an interesting fact: his goats, after chewing the oily leaves of a plant with red berries, become very frisky and excited. The shepherd decided to boil this plant and, after drinking the decoction, noticed a surge of strength and vigor in himself, which he hurried to share with relatives and neighbors. So, by word of mouth, this unusual way to cheer up reached the missionary monks, who began to use it before long night prayers.

Another legend tells about the outstanding physician of his time, Omar, who studied the beneficial properties of plants. In the course of his research, he revealed the unique effect of the fruits of the coffee tree – the plant cured headaches and promoted the work of the stomach. The drink that the doctor offered to the sick very quickly eliminated ailments and seemed to the people a real miracle.

A thousand years ago, coffee was used not only for medicinal purposes – its “discoverers” noticed the unique property of the coffee aroma to be absorbed into the skin, “penetrating the whole body.” Thanks to this quality of coffee fruits, people who did not have the opportunity to take a bath regularly used the plant as an effective deodorant.

Coffee distribution in the Arab world, Europe and America

The history of coffee as a delicious and aromatic drink, ideal for relaxation and sincere conversations, began in the Middle East. So, the coffee shops that are popular today are the invention of Yemeni and Turkish Arabs, who decided that you can make good money on brewing and selling a coffee drink. Initially, the shell of coffee beans was dried and brewed, then it was fried on coals. Today, Arabica – coffee, the birthplace of which is the Arabian region – remains the most popular variety.

The first Arab coffee shops are a unique historical phenomenon. Initially, these establishments were intended for highly spiritual reflections, but over time they turned into a place for leisure: citizens came here to relax and socialize, sitting on cozy sofas surrounded by luxurious interiors. Later, business meetings and political debates began to be held in coffee houses – everything that you can easily meet in any modern coffee shop.

The Arabs loved coffee so much that they did not allow the plant to be exported to other regions for a long time. Despite the fact that individual plantations appeared in Indonesia, Holland and Sri Lanka much earlier, the active spread of coffee in Europe and Asia began in the XVII century. The drink quickly won the hearts of Europeans and together with the colonizers went to the American continent.

The South American climate appealed to the coffee tree, and today this region is one of the leaders in world coffee production, offering coffee lovers a unique variety of Arabica coffee – maragodzhil. How and when coffee appeared in Africa is not known for certain, but this continent has been pleasing gourmets with an original coffee variety called robusta for quite a long time.

The history of coffee: ups and downs

Throughout its development, the coffee drink incredibly quickly won the hearts of ordinary citizens. It was loved for its rich tart taste, rich aroma, pleasant warmth and tonic effect. Over a “cup of coffee”, Muslims forgot about prayer, and Europeans made plans to develop a new profitable business.

Such a huge popularity of coffee did not like the then monarchs, brewers and winemakers, depriving them of the desired profit, so the church undertook to stop the rapid spread of the drink, recognizing coffee as “unchristian”. High taxes and severe punishments were provided for its distribution and sale, and only decades later coffee finally received well-deserved recognition – the people did not give up and continued to brew the drink underground, ignoring the prohibitions of the state, and as a result the latter had to give up, allowing the citizens to freely enjoy the exquisite aroma of an invigorating drink.

In Russia, coffee enjoyed the attention of only the ruling dynasty, while the peasants treated the drink with distrust. This is probably why coffee has not suffered a decline here, and the consumption of the fragrant drink has been increasing every year.

Today, coffee is one of the most beloved drinks of the whole world, which has occupied its niche in modern production and restaurant business. Interest in it not only does not fade, but also constantly develops, forming a completely new, unusual and interesting coffee culture.

True coffee connoisseurs are still working on growing new varieties, creating unique blends and reviving unusual ways of making a drink. The history of the development of numerous varieties of coffee is no less interesting and fascinating – you can learn about the secrets of Arabica, liberica, excelsa and robusta from our next publication.

 

source :

https://www.coffeedom.ru/post/history/istorija-kofe-komu-my-objazany-samym-ljubimym-napitkom-sovremennosti

Coffee in Russia – history and modernity

In one of the previous publications, we turned to the history of the origin of coffee and its cultivation in the East and the further migration of this delicious drink to Europe and other parts of the world. Today it’s time to talk about the history of coffee in Russia from the moment of its first appearance to the culture of coffee and its drinking today.

The first sprouts of coffee beans – the early history of coffee in Russia

Perhaps even people who are far from both the history of Russia and the history of coffee, when asked who is the most famous Russian innovator and initiator of countless innovations in all spheres of ancient Russian life, there will be one answer. Of course, this is the great tsar Peter Alekseevich, a huge lover of European culture, traditions, fashion and technical achievements.

So it is Peter the Great who also has the most direct relation to the spread of coffee in Russia. Although it is fair to say that the history of coffee in Russia still began a little earlier.

Back in the pre-Petrine era, during the reign of the father of the future emperor Alexei Mikhailovich, the court physician prescribed an unprecedented decoction of coffee beans to the tsar as a remedy for headaches and other ailments. But it was under Peter that coffee began to spread everywhere. The tsar personally tasted and appreciated this amazing drink during one of his visits to his beloved country, the “ship Mecca” of those times – Holland. Having appreciated the taste and invigorating properties of coffee, the tsar, according to his custom, began not just to recommend it for use, but in fact to plant it.

It was quite in the spirit of the first emperor of Russia – in the same way he planted “beards to shave”, and “potatoes to eat”, and much more. And, as has happened more than once in history, Peter’s passion for coffee in his native Russia was not greeted warmly and joyfully. Neither the boyars, nor the merchants, nor even the royal nobles from among the inner circle wanted to drink coffee. However, the tsar did not like objections and introduced the order to drink not only vodka, but also coffee, at his legendary assemblies, where the most notable people of Russia gathered – and not always of their own free will.

But as time went on, coffee gradually ceased to be called a “satanic drink”, and the number of its fans gradually grew. The first coffee shop (more precisely, then this institution was called a coffee house) was organized in the Russian capital under Anna Ioannovna. And, perhaps, this is almost the only achievement of the inglorious ruler in general, for which descendants can be grateful to her.

By the way, many great representatives of Russian culture and not only who left a noticeable mark in the history of our country were great coffee lovers later. These are Belinsky, Herzen, Ostrovsky, and other prominent writers, politicians, artists and composers.

From the time of the first open coffee shop to the present day, the culture of coffee and its popularity, first in Russia and then in the USSR, has been constantly growing, and rapidly. And by the time Russia once again became an independent and independent state, in terms of coffee consumption, our country was already confidently among the top ten leaders in annual coffee consumption.

Simple statistical data will be eloquent and convincing – in just a couple of decades, from the end of the XIX to the beginning of the XX century, coffee imports to the territory of Russia increased by almost half.

  • Coffee culture nowadays

The culture of coffee in modern Russia is fit to be called not even a culture, but in many ways a cult. The free market, which allowed Russians to forget about the shortage of products and get, among other things, access to really high-quality coffee, gave rise to an army of genuine connoisseurs and even fans of this drink in our country. Surely everyone reading these lines has friends who sometimes say something like this – there may not be bread in the house, but there must be good coffee!

And they are easy to understand. After all, a morning started over a cup of fragrant and properly prepared coffee is the key to a great mood and a good day for millions of Russians. And a cup or two of a fragrant drink during breaks in work also helps us to cheer up and get a few minutes of enjoyment and pleasure.