The flavor combinations and the energy boost are a good enough reason for anyone to enjoy a morning cup of joe.
I’ve always pondered the question: why does coffee taste so good? There are a few reasons that come to mind. This article will help break down what makes java so yummy.
What makes coffee enjoyable?
There are two factors that impact the way we perceive our coffee: flavor and effect. The variations on a cup of coffee are absolutely endless, even if you want plain black coffee!
Coffee can be flavored in such a variety of ways that each coffee lover will have his or her own individual preferences.
French vanilla, hazelnut, and mocha are the top 3 that come to mind when thinking of coffee flavors, but there are so many more! Even more, flavors are increasingly popular around the holidays, ie pumpkin spice, peppermint, or sugar cookie.
The effect coffee has on us is a big reason why we consume caffeinated beverages.
Caffeine is a natural drug that stimulates the brain and helps give you a boost of energy. It’s a reward response from our brain that makes us get up and go to the grind in the morning.
Why do we drink coffee?
Coffee wields a substantial amount of caffeine per cup, which gives you that much-needed energy boost in the morning. It also contains beneficial antioxidants, which help combat inflammation and so much more!
Something else to consider is the flavor index of coffee. Coffee can be strong, weak, bitter, sweet, or creamy depending on how it is roasted and ground or if you add anything to the brew.
When you drink coffee, all these flavors come together to tickle your taste buds.
Coffee also tastes good because of the way it smells when it’s brewing; there are aromas that are released into the air that remind us of food or of our favorite places, people, or memories.
Grandma always had a pot of coffee hot and ready. It’s a sensory pleasure all around.
Coffee is also considered a social drink by many. We get together with a friend over coffee to catch up on life, or even to talk business.
Coffee gives us something to do with our hands when we’re in social settings, something to drink to wet our whistle, and something to enjoy while we listen or gather our thoughts.
We love warm beverages when it’s cold out and we love cold beverages when it’s hot out. Coffee can meet all those criteria with wonderful complexities that make us come back for more.
What makes the coffee flavor?
Over 500 unique aroma compounds make up the coffee flavor. This is a brief scientific explanation of why coffee is so good.
The aroma compounds present in coffee make it a wonderful and diverse beverage. There are more than 500 individual aroma compounds in coffee, with the most dominant being caffeine, phenolic acid, trigonelline, and quinic acid.
Another flavorful consideration is where the beans (technically berries-they grow on a bush) grow and what altitude they grow at.
The higher the elevation, the better the coffee’s quality is going to be and the more complex it will be. This is due to the temperatures and water availability during growth.
What is caffeine?
Caffeine is an alkaloid found in many beverages we enjoy today including tea, soda, and coffee. It is a stimulant that makes us wake up and get started with our day. Caffeine is one of the most used natural drugs.
Caffeine helps our bodies produce more dopamine and adrenaline. This boosts our moods and gives us more energy and focus throughout our day. 90% of adults have caffeine in their diet.
What is phenolic acid?
Phenolic acid is a white power of a crystalline structure. This aromatic carboxylic acid occurs naturally in plants and features a sweet taste.
What is trigonelline?
Trigonelline, or N1-methyl nicotinamide, is a kind of nicotinic acid that has been discovered in mushrooms as well as in roasted coffee beans.
Trigonelline has antibacterial, antiviral, and memory-improving properties along with other interesting health benefits.
What is quinic acid?
Quinic acid is a natural compound encountered in coffee beans. Quinic acid may help hinder the production of stomach acids.
This acid occurs naturally in green coffee beans. By boiling the green coffee beans with diluted hydrochloric acid, quinic acid can be isolated from the beans.
This will cause quinic acid to precipitate out of the solution. In addition to being found in green coffee, quinic acid can also be sourced from other plants. The chicory root, apples, and various berries are other natural sources of quinic acid.
Quinic acid is essential for proper bodily growth and development. It is also accountable for pivotal metabolic processes in the body, including energy production.
Quinic acid has also been indicated to contain antioxidant properties that may help avert chronic disease.
Why is my coffee bad?
Coffee is a very versatile beverage that a considerable amount of people appreciate each morning. However, coffee can taste bad, too. There are a few reasons for a bad brew.
If coffee is brewed for an extended period of time, it can become quite bitter, and it may even taste burnt. This is because the coffee has become overly saturated and strong. Brew time should be limited, depending on strength and grind.
Another reason coffee may taste bad is that it wasn’t brewed long enough. Weak coffee is difficult to doctor up with sugar, creamer, or flavor.
The grinds used to brew your coffee should be as fresh as possible. Old coffee grinds will become stale and they won’t taste near as good as fresh ground coffee.
The water used to make coffee is important, too. If the water tastes funny, chances are that your coffee is going to taste funny too. Water with minerals may interact with your coffee, resulting in a funky or bad taste.
The temperature of your coffee is also vital to a good (or bad) cup of coffee. The water should be around 200 degrees Fahrenheit or the brew time should be adjusted to relay the strength desired.
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.