Black coffee is also called café noir, which is the proper name for a “black coffee”, or a coffee to which nothing else has been added. There are a number of different ways to make and serve black coffee, and each style has its own name.
This article looks at black coffee and how we describe it and explores the characteristics of black coffee drinks: how they are made and why we love them.
What does “black coffee” refer to?
Black coffee is how we typically refer to any cup of plain coffee which has nothing else added. All coffees come in varying shades of brown, but the strongest coffees are the darkest.
Therefore, if we ask for black coffee, we are referring to its strength and intensity by exaggerating its colour. The strength of coffee can refer to its flavours and aromas or the amount of caffeine in the drink; how we describe and enjoy our coffees is very individual.
Why is coffee always called black?
We use the term “black” to refer to a coffee that is “plain” and undiluted. The term “brown” is not useful for defining ( or identifying) any type of coffee at all because it basically refers to all of them.
Therefore, although we can refer explicitly to which drink we want (espresso, latte, macchiato, and so on), we only have a few terms to divide the basic coffee drinks. These words are:
- Hot, cold, and iced – refers to temperature
- Single, double, decaffeinated – refers to the amount of caffeine in the drink
- Milk or black/plain – refers to complexity and strength
What gives coffee its colour?
Coffee as a liquid gets its colour from the beans that are ground to make it, and the beans get their colour from the roasting process, which causes reactions in the beans.
Coffee fruit, or coffee “cherries” actually start out in shades of red, yellow, and green. When they turn bright red or yellow, they are ready to pick.
After the fruit is processed, only the seeds (or beans) are left – these are what we make coffee from, and at this point, they are all green!
During roasting, the beans turn from green to tan to brown, and the longer they are roasted, the darker they will be. Black beans, however, have been roasted too long, and are discarded.
Is black coffee very strong?
The strength of a coffee depends on the type of beans used to make it, the way the drink is brewed, and the size of the coffee.
Black coffee is regarded as strong because it has nothing else added to dilute the base drink, for example, milks, ice, or syrups, which can change the original flavours and aromas of the coffee.
The caffeine content of a coffee, however, depends on how much espresso is used to make the base drink.
What are the different types of black coffee drinks?
Black coffees come in a range of styles and serving styles. This is because coffee connoisseurs believe that the tase of plain black coffee is influenced by how it is made and what it is served in.
For example, baristas always use ceramic or porcelain because these don’t absorb flavours from or leach flavours into the coffee, and espressos are always served in demitasse or demi-tasse cups, which hold approximately 60–90 millilitres, half the size of a full coffee cup.
Some of the notable black coffees include:
- Espresso – made by forcing hot water through ground beans
- Ristretto – the same as an espresso but made with half the amount of water
- Americano – an espresso with a larger amount of hot water poured over it
- Long Black- two shots of espresso but less hot water than an Americano
- Doppio – a double espresso
- Pour over coffee – made by pouring hot water through coffee grounds in a filter
- Drip coffee – made by dripping boiling water over ground coffee
- Instant coffee – made by pouring hot water over pre ground coffee or coffee powder until it dissolves
What does black coffee taste like?
Black coffee has an intense and complex flavour profile, which means there are many components present that combine to produce a flavour experience.
This means that the taste of black coffee depends very much on whoever is drinking it. Beginner coffee drinkers, for example, experience bitterness and then perhaps traces of other flavours such as fruity or woody.
Coffee connoisseurs, however, become increasing adept at identifying flavors details which elude the average coffee drinker. These can include the following taste (and fragrance) sensations:
- Bitterness
- Spicy
- Flowery
- Fruity
- Smoky
- Earthy
- Nutty
- Herby
- Sour
- Sweet
- Acidity
- Tangy
- Tart
- Pungent
- Chocolatey
- Citrus
Is black coffee bad for you?
It is recommended that adults consume no more than 400mg per day (or about 4 cups of coffee). Caffeine can become toxic in amounts higher than this.
The amount of caffeine that can be consumed without adverse effects differs from person to person.
What are the effects of too much caffeine?
Drinking too much caffeine, which is a natural stimulant, can damage health in a variety of ways. The following symptoms are likely signs that you are consuming a little too much caffeine each day:
- Inability to relax
- Inability to sleep
- Feeling jittery, anxious, and/or irritated
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Skin conditions
- Ongoing fatigue
- Muscle tremors
- Altered heartbeat
- Headaches
Fortunately, if the symptoms are recognized in time, it is possible to reverse them by significantly reducing the amount of caffeine you have each day.
Remember that coffee is not the only source of caffeine. There are many drinks which contain caffeine in higher quantities than the average cup of black coffee, and it may be these drinks which need to be scrutinized before you decide which ones to drop from your daily drink break.
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.