Coffee is the most popular drink in the world. There are many varieties and brands of it, so the buyer often faces a difficult choice: which coffee is the best?
In Russia by popularity ground coffee loses to soluble. But for its lovers, there are many well-known brands on the market with their own lines of varieties.
So how do you choose the perfect coffee for you?
We talked about how to properly brew ground coffee in a cup.
Which ground coffee is better
The taste of coffee beans is determined by several parameters: the conditions for the ripening of the plant, the climate in which it grows, weather conditions, and even the composition of the soil.
Producing country
- Coffee from India is considered strong and has spicy, bitter and sweet flavors. Sourness, which is considered a sign of Arabica, Indian coffee is completely devoid of.
- Kenyan and Yemeni varieties are famous for their high caffeine content and low acidity. Higher acidity - in Colombian and Brazilian coffee. Alpine varieties are different delicate taste and rich aroma. The bitterness characteristic of coffee is practically not felt in them.
- Ethiopian coffee is of impeccable quality. From its grains, a high-quality, strong and deep drink is obtained, in the taste of which chocolate notes are distinguishable and there are light fruit shades.
- Coffee from Brazil often has an unpleasant pharmacy taste. The reason for this is the high content of quinine in the soil. Its grains are rarely used in pure form. As a rule, they are part of blends and mixtures.
- Cuban coffee is exported in the form of blends. They go on sale under the brand name "qubit".
- The best monosorts of coffee are sold in the form of grains. Specialized coffee shops often provide an additional free service for grinding grains right at the place of purchase.
Today, the freeze-dry drink is gaining popularity, or what are its main differences from soluble - read the article at the link.
Most delicious recipe we recommend making mochachino in: all the aroma of a quality Arabica variety is in your cup.
Varieties
Roast degree
The brightly colored boxes we see in stores usually contain heavily roasted coffee. Russian and European companies, when buying grains from manufacturers, most often roast the mixture on their own, using Italian roasting technology. This approach to the product is easy to explain. Lightly roasted ground coffee cannot be stored for a long time, even if it is packaged in vacuum bags.
Those who are used to buying grains by weight need to know that the strength of the finished drink depends on the degree of roasting.
For ground coffee, strong and medium roasts are considered optimal. After all, only she is able to reveal the flavor bouquet of coffee beans.
Grinding levels
The classification of grinding degrees is quite simple and understandable even for those who are not professionals in the coffee industry. It includes 5 main steps.
Rating of the best brands of ground coffee
Trademarks of coffee are widely represented on the shelves of supermarkets and are able to satisfy the most demanding and demanding taste. Of course, if possible, it is better to buy single varieties, not mixtures.
The most delicious coffees
Varieties from Central America, Kenya and Ethiopia are highly valued. Professional experts prefer Blue Mountain from Jamaica, Panamanian Geisha and Kopi Luwak (Indonesia). But buyers in different countries ah the world has its own preferences regarding the choice of goods.
Julia Vern 14 577 0
This drink has been known to the world for more than one century. Some say that its frequent use can cause impotence and insanity, others argue that it is a natural energy drink. All these statements are about ground coffee, the benefits and harms of which are the subject of controversy not only for ordinary consumers, but also for scientists. Research on the drink is still ongoing. What objective scientifically proven facts testify to the advantages and disadvantages of coffee?
Caffeine is one of the most commonly used psychoactive substances in the world. It is he who is the main component of coffee beans. Its effect on the human body has been studied quite well. But besides caffeine, grains contain more than a thousand different substances.
It is precisely known that the benefits of ground coffee lie precisely in the combination of caffeine with lipids, organic acids and soluble carbohydrates. At the moment, scientists from around the world have confirmed several facts about the benefits natural coffee(both in grains and ground). It should be noted that the following facts do not apply to the soluble version of the drink.
- Drinking natural ground coffee increases physical endurance.
If you drink a cup of espresso about an hour before training, you will notice that endurance will increase significantly. Caffeine increases the level of adrenaline in the blood, thereby preparing the body for physical activity.
- Coffee can block hunger and help you lose weight.
Unroasted green beans are high in magnesium and potassium. It is these trace elements that help the human body produce insulin, regulate blood sugar levels, thereby reducing hunger and cravings for sweets.
- Caffeine burns fat.
It has been proven that fat cells are destroyed under the influence of special fatty acids, the production of which provokes caffeine.
- Coffee drink helps to focus and cheer up.
Moderate consumption of espresso (no more than three cups a day) reduces mental fatigue and improves reaction time.
