Coffee is the main protagonist of most mornings for millions of people around the world. But as there are different types, which is the best or most recommended?
Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world and in every culture. Many people couldn’t do without this delicious morning caffeine boost. In 2021, some 170.5 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee were consumed worldwide, a figure that increases year on year. In addition to its stimulating properties, it has an appealing bitter taste and is the ideal protagonist of great conversations between friends and colleagues.
When it comes to buying it at the supermarket, you may have made the mistake of buying one that isn’t a blend or is natural, taking the roasted one with you. In this case, you may have wanted to return it because of its characteristic bitter taste. Natural coffee is generally roasted from the green bean, without any additives or ingredients that might influence its taste. Roasted coffee, on the other hand, is roasted with glucose syrup or sucrose, i.e. sugar. Finally, blended coffee contains both types of coffee in the same package: natural roast and glucose roast or roasted coffee.
Types of roasting
So much for the simple differences. The taste of natural coffee changes according to the roasting method. So there are different roasting methods. When lightly roasted, the beans are not very bright, as virtually no oil has been released. It will have fruity and somewhat herbaceous aromas, although it is more acidic and richer in caffeine.
Natural coffee is healthier for the body because of its many properties, although this depends on the amount of sugar we add to it.
On the other hand, with a medium roast, coffee offers more bitter sensations and a brownish tone, intensifying the aromas thanks to the caramelization of the sugars, which offer a flavor closer to caramel or cocoa. It is used, for example, in the legendary espresso served in cafés. Finally, there’s dark roasting, in which all the natural oils have been released, giving it a much thicker texture. As a result, it doesn’t contain as much caffeine, has less aroma and acidity, but has a strongly bitter taste.
Don’t overdo your daily dose of coffee: not only will your liver thank you, but you’ll be less prone to anxiety.
Blended coffee, on the other hand, is a blend of the two systems, natural and roasted, so it contains natural roasted beans and sugar. This is undoubtedly the type of coffee most consumed by the Spanish population, with the percentages between the two types varying widely. Of these three types, which is the healthiest? Clearly, natural sugar contains the most beneficial properties for the body, although other factors also need to be taken into account, such as the amount of added sugar, which is already thought to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
It is therefore preferable to drink it without sugar or with a sweetener (this should not be an industrial sweetener, but a natural sweetener such as honey, vanilla or coconut). For healthier consumption, don’t exceed the daily amount: not only will it be no better for your liver, but it will make you more prone to anxiety symptoms due to its high caffeine content.
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