Coffee 101

You see rich, brown nectar with a white, foamy head kissing the rim of a glass. Bubbles rise through a gradient of deep amber. It’s cold, inviting, and you may be forgiven by thinking that the drink in question is a draft beer.

This is nitro coffee, a popular drink that has created a cult following in both massive coffee chains and independent specialty coffee houses.

If you’re interested in getting into the world of coffee and mastering techniques of brewing better coffee at home, all the terminology and jargon involved can be daunting.

To help you along, we’ve compiled a comprehensive A-Z list of coffee terms that will assist all aspiring home baristas in navigating the world of coffee. We’ve also linked relevant resources that will help give you a better understanding of a particular coffee term and topic.

Looking for a specific term? Simply press two buttons — Command + F (Mac) or Control + F (Windows) to search for the particular word or phrase.

Don’t forget to bookmark this page and share it with your coffee-loving friends!

• Read more: 8 Easy Tips and Hacks for Brewing Better Coffee at Home

A-Z List Of Coffee Terms

Arabica — Refers to Arabica coffee beans from the Coffea arabica plant, which originated in Ethiopia. Arabica is the most popular type of coffee in the world. It is most commonly compared with Robusta coffee. Arabica is usually smoother, with a sweeter taste.

• Read more: Arabica vs Robusta: Which Should You Choose?

Americano — Also known as Caffè Americano, this is a coffee drink made by adding water with Espresso. Its strength will depend on the number of Espresso shots, and the amount of hot water added.

Aroma — The coffee aroma is created by flavourful compounds released by coffee into the air. There are many different types of coffee aroma, such as nutty, s

Although they might sound similar, instant coffee and espresso powder, also known as instant espresso, are very different.

In Singapore and Malaysia, instant coffee is more common and can be found easily at most convenience and grocery stores.

Espresso powder, on the other hand, is less accessible and pricier than instant coffee.

However, if you have some espresso beans on hand, a coffee machine, a coffee grinder, and an oven, you can also make your espresso powder at home!

In this article, we will find out the difference between espresso powder and instant coffee in terms of taste, how they are made, how much caffeine they have, and in what ways they are used.

This way, you will know how to use and substitute them if you see them in recipes in future!

How Are They Made

Espresso powder, more commonly known as instant espresso powder, is typically used in baking to amplify other flavours, especially chocolate. Seasoned bakers often add this secret ingredient into chocolate and coffee desserts such as tiramisu, chocolate mousse, and even chocolate ganache.

While espresso powder helps elevate your baked goods, don’t sweat it if you don’t have any at home. Not only can it be substituted with other common baking ingredients, but you can also make espresso powder from scratch with the help of coffee machine accessories.

In this article, find out what espresso powder is, how you can substitute it with other ingredients, and how to make your own espresso powder at home.

• Read more: 6 Coffee Gadgets for New and Better Coffee Habits

What Is Espresso Powder?

You drink it every day, but do you know what goes on behind the scenes in the coffee industry?

It’s International Coffee Day on 1 October, and there’s no better time to celebrate the “silent” heroes of the coffee world who work hard to ensure the production of your favourite brew is made possible.

Here’s a look at who’s who.

The Coffee Farmers

Coffee farmers are the folks responsible for the quality and consistent supply of coffee cherries. They constitute a significant part of the entire supply chain, and without their productivity and the effectiveness of their farming practices, the industry wouldn’t exist in the first place.

The process of farming coffee requires meticulousness and careful supervision, and increasingly, farmers are turning to new technologies to support production.

• Read more: Coffee Comes From Cherries and 7 Other Juicy Facts

Mill Workers

While visiting your favourite cafe to enjoy that morning cuppa is great, you have to admit there’s something magical about not having to step out of your house for a quality cup of coffee.

Be your own barista and follow these eight amazing tips and hacks for the perfect brew right in the comfort of your own home.

1. Buy Whole Beans, Not Pre-ground

It may not seem like a big thing, but you can really taste the difference between pre-ground coffee and whole-bean coffee.

Having a whole-bean coffee means you’re getting the freshest cup possible. If you think about it, it makes sense, too: from seed to plant, coffee beans go through a long process. Once the bean is ground up, it starts to age at a rapid pace.

Whole-bean coffee is generally fresher, has better flavour, and smells a whole lot more impressive.

• Read more: A Guide to Buying the Freshest Coffee Beans

2. Stick to the Good Stuff

This tip seems self-explanatory, but it’s important to be selective and choose quality beans.

If you’re unsure where one would go for quality beans, look to specialty coffee shops, which are more likely to have beans that aren’t over-roasted. If you’re shopping for beans online, don’t bulk buy, and check for a ‘roasted on’ date and not a ‘best by’ date.

When looking at the roast date, search for something that’s been roasted anywhere from seven to 21 days from the said roasted date. Any coffee in this time frame will more or less be as fresh as it can possibly be.

• Read more: Why You Should Care About A Coffee Bean’s Roasting Date

3. Arabica vs Robusta, Light Roasts vs Dark Roasts

Once you’ve nailed the basics of making espresso, latte art might be your next destination.

Before we start, know that latte art takes a lot of time and practice, so don’t be too quick to give up if your initial attempts don’t go as planned. Even professional baristas don’t get it right the first time, so the key is to keep trying!

In this guide, we’ll give you tips on creating heart-shaped latte art. It’ll give you some ideas on essential techniques used by baristas to create the beautiful latte art that you see in cafes.

Why Master the Basic Heart Shape First?

Coffee: it’s such a popular drink of choice, and many can’t function throughout the day without their daily cuppa (getting it cafe-standard is easy if you’ve got the slim and sleek Dedica).

But all over the globe, it’s prepared differently, and versions vary from country to country, sometimes even city to city.

Here are some unusual coffee brews you can find around the world:

Kopi Luwak

Coffee lovers — owning an espresso machine at home is like having a ticket to the glorious world of easy-to-make, homemade espresso-based drinks. But first, make sure you’ve mastered how to make the perfect shot of espresso.

From a classic latte to a fancy Dirty Chai Latte, here’s a list of our favourite coffee beverages made using espresso shots. Whichever drink you recreate, remember that it’s important to follow the exact order in which the ingredients are added into your cup.

Latte

Got coffee-related questions brewing? Here are our answers to the most common questions we receive from our readers.

Coffee Beans 101