Black coffee is a type of beverage made from coffee beans that have been roasted and brewed in hot water. The resulting drink is dark brown in colour, and the darker the shade of brown, the stronger the coffee is considered to be.
This article takes a look at black coffee and its origins, its aromas and flavours, and its place in “coffee culture” as the base of all hand crafted coffee drinks.
What does it mean when someone asks for a black coffee?
Anyone asking for a black coffee is requesting a coffee without milk. They are referring to the base coffee made from the brewed beans and with nothing else added.
A black coffee refers to:
- Espresso
- Ristretto
- Doppio (a double espresso and considered by many coffee drinkers to be the standard shot)
- Short black
- Long black
- Americano
- Instant coffee (made without milk or cream)
A coffee drinker who wants anything added else to their “straight black” will usually ask for it separately.
How does coffee get its colour?
Coffee does not get its colour from the coffee beans it is made from. Rather, the rich brown shades of coffee emerge during the roasting process.
Coffee beans are actually the seeds of the fruit (or the cherries) of coffea plants. The cherries are green when young (unripe) and yellow or red when ripe and ready to be picked, dried, and the outer layer removed to leave the seed (or the bean).
These beans are green: green coffee beans are the raw product of coffee, and in this state, they meet the roaster.
When coffee beans are introduced to heat, they turn from green to tan and then to varying shades of brown. This is because amino acids and sugars combine and begin a series of reactions that ultimately create the flavours and colours of coffee.
The end product will be a rich dark brown but not black. Black beans mean they have been roasted for too long and the flavour probably spoiled.
What does black coffee taste like?
The taste of black coffee depends on the beans used to make it, the type of coffee drink, and the strength of the brew.
The four main coffee beans are:
- Arabica – a sweeter and more delicate flavour
- Robusta – a stronger and more intense flavour profile
- Liberica – fruity and woody
- Excelsa – Tart and fruity
Finding out which coffee you prefer is a matter of trying them all and discovering the flavour profile that appeals to you.
How do we say that we like our coffee strong?
Coffee lovers will frequently refer to their need for revitalization or refreshment by stating a desire for a coffee. There are a number of ways we do this, and there are certain phrases we use to indicate that we need our coffee to be strong:
- God, I need a black coffee
- I need a coffee, strong and black
- I’ll take mine black
- Get me a coffee, double strength
- I’ll take it black, hot, and bitter
- I like my coffee intense and dark
In all of these cases, coffee drinkers are referring to the coffee experience, which includes the fragrance and taste of the coffee combined with the effects of the caffeine.
Why is black coffee so popular?
Black coffee, which has been roasted well and made with skill and style, is a proper connoisseur experience because of the complex flavour and aroma profiles off the coffee bean.
Coffee lovers develop a palate, or the ability to detect and enjoy the nuances in the flavours of coffee beans. Coffee also provides an energy boost from the caffeine in the drink, and this provokes feelings of vitality, motivation, and inspiration.
What do we associate with black coffee?
It is common to associate black coffee with work, specifically with inspiration, achievement, project management, endurance, and deadlines.
Coffee is also associated with creativity and enjoys a merging food and drink culture with the arts: it is rare to find one of these “cultures” without the provision of the other.
Coffee is also a social drink, and coffee houses and cafes are frequented by friends, family, colleagues and social groups who meet together “for a coffee” and to enjoy the resulting inspired discussion.
Is black coffee bad for you?
Coffee, or to be specific, caffeine, which is present in all coffee, will not harm your health if consumed in moderate quantities.
However, caffeine, if consumed in doses of more than 400mg per day will affect your health. 400 mg of caffeine is about the same as four cups of coffee (depending on the strength of your drink).
Unfortunately, the more caffeine is consumed, the weaker its effect on the nervous system.
What happens if you drink too much black coffee?
Drinking too much black coffee (if your coffee is not decaffeinated) can result in the following symptoms, the severity of which will depend on the individual:
- Ongoing fatigue
- Sleeplessness
- Inability to relax
- Dehydration
- Headaches
- Trembling hands
- Irritability
- Anxiety and stress
- Inability to concentrate
- Loss of appetite
It’s important to remember that caffeine is present in a range of other drinks, and that your black coffee may not be the only source of your caffeine. Other caffeinated drinks include cola drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks and shots, tea and chocolate drinks.
What can I drink instead of black coffee?
If you enjoy the flavour of coffee but don’t want the energy buzz, you can purchase drinks (or beans) which have been decaffeinated. And if you enjoy the energy, but not the coffee, you can try a range of teas, most (but not all) of which contain caffeine.
Coffee beans are decaffeinated before roasting, and although the processes used leave a very small amount of caffeine still in the beans, your resulting cuppa will only contain about 3mg of caffeine.
Different types of tea have varying amounts of caffeine, with matcha tea containing the most, followed by black tea, and with white tea containing the least. Herbal teas, such as peppermint, ginger, and chamomile have no caffeine at all.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.