Is the more expensive the coffee, the better? How many misunderstandings do you have about coffee?

Is more expensive coffee better?

——How many misunderstandings do you have about coffee?

1. Is all the coffee from abroad?

no.

1. The origin and legend of coffee

Coffee (Coffea spp.) is a perennial evergreen shrub or tree of the Rubiaceae family. It is one of the three major beverages in the world, along with cocoa and tea. Its output, output value and consumption rank first among the three major beverage crops. Coffee originated in the plateau area of ​​southwestern Ethiopia, Africa, and has a history of drinking for more than 1,000 years.

Legend 1: Coffee and Arab monks

The "Legend of the Arab Monk" is also called the "Legend of Shek Omar". It is a beautiful legend, which was recorded by the Muslim Abdul Qadi in the "Book of the Origin of Coffee" in 1587. According to legend, in 1258, Shek Omar, a chief who was expelled from his tribe for committing a crime, wandered to Wasaba, far away from his hometown of Mocha. He was so hungry and tired that he could no longer walk, so he sat down on a tree root to rest. Suddenly, he heard a very pleasant cry that he had never heard before. So, he looked up and found a little bird flying over and landing on a branch. After a closer look, he realized that the bird made such a beautiful cry after pecking at the fruits on the branch, so he picked all the fruits in that area. After returning home, Shek Omar put the fruits into a pot and boiled them with water. After a while, they began to emit a strong fragrance. Not only did he find it delicious, but after drinking it, his tired body and mind suddenly felt refreshed. So he picked a lot of these magical fruits and boiled soup for sick people when he met them. Because he did good deeds everywhere, the king and the people of his hometown forgave his sins, let him return to his hometown, and praised him as a "saint."

Legend 2: The Shepherd’s Story

Around the sixth century, there was an Arab shepherd named Kaldi in Ethiopia, Africa. One day, when he was herding his goats to the Ethiopian grasslands to graze, he saw that every goat seemed extremely excited. He found it very strange. After careful observation, he found that these goats were excited after eating some red fruits. Kaldi curiously tasted some and found that these fruits were very sweet and delicious. After eating them, he would feel refreshed. After that, he picked some of these incredible red fruits and took them home to share with the locals, so its magical effect became known.

2. Introduction and distribution of coffee in my country

(1) History of coffee introduction in my country

In 1884, Taiwan, China, successfully introduced the species for the first time. In 1898, Kuang Shilian from Shirenpo Village, Nanyang Town, Wenchang City, Hainan Province, introduced large-grain coffee (Coffea liberica Bull ex Hiern) from Malaysia to Wenchang for planting. In 1904 (the 30th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign in the Qing Dynasty), Zhukula Village, Pingchuan Town, Binchuan County, Yunnan Province introduced coffee (small-grain coffee C. arabica L.).

(2) Large-scale coffee cultivation in my country

In 1935, Chen Xianzhang, a Chinese from Taishan, Guangdong, introduced the robusta coffee from Java and planted it near Fushan, Chengmai, Hainan. Most of the robusta coffee planted on Hainan Island are descendants of these plants. In the 1950s, Hainan Xinglong Overseas Chinese Farm began to plant coffee on a large scale, and was recognized by many older generation national leaders (such as Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping, Ye Jianying, Dong Biwu, etc.). At the same time, the Institute of Spice of the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences also started a series of research on the industrialization of coffee in my country. In the 1980s and 1990s, with the continuous progress of coffee research in my country, the industrialization of coffee production in Hainan also achieved certain development. The planting area once reached more than 250,000 mu, and the varieties were mainly robusta. So far, Hainan's well-known coffee brands such as Sun River, Xingke, Nanguo, Chunguang, Mushan, and Fushan have been produced.

