Complete tips book for coffee enthusiasts: Arabica: Arabica coffee is considered superior to Robusta because of its delicate flavor and low acidity. This variety is grown at higher altitudes and can be more difficult and costly to grow. These labor-intensive, low-yield plants produce a high-demand bean that sells for a higher price. Robusta: Robusta coffee tends to have a more acidic and harsh flavor than Arabica as well as higher levels of caffeine. Robusta can be grown at lower altitudes, in hotter climates, and with less moisture. Since Robusta has fewer growing restrictions and has a generally less desirable flavor, it is usually sold for a lower price than Arabica beans. Most mass-market commercial beans are of the Robusta variety.
Lungo – Lungo is often confused with Americano, but it’s not at all the same. Lungo is a long shot prepared by extracting double the amount of water with same amount of coffee grounds. In figures, it means, 50 ml of water is extracted with 7 grams of coffee. This results in extraction of more caffeine, but with dissolved off-notes of coffee. It’s a less popular drink but it’s a preferred drink for people who demand more caffeine. Caffe Crema – An extra long espresso drink served in Northern Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. It has different flavor profile than related drinks like Lungo and Americano due to different extraction process. Rough brewing ratios of ristretto, normale, lungo, and caffè crema are 1:2:3:6 and the average water part per shot is 6 oz (180ml). Cafe Zorro – This is a double shot of espresso that is added to water in a 1:1 ratio.
Let’s talk about percolator coffee filters. Another De’Longhi creation is the 15 Bar Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker. It is a bestseller in the field of semi-automatic espresso machines. What sets De’Longhi’s model EC155 apart is its 15 bar pressure pump. This means optimal brewing pressure is used to make your espresso. It comes with a small built-in tamper and a frothing wand. This model is suitable for those who want to experiment on getting an espresso machine, but are not serious or knowledgeable enough to get a more expensive automatic machine.
Excelsa is technically a member of the Liberica family, but its species is actually incredibly distinct. Like the Liberica coffee described above, Excelsa is grown primarily in Southeast Asia and represents only a small fraction of the world’s coffee production. Excelsa does boast a tart, fruitier flavor and is known for showing attributes of both light and dark roast coffees to create a unique profile that is frequently sought out by coffee enthusiasts. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, drinking coffee is about finding what you enjoy and sticking with it. Knowing that Arabica and Robusta the most prevalent and affordable options you’ll encounter on a regular basis, think about how you actually like to drink your coffee – hot, iced, with/without creamer? Typically, if you’re more of a coffee purist who enjoys a simple fresh, hot, black coffee then a light Arabica bean like our Ethiopian Yirgacheffe product would be an ideal choice. If you generally prefer pouring your coffee over ice or enjoying it with some additional flavor add-ins, then we might recommend giving our Knockbox Espresso a shot. The main thing to remember is that it’s all about finding what works for you, so try different things and enjoy the process! Find extra info at Edmond Hui.
Next, the other very common type of coffee bean is Robusta. Rather than gaining its popularity through quality and depth of the brew, these plants are popular for for their high caffeine level and hardiness. While they do thrive in hotter climates and varied rainfall, Robusta beans are known for being able to put up with a much wider range of climates and altitudes. Also, they withstand diseases much better than other varieties. That resistance makes them better for growing in large crops. Higher quality robust tends to have a lower acidity and heavy body. These brews stand up better against things like cream and sugar, making them great for something like Vietnamese Coffee. And it works well in blends like Death Wish that are specifically curated for their caffeine kick.
