Choosing Coffee
Did you know that coffee isn't really a bean, but a type of cherry that is dried, roasted and ground?
Arabica and robusta are the two main type of coffee “beans.” Arabica is mild and aromatic, and originated in Africa. Robusta is stronger and originally came from Asia and Brazil.
It's the roasting process that gives us the various choices we have today. Roasting is a dry heat, and can range from very light—a 7-minute roast—up to very dark, 14-minute process.
The darker the roast, the stronger the coffee’s flavor.
- American roast is a light roast.
- Breakfast blend is a medium roast.
- French roast is dark.
- European roast is a blend of 2/3 dark beans and 1/3 light beans.
- Vienese roast is 2/3 light and 1/3 dark beans.
- Espresso is a very dark roast, finely ground.
- Turkish roast is darker than espresso.
Published 01/30/09