With the continuous deepening of my country's reform and opening up, the introduction and expansion of coffee in my country has been continuously strengthened. After the 1990s, the development of the world's specialty coffee industry has accelerated the development of coffee in high-altitude areas, which is the main source of specialty coffee, thereby promoting the rapid development of my country's high-altitude area - Yunnan's coffee industry. To date, Yunnan's coffee planting area has reached more than 1.5 million mu, and the annual total output is about more than 100,000 tons. It is mainly planted in Pu'er, Baoshan, Dehong, Lincang, Xishuangbanna and other places in Yunnan, and the varieties are mainly small-grain varieties.

2. Is the more expensive the coffee, the better?

uncertain.

From a macro perspective: coffee is one of the world's three major beverages and is consumed in large quantities worldwide. At the same time, coffee is one of the main food consumer products that are resistant to storage. As a result, it has long been included in the list of major agricultural products for world futures trading. Its market price depends not only on supply and demand, but is also often controlled by the private interests of certain financial tycoons.

From a specific perspective: With the development of the world's specialty coffee industry, the price of coffee has a great deal to do with the scoring standards of specialty coffee. Often, coffee with a score of 80 or above will be priced several times higher than general coffee (according to incomplete statistics, the price is generally more than 200 yuan per pound). However, according to the standards of specialty coffee, the quality of specialty coffee is closely related to the variety of coffee, the microclimate of the planting area, the primary processing technology, roasting, brewing, etc. The higher the scoring standard of the coffee, the rarer it is. In other words, the less its supply, so it is often more difficult for ordinary consumers to obtain it. The total annual output of my country's domestically produced coffee is currently only about 100,000 tons, and most of it is exported to foreign countries in the form of raw beans, but my country's current consumption has far exceeded this amount, so the specialty coffee that enters the hands of ordinary consumers in my country should be mainly imported beans. Although the price of this kind of specialty coffee that travels across the ocean is high, it is not known whether it is truly the estate-style specialty coffee of its origin.

3. Is cappuccino a variety of coffee?

No. Cappuccino is just one of many ways to drink coffee.

1. Main types of coffee

(1) Large-bean coffee

The large-grain variety is native to Liberica in West Africa, which accounts for 1% to 2% of the global coffee production and sales. It has a stimulating taste and a high caffeine content. People in West Africa, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and older overseas Chinese love this flavor, but it is rarely used commercially, and is mainly used in medicine and interspecies hybrid breeding.

(2) Medium-grain coffee

Medium-grain coffee is native to Central and West Africa. It has a high soluble solids content and a strong bitter taste. The caffeine content accounts for 1.8% to 4.2% of the weight of coffee beans, accounting for about 40% of global production and sales. It has a strong flavor and is mainly grown in low-altitude areas, such as Hainan, my country. The main varieties that have passed the review are Reyan No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 coffee.

(3) Arabica coffee

Small-grain coffee originated in Ethiopia, with at least 2,500 varieties. The coffee flavor is mild, and the caffeine content accounts for about 0.9% to 1.5% of the weight of the coffee beans. Compared with the medium-grain variety, the soluble solid content is low, so the concentration is low, but the organic acid and volatile flavor substances are rich, and the commercial value is high. It accounts for 60% of the global coffee production and sales. The product quality is proportional to the altitude, mainly in high-altitude areas, such as Yunnan, my country. At present, the three varieties that have passed the review are Catim CIFC7963, Dere 3, and Dere 132.

3. Drinking coffee

(1) Brewing and drinking medium-grain coffee

How to brew medium-grain coffee

The brewing method of medium-grain coffee is relatively simple. The main characteristics are that the water temperature must be high (above 95 degrees, preferably boiling water), the brewing time cannot be too long (about 3 minutes), and it must be fully dissolved (mainly using an open pot or French press).

Drinking of medium coffee

The drinking characteristic of medium-grain coffee is mainly to taste its caramelized aroma. Due to its strong bitterness, the coffee grounds should be filtered out as soon as possible after brewing, and it is better to drink it while it is hot. You can drink original coffee (without any additives), or add sugar, or add milk (preferably caramelized condensed milk) or add condensed milk and then add 2-3 drops of foreign liquor (preferably brandy) to experience the unique flavor of fine wine coffee.

