It’s your morning wake-up, personality enhancer, boring meeting salvation, and energy jumpstart drink. It’s the magical world of coffee, and there are over 1 billion people in the world that will agree with you. Whether you only drink Starbucks, or your motto is “I don’t care, as long as it’s in my cup,” coffee is an integral part of your daily life. You might know everything about the world’s biggest coffee growers, or want to just learn more about it.
Different Coffees
After a long study session or shopping trip, the casual “let’s get some coffee” question is never met with a “no thank you.” You go into the nearest coffee shop and order your coffee. From Americanos, espressos, cappuccinos and lattes, the only difference is the amount of espresso with milk and foam ratio. Still, the end result is heavenly bliss as soon as it slides down your throat. Everyone has a preference; even a simple cup of coffee allows you to be an individual. There are 30 popular types of coffee globally. However, there are so many different types and variants of coffee in the world that it will be difficult to try all of them. But if you are a coffeeholic, you can go all Barney on this statement and say “challenge accepted.” You can already start scratching the most famous ones off your list like black, latte, cappuccino, americano, espresso, doppio, cortado, red-eye, lungo and macchiato, thanks to your local coffee shops, Starbucks and Nespresso.
Home Brewed
Although takeaway coffees are a real treat, making coffee at home doesn’t take away any of the pleasure. From the more conventional usage of the electric kettle and an Instant boiling water tap to machine-operated units like the Nespresso variety and Spradas, their vital function of making coffee is central to every home. If you are after the fresh coffee smell, which is only released when the coffee beans are just grounded, brands like La Colombe will be front and centre on your shelf. If you are more of a pod person, life couldn’t be more convenient than your favourite brands of coffee capsules from Starbucks, Nespresso and K-Cup. Running out of pods? Not a problem! Even eBay and Amazon sell coffee on their sites with delivery. If money for travelling is too tight, you can take your taste buds on a world tour courtesy of the origins of your coffee. From instant coffees to coffee beans, you can get either form from coffee meccas like Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia and Ethiopia.
Mix It Up
Your coffee doesn’t need to be a straight up order of espresso, milk and foam. It is so diverse it can be mixed easily with other substances to create a variety of deliciousness. On hot days, throw in some ice cubes, or mix your instant coffee with milk and ice cream to create ice coffee or coffee milkshakes. Cannot decide between your chocolate and coffee mix? Add them together to make the indulging mocha. Or spice up your girls night out by adding whiskey to your mug. Well, hello there, Irish coffee.
Whatever your preference, even if you’re only a one cup a day person or a full blown coffee connoisseur, next time you take a long sip of your favourite coffee, give a nod to the legendary Ethiopian goatherd who discovered the magical greatness of the coffee berries.
