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Coffee

The Coffee Wars: Espresso vs. Drip

September 17, 2019 by derbyjoe Leave a Comment

There are a lot of myths out there when it comes to coffee. Drink a cup in the afternoon and you’ll be up all night. Drink too much coffee and you’ll be dehydrated. Drink enough coffee and you’ll lose weight. Each and every one of them can be categorically proven false.

One of the most popular myth is that people who drink espresso risk overdosing on caffeine. After all, each one of those shots is said to have way more caffeine than a single cup of coffee, right?

Turns out that myth is busted too, thanks to Kicking Horse Coffee. They posted an exposé on the subject and broke down exactly why espresso doesn’t necessarily have way more caffeine than coffee. The difference comes in how the caffeine is measured.

One Cup vs. One Shot

A cup of coffee is generally thought of at 12 ounces. A shot of espresso is just 2 ounces. Many people claim that a 2 ounce shot of espresso has more caffeine than a cup of coffee, but it really only has around 80 milligrams. One 12 ounces cup of coffee can have up to 120 milligrams of caffeine. So one cup of regular coffee will actually get you up and kicking quicker than that “extreme” espresso.

Let’s Get Voluminous

When compared by volume, the differences become more clear. Ounce per ounce, espresso is around 4 times as strong as coffee in terms of caffeine. So you’d have to drink 4 times as much coffee to get the same kick as espresso. So while a shot of espresso might actually have less caffeine than a cup of coffee, it hits you harder because of the smaller volume. It’s much easier to down a shot of espresso than it is to sip an entire coffee, right?

Why the Difference?

Caffeine is water-soluble and will be removed from the coffee during the brewing process. There are many things that can affect how much of the caffeine makes it into the final product, like the temperature, how long it’s brewed, how finely ground it is, and how saturated the coffee becomes. Hotter temperature, longer brew time, and a finer grind can all lead to higher concentrations of caffeine compared to the alternatives.

Espresso is made using a specialty machine that forces boiling water through the ground espresso beans at a rapid pace. The speed with which it works means it extracts more caffeine per ounce than regular drip coffee. Drip coffee machines let the water do its job more slowly and don’t force it through like the espresso machine.

Espresso beans themselves can be identified from regular coffee beans by their darker and more oily appearance. These beans have been roasted until the last possible point to bring out all those caramelly, bold flavors. The beans are ground much more finely than regular coffee beans, and they are packed down tight prior to brewing. The brew process only takes around 25-30 seconds, compared to the minutes it takes to make a regular cup of coffee.

So which type of coffee do you prefer for your morning caffeine rush? Share with us in the comments!

Filed Under: Coffee, Derby Joe Food, Derby Joe Merchandise, Fair Trade/Organic, Food/Merchandise Tagged With: coffee, espresso

7 Coffee Beans From Around the World That You Need To Try

September 17, 2019 by derbyjoe

  1. Kona Coffee (Hawaii, USA)

Grown in the volcanic soils of the Kona district on Big Island, Hawaii, Kona is a medium-bodied arabica with a bright acidity and milk-chocolatey profile. Kona coffee is available under several different brand names such as Volcanica Coffee and Koa Coffee, but keep in mind that a pound real Kona coffee may set you back anywhere between $20-$55. (Something about it being very expensive, and advising not to settle for “kona blends” as they’ll only contain a small fraction of actual kona coffee)

2. Tanzania Peaberry Coffee (Africa)

The Tanzania Peabody coffee beans are beloved by coffee lovers across the globe for their medium and fruity body. These delicious beans are grown exclusively on Mt. Meru and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. the site espressocoffeeguide.com describes the flavors as, “exhibiting hints of pineapple, citrus, or coconut,” and contains, “winey notes and a velvety feeling on the palate.”

3. Sulawesi Toraja Coffee

Sulawesi is an island in Indonesia that has become world-renowned for their Toraja coffee beans. Aficionados rave about how multidimensional and complex the flavor of this rare coffee. They are well-balanced, with hints of deep, dark chocolate and bright, citrus fruits. It is more earthy than some other Arabica coffees, which gives it a sweet, almost pungent flavor with hints of spice. These rich, varied flavors lend themselves best to a dark roast.

4. Nicaraguan Coffee

Nicaragua is a relative newcomer to the high-quality coffee game. They are already making a name for themselves with a variety of interesting and unique beans. Nicaraguan coffee has an almost cocoa-like quality to it with lots of notes of chocolate and light hints of fruits like dark berries or grapes.

5. Mocha Java Coffee

Mocha Java has become a household name in recent years thanks to an explosive growth in popularity. Arabica Mocha coffee from Yemen and Indonesian Java Arabica coffee are both included under this umbrella term. The two distinct beans have complementary flavors, with the bright, fresh java coffee contrasting with the dark, chocolatey flavor of the Yemen Mocha variety. According to the World’s Best History of Coffee, sailing ships arrived from Java Island to Yemen, specifically the port of Mocha. Coffee beans got mixed up in the hull, someone ground and brewed them, and the rest was history!

6. Sumatra Manheling Coffee

Every coffee drinker has heard of or tried Sumatra coffee. Sumatra is another island in Indonesia, just west of Java. They are famous for their Manheling coffee beans, which are perfect for those of you craving a smooth, sweet coffee. Unlike most of the coffees on this list, Sumatran Manheling beans have very low acidity so they won’t turn your stomach. The only place in the world these beans are grown is near Lake Toba in north central Sumatra.

7. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee would be higher on this list if it wasn’t so expensive. The full-flavored, well-balanced coffee features significant notes of fruit and acidity. Described on VolcanicCoffee.com as the “Rolls-Royce of coffees regarded by many as the best coffee in the world.” If you want to try this delightful coffee, go for a medium roast. It is roasted to order and sent straight to your door, so you won’t get it fresher unless you brew it yourself. The coffee beans are grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, above 2,000 feet sea level. The location has the perfect soil and rainfall conditions to make it possibly the best place to grow coffee in the entire world.

What’s your favorite type of coffee? Come by Derby Joe and let us know what you think of our signature cold-brew!

Filed Under: Roasting, Types Tagged With: coffee, roasting

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