(2) Brewing and drinking small-grain coffee

Coffee Bean Brewing

The brewing of small-grain coffee is more complicated because it is rich in volatile substances, organic acids and other flavor substances, but the caffeine and soluble solids content is lower than that of medium-grain coffee. Different water temperatures and brewing times will present different flavor characteristics. Generally speaking, its flavor substances will gradually change from sour to burnt sweet to bitter, so different methods should be used according to personal preferences.

Enjoying Arabica Coffee

The biggest feature of small-grain coffee is that it has rich volatile aroma components. Therefore, the enjoyment of small-grain coffee is mainly based on the process experience, including roasting, grinding, brewing, tasting, smelling, etc. The focus is on appreciating its unique aroma of toasted bread, and the tasting process is mainly to taste its sourness, floral fragrance, and sweet and burnt taste. It is completely different from the style of medium-grain coffee. Many auxiliary ingredients can be added to make various fancy coffees, such as black coffee, espresso, Americano, mocha, latte, etc.

(3) Types of small-grain coffee beverages

In addition to being consumed as black coffee (such as American coffee) and espresso (ultra-high temperature extraction that is strong and bitter), small-grain coffee can also be made into a variety of fancy coffees.

Fancy coffee: adding sugar, milk, etc. in different proportions to coffee.

Cappuccino: Pour 80% of the hot fresh milk into the cup of espresso, then pour in the milk foam. Sprinkle a little cinnamon or chocolate powder on top for a very fragrant and soft taste.

Latte: Coffee with twice as much milk as cappuccino, that is, the ratio of coffee, milk and milk foam is 1:2:1.

Mocha: Ethiopian coffee beans, small in size but strong in aroma and acidity. A drink made by adding chocolate to latte.

4. Is civet coffee the best coffee?

no.

Kopi Luwak Kopi (Indonesian for coffee) Luwak is the coffee that a wild animal called "civet" eats after eating coffee berries. Civets eat ripe coffee berries and excrete them through the digestive system. The coffee produced has a unique flavor due to fermentation in the stomach, making it a hot commodity in the international market. This animal mainly feeds on fresh coffee berries. After fermentation in the stomach of the civet, the protein is broken down to produce short peptides and more free amino acids, which reduces the bitterness of the coffee. Since coffee beans cannot be digested, they are excreted and become cat feces coffee after washing and roasting. Due to its low production and unique flavor during the fermentation process, it is very different from ordinary coffee, making it the most expensive coffee in the world, but it is not the best coffee by the standards of world specialty coffee.

"Cat poop coffee" is the least produced coffee in the world. A 50-gram bag of coffee beans is worth more than 800 yuan, which can only make 4-5 cups of coffee. In other words, the price of one cup is about 200 yuan.

5. Can you no longer drink coffee after it expires?

uncertain.

After high-temperature baking, coffee produces a chemical reaction, so it is not easy to rot and deteriorate, and its shelf life is generally longer. In particular, most brands of coffee on the market currently use leaky packaging bags to package unground coffee beans, which makes it less likely to rot and deteriorate. However, my country's Food Law stipulates that the shelf life of general food cannot exceed 18 months, so the shelf life on the coffee packaging bag can only be implemented in accordance with relevant national regulations. However, when consuming coffee, you can choose according to the quality of the coffee itself. If the coffee is not moldy, lumpy and still has the aroma of coffee, you can continue to brew and drink it.

6. Is coffee with grounds bad coffee?

uncertain.

Most consumers in my country first came into contact with coffee through instant coffee, which is made by roasting and grinding coffee, extracting it by boiling it with water, and then going through a series of processes such as spray drying and adding fillers to make it into a ready-to-dissolve granular product. When drinking, just add warm water without any residue or debris. However, due to the use of high-temperature spray technology in the processing process, many of its original flavor substances, especially some volatile flavor substances, are also lost.