- Coffee lovers are less likely to suffer from a variety of diseases.
Drinking natural ground coffee in moderation reduces the risk of developing cancer. More than one study has proven that a set of unique chemical elements in the coffee bean helps to reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer by 25%, and endometrial cancer by 20%. At the same time, patients in the experimental group consumed four cups of strong coffee per day.
Caffeine is useful in the prevention of basal cell carcinoma (the most common type of dermal cancer).
Also, fans of natural coffee can boast that they are less likely to develop stroke and Parkinson's disease.
This is not surprising, because caffeine increases the activity of brain cells. In general, the risk of premature death in coffee drinkers is 25% lower than in those who refuse to drink the popular drink.
- Coffee drinkers age more slowly.
Coffee beans contain many antioxidants that fight free radicals. This means that the aging process of the body is significantly slowed down.
- Natural coffee improves mood, helps fight depression and even prevents the development of suicidal thoughts.
Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and increases the production of uplifting neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine).
Harm from drinking ground coffee
Before listing the negative aspects of ground coffee, it is necessary to focus on the fact that they appear only when the drink is abused. The lethal dose of caffeine is only 10-15 grams. Of course, coffee poisoning is unrealistic, because you have to drink about 80 cups of the drink at a time. But we must remember that any product can be both a medicine and a poison.
It all depends on the dosage. Also, do not forget about the quality of the drink. It is best to buy well-known or proven brands. The danger of cheap ground coffee is that the pack (except for directly ground coffee beans) may contain toxic impurities. Unscrupulous manufacturers are trying in this way to increase the total weight of the pack. Regular use of poor quality coffee drink can provoke intoxication, headache and even some dangerous diseases.
- Coffee can cause insomnia.
If a person drinks more than 4 cups of strong espresso in an evening, then it will not be possible to fall asleep quickly and easily. An increased level of adrenaline in the blood and a large amount of released dopamine will not allow the body to relax and calmly go into "sleep" mode.
- Caffeine raises blood pressure.
If a person with hypertension drinks even 2 cups of espresso, they will suffer from high blood pressure for the next 2-3 hours. This effect should also be taken into account for those who do not experience problems with pressure, but plan to go diving in the near future. It is better for those suffering from arterial hypertension to give up caffeine altogether, because 4 cups of the drink can provoke not only an increase in pressure, but also a heart attack.
- Coffee addicts are more likely to suffer from problems with conception and childbearing.
Caffeine significantly reduces the ability of the female body to conceive. And pregnant women who drank at least two cups of espresso a day were 30% more likely to lose a baby by early term than those who completely cut out caffeine.
- Coffee provokes energetic heart contractions.
Anyone who has drunk a few cups of strong espresso can notice that the heart has become more energetic. This is due to the increase in the level of adrenaline already described above. Healthy people easily tolerate such a side effect, but those who suffer from any diseases of the cardiovascular system are at risk of getting a heart attack.
- Caffeine leaches calcium from bones.
Regular consumption of ground coffee in large quantities can lead to the fact that bone become brittle and thin. Doctors have long noticed that the bones of coffee lovers fuse much longer than those who prefer to drink plain water.
- Drinking coffee can lead to hearing loss.
Of course, those who drink espresso daily will not be 100% deaf. So far, only the fact that an excess of caffeine does not allow you to quickly restore hearing after aggressive noise exposure has been scientifically proven.
To drink or not to drink? It all depends on your overall health!
Before brewing another cup of coffee (or vice versa, abandoning the daily ritual), you need to remind yourself once again that any product is both useful and harmful. One of the best-selling products in the world is ground coffee.
The health benefits and harms of drinking this drink have been studied for decades by independent and very reputable organizations. Therefore, all of the above facts can be called confirmed.
One cup of espresso a day is unlikely to cause significant damage to health. But the use of even the highest quality coffee in unreasonable quantities will definitely not bring any benefit.
Today, several thousand varieties of coffee enter the market and recognize quality product not easy, but possible. Here are some tips for coffee lovers.
All coffee is made from the seeds of two types of coffee trees: Arabian coffee, or Arabica, and Congolese coffee, or Robusta. Moreover, robusta is used only in a mixture with arabica: in itself, robusta is not tasty and less aromatic, but it gives strength to the coffee infusion and is cheaper.
What variety do you prefer?
