How do you kickstart your day? Many of you probably rely on coffee, one of the greatest assistants that makes you feel awake and refreshed. Apart from the hidden properties in caffeine that directly stimulate the functions of brain and nervous system, drinking coffee is the time when you can focus on yourself and at the same time indulge in the warm intense aromatic coffee granting you a true experience of relaxation before beginning a new day.

For this reason, real coffee lovers tend to looks for ideal coffee shops to utterly enjoy different coffee beverages. But did you know there’s a wide variety of coffee beans and roast levels which affect the taste and aroma of the coffee? Discover fascinating facts about coffee beans and a chic coffee recipe by Tops Picks that is easy to make and equally palatable as in the café.

Arabica

Coffee Arabica may refer to coffea arabica, a worldly-renowned coffee variety. Its velvety smooth taste, subtle aroma, and low caffeine content make arabica very famous. In fact, it is believed that Ethiopia is the motherland of coffee arabica which is one of the first types of coffee that humans start growing. In Thailand, it’s popularly planted in the northern region including Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Lampang Provinces. With no tolerance for pests, this coffee variety needs to be grown in the area more than 1000 meters above sea level with the right climate making it high in value and most wanted in the global coffee market.

Robusta

Originated in Central Africa and Western Sahara, robusta coffee may refer to coffea canephora. In Thailand, it’s largely planted in the southern region. Because of its unique features, ability to grow well in the low-level area, and tolerance for hot and humid climate, robusta gains tremendous popularity as arabica. Nowadays robusta dominates 40% of the world coffee market.

Excelsa

Also referred to as Coffea excelsa, Excelsa coffee is famously planted in Central Africa. According to the evidence, it was first discovered around 1903. Widely grown in Southeast Asia nowadays, this coffee variety accounts for 7% of the coffee bean production. Excelsa is well-known for its distinctively tart, best grown in the dry region and tolerant of constant climate change. In comparison to arabica and robusta, excelsa is less popular in the coffee market, but it can be combined with other types of coffee to add dimension to the coffee.

Liberica

Named after its origin in Republic of Liberia in West Africa, Liberica coffee may refer to Coffea liberica. The main growing region of Liberica today is in tropical Southeast Asia as excelsa coffee. Although Liberica may not be as popular as arabica and robusta which largely dominates the world coffee market, Liberica is recognized for low caffeine content with a bold, earthy taste and pungent aroma. Hence, a blend of robusta and arabica is quite famous as it adds depth and dimension of flavor.

Before giving away our amazing coffee recipe to make at home, let’s learn more about degrees of coffee roasting, an important process where flavor, aroma, and color of coffee are primarily determined.

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Types of Coffee Roasts

Regardless of coffee forms either coffee beans, ground coffee, or instant coffee, roasting is considered a crucial process that brings out the bold flavor, color, and aroma locked inside the green coffee beans. Roasting causes chemical changes to take place when the green coffee beans are undergone high temperatures from 120-300 degrees Celsius and slowly reveals its distinguished features. Once the degree of roasting is shifted, the very same coffee bean may unbelievably deliver quite a different result. Find out more about how important roasting is and how it can affect the coffee beans.

Light Roast

The main purpose of light roast is to retain the original flavor and aroma of coffee beans. This roast level reveals traces of sweetness and fruit tanginess due to the high acidity and hence it’s perfect for making hot coffee. International coffee roasters generally classify the light roast into 3 varying degrees: Light City, Half City, and Cinnamon.

Medium Roast

Medium roast differs from light roast in terms of more subtle flavor and color. It delivers medium brown beans with a shiny but non-oily surface. This roast is generally suited for hot or iced coffee. Medium roast is commonly divided into 3 varying degrees as City, American, and Breakfast.

Medium dark roast

Medium dark roast clearly produces dark brown beans with some oil on the surface with low acidity. The highlight of this roast lies upon its obvious aroma which invites all the coffee fans to indulge in its pleasant fragrance. The roasting degrees can be further classified into City and Full City.

Dark Roast

Dark roast is a process that turns the green coffee beans to oily dark brown or charred. This creates an extremely bold, yet pronounced bittersweet flavor similar to dark chocolate with low acidity. Roasters typically refer to varying degrees from the least dark to the darkest roasts as Vienna, Italian, and French.

The art and science of making coffee is truly intriguing and delicate. This is only a small part of coffee facts that we have learnt as real coffee fans are well aware of numerous ways to turn an ordinary cup of coffee into an extraordinary one.

Join us in playing a role of barista and craft “Dirty Coffee Con Pana,” a trendy beverage from a perfect blend of the bold espresso shot or ristretto and fresh milk topped with light yet fluffy whipped cream. Coffee lovers shouldn’t miss out! Here’s all you need to create this amazingly creative coffee drink.

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Ingredients

1. Fresh plain milk 80 ml.

2. Whipping cream 20 ml.

3. Roasted and ground instant coffee (Columbia)

4. Water 150 ml.

5. Whipped cream

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Instructions

1. Mix milk and whipping cream in a glass. Freeze the mixture for 10-15 minutes until achieving a tight texture.

2. Grind the coffee beans until fine.

3.Brew espresso in a moka pot by filling the lower chamber with water just below the valve. Then, fill up the funnel with ground coffee and insert it to the moka pot. Tightly screw the upper part on to the base and place the pot at a low temperature until the pot is full of espresso coffee.

4. Beat the whipping cream with a hand mixer until it forms fluffy peaks.

5. Once you get the cold, tight milk, pour the espresso shot over the cold milk mixture.

6. Decorate with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkles on top for serving.

Indulge in the creatively crafted coffee with “Dirty Coffee Con Pana” which delivers a flawless blend of intense fresh coffee and deliciously rich milk and whipped cream. It’s best accompanied with something sweet for a perfect combination and a chic #imaginarycafe post on social media. Who knows? The next professional barista could be you.

For all coffee lovers, you can find our wide range of premium coffee products from the world’s leading brands from roasted coffee beans, instant coffee to canned coffee and many more at any Tops store or conveniently shop via Tops Online website and application on your smart phone. Don’t want to miss out on great deals? Download TOPS app now and enjoy every sip of decent coffee.