Espresso

How Different Coffees Vary in Their Caffeine Content

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If your daily diet includes foods and beverages with caffeine, you are not alone. Government data shows that 95% of U.S. adults consume caffeine daily, most of which comes from coffee. What is most fascinating is that different kinds of coffees have varying levels of caffeine.

The U.S. FDA says a typical 8-ounce cup of coffee offers anywhere from 80 to 100 mg of caffeine. Compare that to green or black tea with 30 to 50 mg. Soft drinks offer less caffeine but energy drinks contain substantially more.

Given that this post is all about coffee, here are some of the different coffee types and the estimated amounts of caffeine each contains:

Hot Brew

Hot brew coffee is coffee that is brewed in a conventional drip brewer or over the stove on a percolator. The ground coffee is kept separate from the brew by way of a metal or paper filter. A typical 8-ounce cup contains about 95 mg of caffeine.

Cold Brew

Cold brew coffee is the latest big thing on the coffee scene. Cold brew is made by steeping ground coffee in cold or room temperature water. As such, cold brew is not the same thing as iced coffee. As far as its caffeine content is concerned, an 8-ounce cup contains between 100 and 157 mg of caffeine.

Espresso

Espresso is the extra strong brew normally associated with Italian cafés. It is made by steaming finely ground coffee under pressure. Due to its high caffeine content, espresso is normally served in 1-ounce shots with approximately 63 mg of the buzz-inducing substance.

Decaffeinated Coffee

Many people assume that decaffeinated coffee has absolutely no caffeine in it. Unfortunately, that is not the case. It is not really possible to completely remove caffeine from coffee and still have a usable product. So instead, coffee makers reduce caffeine content as best they can without ruining the coffee’s flavor profile. A typical 8-ounce cup contains about 2 mg.

Instant Coffee

Instant coffee is a powdered coffee beverage that is made by freeze drying or spray-drying liquid coffee. It is reconstituted by adding water or milk. A typical 8-ounce cup contains about 63 mg of caffeine, which is just over two thirds of what you would expect to find in regular, hot brewed coffee.

Roasting and Preparation Methods Matter

If you haven’t caught on thus far, roasting and preparation methods matter in terms of caffeine content. For example, the high caffeine content in espresso is less about the coffee beans and more about the fact that it is prepared using high-pressure steam and finely ground coffee. Steam extracts more caffeine to begin with; its abilities are enhanced by the coffee’s finer grind.

Galaxie Coffee carries a complete variety of coffee beverages ranging from standard drip coffees to cold brews. We would be more than happy to set up regular delivery service to your office that includes a variety of hot and cold beverages, breakroom supplies, and janitorial supplies.

Why Is Espresso Growing in Popularity?

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Why Is Espresso Growing in Popularity?
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About five years ago, espresso began coming into its own as a consumer-friendly beverage that could be consumed on a daily basis. American coffee drinkers began seeing espresso as an alternative to their lattes, cappuccinos, and even black coffee. Espresso is just as popular today, maybe even more so.

So what gives? Why is espresso gaining ground over more traditional coffee drinks? No one knows for sure, but there are a lot of theories worth exploring. They cover everything from culture to health benefits and the global mindset.

The Coffee Culture

Our modern coffee culture was born out of the early days of the suburban coffeehouse made popular back in the 1990s. And just as we’ve seen with almost every other cultural movement in America, change happens quickly and frequently. Cultural movements work that way. What’s hot today becomes passé tomorrow and is eventually replaced with something else.

The rise of espresso in America is undoubtedly influenced, at least in part, by the evolution of the coffee culture. People have latched onto espresso as a drink that is distinctly different compared to regular black coffee served in a white cup with an accompanying saucer.

The fact that one drinks espresso in 1-ounce shots rather than 8-ounce cups also plays into the coffee culture. It is seen as more sophisticated. It is seen as evidence that you are consuming bitter coffee because you actually like the taste. You’re not just trying to up the caffeine content in your blood.

Caffeine’s Health Benefits

Medical science has come to understand that moderate use of caffeine does have certain health benefits. We will not get into those benefits here, as we have done so in a previous blog post. The point is this: American consumers are trying to live healthier lifestyles these days. Many see caffeine as a natural supplement that can be used daily to improve one’s health. And because espresso contains more caffeine by volume, one shot in the morning may be perceived as a healthier option to an 8-ounce cup of coffee.

The Global Mindset

Finally, we cannot discuss the rise of espresso without exploring the global mindset. For the record, Italians have been drinking espresso for hundreds of years. It is not a new drink. Having said that, espresso wasn’t really popular here until five or six years ago. Some suggest this is because Americans did not begin to adopt a global mindset until the early 2000s.

Drinking espresso may give some people a sense of being more connected to the global community. It probably also gives some espresso drinkers a sense of superiority or self-importance for thinking beyond America. It is easy to start thinking, after just a couple of shots, that the best coffee is found in Italy or elsewhere.

Here at Galaxie Coffee, we are all about giving customers whatever kind of coffee products they want. Whether you prefer a light coffee shop roast or a dark, rich espresso, you can count on Galaxie to deliver.

Coffee, Espresso, Cappuccino, and Latte: What are the Differences?

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Coffee, Espresso, Cappuccino, and Latte: What are the Differences?Your daily stop at the coffee shop on the way to work presents you with a myriad of choices. The menu board screams for your attention as you try to sort out just what you want. You can choose coffee, espresso, cappuccino or your favorite latte. But more often than not, you find yourself wondering what the differences are between them.

The retail coffee industry has become unnecessarily complicated due to a lack of information about the different kinds of coffee drinks. In an effort to make it as simple as possible, here’s a brief rundown. Our explanations are intended only to be a generic guide; we may differ from other companies in the coffee industry in terms of the details.

Coffee

The term ‘coffee’ is generally a generic term that covers any hot beverage made with roasted coffee beans. However, the term is a bit more specific here in America. Our ‘American coffee’ tends to be a beverage created with Arabica coffee and extremely hot water.

Roasted coffee is placed in some sort of basket over which hot water is poured for the purposes of extracting the oil in the roasted beans. Coffee can also be cold brewed or made with a French press. Americans tend to drink this standard form of coffee with cream and sweetener added.

Espresso

Espresso drinks can be made with the same roasted coffee products American coffee is made with. The primary difference is the concentration. To make espresso properly, ground coffee must be compacted tightly into its receptacle before hot water is forced through. This brewing method increases the strength and flavor significantly. As a result, a good espresso tends to be made with higher quality coffee beans. The flavor of inferior coffee is hard to hide in an espresso drink.

Cappuccino

Cappuccino is a beverage that is made with a combination of espresso and milk. Milk is steamed in order to create a frothy liquid with about twice the volume of regular milk. This creates the foam cappuccino beverages are known for. Also important to note is that cappuccino begins with equal portions of espresso and milk. This preserves the flavor of the coffee to a greater degree than a standard latte.

Latte

Latte is also a beverage made with espresso and milk. Its unique characteristic is that it starts with twice as much milk. The milk is heated but not frothed, so latte drinks don’t tend to be as foamy. Both milk and espresso are combined simultaneously in a serving cup to create a rich and creamy beverage. Any excess foam resulting from heating the milk may be poured over the top of the latte for artistic effect.

Now you know the differences between coffee, espresso, cappuccino and latte. If you are interested in coffee and beverage service for your office, please feel free to contact Galaxie Coffee. We provide a full range of coffee and tea products along with fruit juices and other beverages.