Several thousand varieties of coffee enter the market! The fact is that in each locality, Arabica acquires flavoring characteristics of soil, water, etc. And therefore it bears a name that mentions the name of the valley, its height above sea level, mountains, cities, countries, even the port from which coffee is shipped . For example, the most popular the best varieties called "Brazilian Arabica Santos coffee": that is, it is Arabica coffee grown in Brazil and shipped from the port of Santos.
Only two groups of coffee are called natural: in beans and ground. Ground coffee, as cheaper than beans, will be a mixture of coffee from different countries or from different vintages.
Ground coffee happens:
- caffeinated or decaffeinated (decaffeinated drink accounts for one fifth of all coffee);
- flavored or unflavored. Some varieties aromatize "on their own". For example, the Blue Mountain variety acquires its unique taste due to the fact that it is transported in rum barrels. The number is synthetic flavors huge. Most of all, consumers love the vanilla-nut flavor. Real coffee connoisseurs buy only unflavored; three varieties: the highest (produced only from Arabica), the first and second (can be both from Arabica and from a mixture with Robusta).
Grinding subtleties
Alas, the aroma and taste of ground coffee begins to deteriorate immediately after grinding. Or after you have opened the vacuum package. Ideally, coffee should be ground before brewing. Since coffee beans at home begin to lose their quality after a week of storage, experts advise buying no more than 200 grams of grains at a time. The degree of grinding of coffee depends on how you will prepare it:
- Coarse (or coarse) grinding - grind for 10 seconds (the time is indicated for the most ordinary electric coffee grinder without "bells and whistles"). Coffee particles can be up to 0.8 mm in size. Such coffee is suitable for preparation in a piston coffee maker or for brewing in a coffee pot, cezve. You need to insist it for 6-8 minutes.
- Medium grinding - grinding time - 13 sec. Extraction (infusion) time - 4-6 minutes. Versatile, suitable for many brewing methods.
- Fine grinding - grinding time - 15-20 seconds, insisting - 1-4 minutes. Used in coffee makers with filters. Oddly enough, fine grinding is stored the longest: fine particles lie more densely, worsening contact with air.
- Fine espresso grinding - this coffee is used in espresso coffee makers (a jet of steam is passed through the coffee).
- Superfine grinding - such a powder is similar to flour. Turkish coffee is brewed from it in a Turk.
How to recognize quality?
By price. The most expensive variety, which is sold in our stores, is called Jamaican Arabica Blue Mountain coffee, it costs about 3,500 rubles per 1 kg. The next in price is the Italian "Lavazza": 800 - 1000 rubles per 1 kg. But you can’t focus on price alone: coffee can be expensive simply because it has low yields or grows only in one limited place (for example, in Java).
By packaging. Coarsely ground coffee or cheaper and more fast method, has a valve on the vacuum package: a tiny hole is visible under the transparent "petal" the size of a fingernail. It allows gases to escape, otherwise the package would swell. Good coffee is not packed in a plastic jar: only glass or tin.
Appearance. Clay, plastic, starch can be added to coffee. You need to look literally in both. To do this, put a pinch of coffee on a sheet of white paper, smooth it out and see if there are particles of a different color, structure. Chicory, beans, barley, peas, date or orange seeds can also be mixed into your coffee - depending on which country it is packaged in. But to determine the presence food additives” in coffee is possible (albeit after its purchase). Put the coffee powder into a glass cold water. Clean coffee will stick to the surface. Impurities will settle to the bottom after a while. In addition, they stick together and color the water.
Shelf life. Fraudsters can buy expired coffee and fake the date of manufacture. You can recognize the "junk" only by the aroma. Squeeze the vacuum pack by holding the release valve up to your nose: a strong aroma and the absence of rancid smell are signs of coffee freshness.
Coffee has long been one of the most loved drinks around the world. Today there is great amount variety of coffee blends original taste and aroma, many original recipes making coffee, there is even coffee without caffeine or with special therapeutic additives. But we will talk about useful and harmful properties the most ordinary coffee - natural or instant, and whether it is worth drinking it, and in what quantities.
There have been a lot of legends and gossip around coffee for a long time. It is sometimes considered a panacea for all ills, sometimes it is declared a harmful product and it is recommended to limit its use. And the practical experience of drinking this drink, as well as medical research, prove that everything here depends on the amount of coffee, the method of its preparation and the state of health of the patient.
Composition of coffee
The impact of coffee on human health is explained by its chemical composition. In the coffee bean you can find a variety of substances, this is the well-known caffeine, and protein, as well as trigonelline, chlorogenic acid, various mineral salts. These substances account for approximately 25% of the mass of raw coffee beans, and the rest is fiber, oil and water. It should be borne in mind that the amount of these substances and their combination depends on the type of coffee.