The earliest coffee planted and commercially produced in my country is Hainan's Xinglong coffee. There are many coffee shops of all sizes in Xinglong. The method of brewing coffee is very simple. Just pour the freshly boiled water into a pot that has been through the scalding process and is filled with an appropriate amount of coffee powder. After standing for 3-5 minutes, use a spoon to gently stir the coffee grounds on the surface of the pot. After the coffee grounds naturally sink to the bottom, filter out the coffee filtrate on top. The coffee brewed in this way has a pure flavor and rich aroma. However, many consumers, after buying local coffee in Xinglong, Hainan, do not master the real brewing method of this coffee. Some of them do not brew the water temperature high enough, some do not brew for a long time, or they are eager to drink before the coffee grounds are naturally settled or filtered. As a result, they often drink a mouthful of coffee grounds and mistakenly think that it is bad coffee.

7. Will drinking coffee cause calcium loss?

Won't.

Although coffee ranks first among the world's three major beverages, according to statistics, the United States, which has the highest per capita coffee consumption in the world, only consumes 329 cups per person per year. This amount of coffee is generally unlikely to cause calcium loss in the human body. There is currently no evidence in world medicine to show that coffee has any relationship with calcium loss in the human body.

8. Is drinking coffee addictive?

Won't.

Modern medical research shows that certain ingredients in coffee can easily cause a person to become weakly dependent on it. That is, after a person drinks coffee continuously for a period of time, some of the ingredients in coffee can easily make the person want to drink coffee again. However, this weak dependence will disappear on its own after a few days of prohibition, so it will not cause addiction.

9. Will drinking coffee make you unable to sleep?

Generally not.

Certain ingredients in coffee will inhibit the production of melatonin in the human brain, so most people will feel unable to sleep right after drinking coffee. However, coffee usually only blocks the production of melatonin in the brain for about 8 hours. Therefore, it is recommended that people who are prone to insomnia should not drink coffee within 8 hours before going to bed. Most people will not feel unable to sleep as long as they do not drink coffee within 8 hours before going to bed.

10. Will drinking coffee cause heart disease?

Generally not.

On the contrary, medical research shows that certain ingredients in coffee are good cardiotonic agents and have a certain auxiliary effect in preventing heart disease.

11. Is the Blue Mountain coffee we drink real?

uncertain.

Blue Mountain Coffee is a major product launched by the World Specialty Coffee Organization. Originated in Jamaica, it is named after the Blue Mountains surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. It has a well-balanced sourness, sweetness and bitterness, and has excellent flavor and aroma. It is suitable for single-origin coffee and is best roasted medium. Blue Mountain Coffee is the best coffee in the world. Jamaica's weather, geological structure and terrain provide an ideal place for coffee growth. The annual output is only 2,400 tons, the price is about US$176 per kilogram, and export quotas are implemented.

Blue Mountain Coffee is produced in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. The Blue Mountains stretch across the eastern part of Jamaica, with the highest peak at 2,256 meters above sea level, making it the highest mountain in the Caribbean. The reason why it is so famous is that British soldiers who arrived in Jamaica saw the mountain covered with blue light and exclaimed: "Look, blue mountain!" From then on, it was named "Blue Mountain".

However, only the coffee produced in the 6,000 hectares of land above 1,600 meters above sea level can be called Blue Mountain. According to the principle that 10% is supplied to the world outside Japan, and that the world can only consume 10% of its production each year, do you think the Blue Mountain coffee you drink will be that 10%?

Author: Wu Huasong (Researcher at the Institute of Tropical Crop Germplasm Resources, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Secretary-General of the Tropical Crop Germplasm Resources Protection and Utilization Committee of the Chinese Society of Tropical Crops)