by Tenten Villaruel
Coffee is considered as one of the most popular drink in the world. You can see people drinking it everywhere, from morning ‘till evening. According to a survey, people ages between 18-24 years prefer to drink hot coffee than tea because they like the aromatic smell it produce. With this, let us take a closer look as to what coffee really is.
Well Planted
Coffee trees require a rich and well-drained soil. Its soil must be deep (roots are 1 to 2 meters in length) and acidity to nearing neutral (pH 4.5 to 6). 
Here are some growing factors to consider:
- Avoid excessive heat or cold
- Rainfall must be 1200 – 1500 mm per annum
- A few hours of light per day
- No strong winds
- The higher the altitude, the better.
Mini Mynee Moo!
The 4 common varieties of coffee beans are Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa and Liberica. Let us see how they differ.
- Arabica is known as “kapeng Tagalog.” It could be grown productively in cooler places with an elevation. It thrived in Batangas before it was wiped out by coffee rust at the turn of the 19th century. It is also considered the coffee of the world market because of their superior flavor and aroma.
- Robusta is known by its local name as “kapeng robusta.” It is harder and yields more than the Arabica but has the poorest flavor and aroma.
- Excelsa is locally known as “kapeng excelsa.” This variety is more tolerant to drought, nematodes and rust than other varieties. It has better flavor and aroma than Robusta and Liberica.
- Liberica is known as the famous “kapeng barako” or “kapeng amerikano.” It is also characterized with the strongest pharmocopial taste and flavor. It is also tolerant to drought, quite resistant to nematodes and grows in a wider type of soil.
Coffee is everywhere! But we tend to make one very unique among others. We have our own distinct likes and dislikes in its preparation and once we sip on it, Ola!
Here, I list the 3 most popular types of coffee drink available.
Turkish Coffee - This is derived from the Arabica bean. A very fine, powder-like grind. Cardamom is sometimes added to the coffee while being ground. It also has 6 levels of sweetness ranging from very sweet to black. As the coffee begins to heat, it begins to foam. A rich in tradition and flavor, it remains a favorite today. TRIVIA: A rule of the Turkish coffee ceremony dictates that If the foam is absent from the face of the coffee, the host loses face.
Cappuccino Coffee - A strong coffee with a frothy cream, topped with a pinch of powdered chocolate. Usually the froth must be done accordingly to the recipe because it can affect the consistency and presentation of the froth to the coffee preparation and presentation.
Espresso Coffee - This is a black strong coffee prepared in Italian way by forcing ice steam through dark-roast coffee beans. The coffee is placed into an espresso machine for the extraction process – forcing at a very high pressure (this is where the fuzzing noise coming from). Sometimes, it can be partnered with crème and sugar. Despite being sublime experience in its own, this is the foundation for a wide variety of specialty coffee drinks such as Cappuccino.
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Sources:
http://www.da.gov.ph/tips/coffee.html
http://pinkhawk.hubpages.com/hub/coffee-production-philippines
http://justaboutcoffee.com/index.php?file=types
Credits to:
coffee cup picture - http://www.allbestwallpapers.com/tagwallpaper/coffee%20cup-wallpapers.jpg
for the texture of the first & last picture – http://aqueous-sun-textures.deviantart.com
photos edited and posted by: Veronica Em :)
