Coffee: Essential for your hospitality business

As you can imagine, coffee It is one of the most popular drinks in the world. Every day it is consumed by millions and millions of people… a cup of coffee hot at breakfast time, a coffee with milk for lunch, a decaf after dinner, an espresso after eating… As you can see, coffee It is a drink that is very fun to enjoy.

On the other hand, it is one of the most important crops in the world that has a long history of trade and production behind it. But… Have you ever wondered where exactly coffee comes from? Well, in this article we will do a good exploration of everything you need to know about this wonderful and traditional drink.

The historical origin of coffee

The origin of coffee It dates back to the 9th century in Ethiopia. There, a plant calledCoffea Arabica grew in the forests of the Kaffa region. Local legend has it that a shepherd noticed Because his goats became even more active than normal when they ate the red leaves of that plant, it was then that he decided to do it. try them himself. Then he realized that the beans had a rather bitter but at the same time pleasant taste, so that began to chew them.

The popularity of coffee started to grow thanks to trade in ancient Arabia, since there was where this drink became popular. in a basic element of the Islamic religion. Brought to the 16th century, coffee It had already spread throughout the Arab world, where the first public cafes began to emerge in the cities of Yemen and Mocha.

In Yemen, coffee spread reaching Turkey and Persia in the 17th century. They began opening coffee shops in Istanbul in 1554, thus becoming a very important drink for Turkish culture.

Also in the 17th century, coffee It spreads throughout Europe, quickly becoming very popular in large cities. The first coffee shops were opened in Venice (1645) and Paris (1672).

Once it had spread throughout the world, coffee it started to be cultivated in the 18th century in the European colonies of the Caribbean, South America and Asia.

Nowadays, coffee It is one of the most popular drinks in the world… In fact, its consumption and cultivation has become a global industry.

The spread of coffee

Being originally from Africa, specifically from the region of Ethiopia, the cultivation of coffee It has spread throughout the world thanks to the work of European colonizers in the 17th and 17th centuries.

Initially, coffee achieved It spread through the diffusion of its seeds, since it was a product that could be easily transported and then planted in new locations.

As Europeans moved through America, Asia and Oceania, they brought coffee seeds with them. to plant them in their new settlements. They also promoted coffee production. in the African colonies, where it was already cultivated.

As the years have passed, the cultivation of the coffee plant It has been spreading more and more and on a larger scale. Advanced techniques have been developed for its propagation and cultivation, such as the creation of hybrids between different varieties of coffee. or the cloning of plants. Currently, coffee It is grown in more than 70 countries around the world.

Coffee production

Now let's focus on coffee production, which involves a procedure that involves several steps:

Sowing: production begins by sowing coffee seeds. in a nursery. They are planted in fertile and cared for land so that the right conditions exist. They are cared for until they germinate and become seedlings.
Transplant: after several weeks, these seedlings They are transplanted to the field, where they are replanted in rows at a distance that adapts to growth needs.
Care: during the first years of life, the plant of coffee requires specific care, among which is… regular irrigation, pruning, fertilization, pest control, diseases, etc.
Flowering: after several years of growth, the coffee tree begins to bloom with small white flowers.
Fruitification: this is when the flowers have already become small green fruits called “cherries”. Each one contains 2 coffee beans.
Harvest: during this stage the ripe cherries are hand-selected and The green ones are left so that they continue to ripen. This is a long and quite tedious process since it has to be carried out several times throughout the harvest season.
Processing: the time has come to extract the coffee beans. of the cherries to wash and dry them. This process varies depending on the area in which it is carried out, and may include fermentation, drying in the sun or in mechanical dryers.
Roasted: when coffee beans Once dry, they are roasted at different temperatures depending on the type. This part is essential for the final flavor and aroma of the coffee.
Grinding: finally, to be able to consume the coffee It is necessary to grind the grain, either in the factory itself or each person at home, it depends on the type of coffee. that you like more. In this way it is already ready for consumption.
The different types
Let's move on to the most interesting and fun part of the cafe… the number of possibilities and types that exist. Each class has unique characteristics in terms of flavor, aroma and body, which means more possibilities to suit the consumer.
These are some of the most common types:
- Coffee Arabica: is the type of coffee most common and popular throughout the world. It is produced in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Colombia and Brazil. It is famous for its soft and delicate flavor, with a touch of caramel, nuts and chocolate.
- Coffee Robusta: it is a variety specially produced in Africa and Asia, it is characterized by its strong and bitter flavor, with hints of chocolate and dried fruits. It also contains more caffeine than the previous one.
- Coffee Liberica: is a kind of coffee rare imported from Asia and Africa. It is characterized by a strong and smoky flavor with hints of wood and red fruits.
- Coffee Excelsa: It is also rare and produced in Asia, they have a sweet and fruity flavor with hints of strawberry and plum.
- Coffee Blend: blends are mixtures of different types of coffees designed to create a very special flavor and aroma. They can be customized according to the consumer's taste and can include any type of coffee. mentioned above.
- Decaffeinated: is a variety of coffee that has been treated to remove caffeine. It has a coffee flavor normal but with less caffeine. It can be carried out through different processes with solvents, the use of water or carbon dioxide.

Ways to serve coffee

There are many types of coffee Available in cafes, restaurants or even in our own home. I explain the most common ones:

Coffee Espresso: this is a coffee concentrated and strong that is made with a small amount of water prepared at high pressure with coffee. finely ground. It is served in a small cup and can be used as a base for other types of coffee.

Coffee American: it is a little softer and diluted, it is made by adding hot water to espresso. It has a less strong flavor and is more similar to coffee. filter.

Coffee Cappuccino: made with one third espresso, one third steamed milk and one third milk foam. It is served in a small cup and is smooth and creamy.

Coffee Latte: Made with one-third espresso and two-thirds steamed milk, often with a small amount of milk foam. It is a smooth and creamy drink that is usually served in a large cup.

Coffee Mocha: it is made with espresso, steamed milk, chocolate and milk foam. It is a sweet and creamy drink, also in a large cup.
Coffee Macchiato: is an espresso but with a small amount of steamed milk or milk foam. He is very strong and concentrated.
Coffee Frappé: is a coffee cold and foamy that is made by mixing coffee and instant, sugar and cold water in a shaker and then serve it over ice.
Coffee with milk: it is made with equal parts of coffee and milk. It is smooth and creamy, and may be the most commonly requested.

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