What are the benefits and harms of eating kiwi during pregnancy:
Caffeine is the most famous ingredient in coffee. It is caffeine that regulates and enhances the processes of excitation in the brain. If you choose an adequate dose of caffeine, it will help increase mental alertness, performance, and relieve fatigue and drowsiness. But the systematic use of large doses of caffeine can lead to addiction and exhaustion of the nervous system. Very large doses of caffeine can even cause death of the patient.
Another important component of coffee is trigonelin. This is a substance that is involved in creating the unique aroma of coffee, in addition, when roasted, it turns into nicotinic acid, a lack of bark provokes pellagra disease.
An important component of coffee is chlorogenic acid. found only in raw coffee beans. When roasted, it breaks down, and other organic substances are obtained, which give coffee a characteristic astringent flavor. The rest of the acids in coffee, such as malic, citric, acetic and coffee, help to normalize the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and improve digestion.
The bitterness in coffee is due to the presence of tannins in it.. Tannins are complex organic substances with a wide spectrum of activity, but under the influence of dairy products they break down, so coffee with milk loses its bitterness. In addition, coffee contains up to 20% of the daily value of vitamin P, which tends to strengthen blood vessels, and useful minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus and iron.
Negative effects of coffee on the body
That coffee is not the best healthy drink, known to all. Doctors strongly recommend not to exceed the recommended doses of its use. More than one or two cups of coffee a day can lead to depression, drowsiness, irritability and lethargy. This drink is addictive, so often when such symptoms occur, withdrawal does not bring relief. A vicious circle is formed, from which it is not easy to get out.
There are some of the most dangerous routes of coffee exposure and you need to be aware of them if you want to stay healthy. The nervous system is most commonly affected.. Caffeine constantly "spurs" it and thereby leads to exhaustion.
When drinking coffee, remember that This drink has a pronounced diuretic effect. This negatively affects not only the work of the kidneys and ureter, but also the whole organism, which begins to experience a lack of moisture. Therefore, in parallel with drinking coffee, it is important to drink other liquids.
A lot of talk turns around the negative impact of coffee on the heart. But in fact, this influence is too small to be taken seriously. Coffee raises blood pressure, but only for a very short time and can only harm a person who already has serious heart problems.
Much more serious Negative influence coffee on the stomach After drinking this drink, the acidity in the stomach rises, which can cause heartburn, as well as the development of gastritis and ulcers. It is especially dangerous to drink coffee on an empty stomach and with a cigarette, as is often done. To minimize the harm from drinking coffee, just eat before you drink it.
Useful properties of coffee
Provided that coffee is consumed in moderation, it will not only not harm, but will also be very useful. If you drink no more than two cups of this drink a day, it will help to cheer up without harm to the body. Coffee helps to alleviate the manifestations of allergies and asthma, and also activates the gastrointestinal tract. Often coffee is recommended for poisoning with certain poisons and narcotic substances. It will also be useful for insufficient function of the cardiovascular system.
Very interesting research was carried out in India. During their study, it was found that coffee, to some extent, helps protect against the harmful effects of radioactive radiation. Also, this drink contains a significant amount of serotonin, which is a hormone of happiness and can elevate mood.
There is an opinion that moderate coffee consumption helps reduce the likelihood of cancer of the liver and pancreas, as well as other organs of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, in men, coffee can improve reproductive function by increasing sperm activity. Helps coffee and those who want to lose weight.
Weight loss with coffee
Many of us are familiar with the fact that coffee helps to lose extra pounds. Of course, this rule does not apply to cases where coffee is washed down with half a cake. But even lovers culinary masterpieces coffee will help, as it helps speed up the metabolism and part with some extra calories very quickly. In addition, coffee is an antioxidant and helps to renew and rejuvenate body cells.
Those who want to lose weight with coffee should give up sugary drinks, as well as coffee with cream and desserts. If black coffee seems tasteless, then you can add a little sweetener and skimmed milk powder. The taste will not suffer much from this, but the calorie content of the drink will greatly decrease.
Coffee is a good diuretic therefore, it helps to remove excess fluid from the body, which contributes to weight loss. It also perfectly suppresses the feeling of hunger, so a cup of black coffee can easily replace an afternoon snack or an extra snack. For those who play sports or exercise, a cup of coffee an hour before a workout will help relieve muscle pain and give energy.
Contraindications to drinking coffee
There are few contraindications to drinking coffee, and they mainly concern those who simply abuse this delicious invigorating drink. If you drink one or two cups of coffee in the morning, then there will be no significant harm to the body from this. But we must remember that the abuse of coffee leads to too many negative side effects.
It is necessary to completely abandon the use of coffee for those who have serious diseases of the cardiovascular system. Also, do not drink coffee for people who have nervous disorders, as caffeine can aggravate them. Refusal of coffee will not hurt the elderly, and children are not allowed to drink coffee at all.
Traditionally, it is not advised to drink. To date, there is no single authoritative opinion about coffee consumption during this period, but this is exactly the situation when it is better to play it safe. Moreover, an increase in pressure, even a slight one, can become a dangerous sign.
Which coffee to choose - ground or instant (Video: "Is there coffee in instant?")
Every coffee lover can name more than one argument in favor of the fact that his favorite variety is the most best coffee in the world. But this, of course, is a matter of taste. But the debate about which coffee is better to choose, ground or instant, until the end is in sight.
Certainly, content useful substances in natural coffee is much higher. For example, natural ground coffee is very high in fatty acids, which prevent the formation of cancer cells. In instant coffee, their number is much lower. Also, ground coffee contains many more vitamins, as well as potassium and magnesium, which makes it even beneficial for the cardiovascular system. Of course, we are talking about a healthy person and moderate consumption of this drink.
And what can be said about the content of harmful substances in natural and instant coffee? Here, instant coffee is in the lead, since its production requires complex chemical processes, as a result of which some harmful substances enter the composition. finished product. And to make natural coffee, you just need to grind the grains, their composition does not change.
The caffeine content is about the same in natural coffee and in instant, therefore, this criterion does not allow to identify the leader. But if you want to get decaffeinated coffee, you will have to use uniquely soluble. Also instant coffee contains fewer calories. If you want to lose weight by drinking coffee, then it is better to give preference to instant coffee.
How much does natural ground coffee cost (average price per 1 kg.)?
Moscow and Moscow region
For the first time natural ground coffee, which was packed in cans, released in 1878 in America. And about 3 decades later, Hill Brothers patented this type of vacuum-packed.
There are more than a thousand varieties of coffee currently on the market. Natural coffee lovers can be divided into 2 categories: those who buy ground coffee, and those who prefer roasted beans. ground product costs significantly less than beans and can be a mixture of coffee from different countries.
Depending on several factors, natural ground coffee can be classified into: caffeinated or decaffeinated product, flavored or unflavoured. Interestingly, some varieties are aromatized, you can say "by themselves". Take, for example, a variety of coffee called "Blue Mountain" - its unique taste he can “boast” due to the fact that he is transported in rum barrels.
The preparation of natural ground coffee requires certain costs, unlike instant coffee, for which you only need to have boiling water, a cup and a spoon on hand. Coffee drinkers know what they brew flavored drink in a cezve (Turk) or in a coffee maker. It remains only to find out which coffee grind is ideal for your coffee maker, since the brewing method is also selected based on the degree of grinding. There is even a certain rule: the shorter the drink preparation cycle, the finer the coffee grind. Undoubtedly, coffee beans can also be used, only they need to be ground before cooking.
So, there are 3 main types of coffee grinding and 3 additional ones. Coarse or coarse grinds are ideal for French presses (piston coffee makers) when the optimal brew time is 7 minutes. For drip coffee makers and for many other brewing methods, it is advised to choose medium-ground natural coffee. Here, the preparation time of the drink is reduced by a couple of minutes. Fine or fine or ground coffee is required for use in coffee makers with cone-shaped filters. Just 1-4 minutes and the fragrant drink is ready.
This information concerned, so to speak, the main or basic types of grinding. In addition, there are 3 more options that are familiar to true connoisseurs of coffee: fine espresso grinding, medium fine (coarse) grinding and powdered, ultra-fine grinding. Natural ground coffee of the last type is very similar in structure to flour and is used exclusively for brewing a real Turkish drink in a cezve.
Some professionals who really understand all the intricacies of coffee grinding believe that even the level of humidity in the air plays an important role here. However, certainly for home cooking it's too complicated. It is quite enough to determine which natural ground coffee is suitable for your coffee maker in order for the prepared drink to suit you.
Calorie content of natural ground coffee 200.6 kcal
Energy value of natural ground coffee (Proportion of proteins, fats, carbohydrates - bju):
: 13.9 g (~56 kcal)
: 14.4 g. (~130 kcal)
: 4.1 g (~16 kcal)
Energy ratio (b|g|y): 28%|65%|8%
