This Is Italy
Coffee is never the same. Whether you go for an espresso, filter coffee, cafetiere, percolator, instant coffee or something else, each method has its own equipment, timing, temperature, pressure, coffee grind, amount of water and strength. The University of Newcastle in Australia conducted research into which brewing method produces the strongest coffee.
Effect on taste and strength
How much influence do these different methods really have on what ends up in your cup? Let's look at the strength of the coffee.
If we focus on caffeine concentration, measured in milligrams per milliliter (mg/ml), espresso is generally the most concentrated type of coffee, with a concentration of up to 4,2 mg/ml.
This is about 3 times higher than other methods such as the moka pot and cold brew (in short, this is coffee that is brewed in a cold way. Unlike iced coffee, where you cool down hot coffee by adding ice cubes, cold brew coffee is actually brewed with cold water at about 1,25 mg/ml ).
Filter coffee and coffee brewed with a cafetiere are about half that level.
The espresso method produces the most caffeine for several reasons. Due to the finest grind, there is more contact between the coffee and the water. Espresso also uses pressure, which releases more compounds into the water.
Although the brewing process takes longer with other methods, it does not affect the caffeine concentration. Caffeine is very soluble in water, so it ends up in your cup of coffee almost immediately.
| Caffeine content in a cup of coffee based on the brewing method | ||
| Classic espresso | 122mg | per 30ml cup |
| Espresso Caffe Firenze Uses a machine with a high pressure chamber | 42mg | per 30ml cup |
| cold brew | 149mg | per 120ml cup |
| Mocha pot | 51mg | per 40ml cup |
| Coffee maker | 62mg | per 120ml cup |
Quantity matters
The problem with these equations is that they are based on laboratory situations. Not the situation at 8 o'clock in the morning in that Italian coffee bar.
While espresso yields the most concentrated product on paper, it is served in the smallest volume (only 18-30 ml), unlike the much larger amounts of coffee used in most other methods.
How much coffee you serve depends on the maker, but a recent Italian study defined a typical serving amount of filter coffee, percolator and cold brew as 120 ml.
Based on this data, it turns out that cold brew actually delivers the highest dose of caffeine per serving, at almost 150mg – even higher than the 42-122mg found in various forms of espresso.
Although cold brew uses cold water and a coarser grind, it is made with a high coffee-to-water ratio, requiring extra beans. Of course, a 'portion' is just a concept and everyone can make their portion as big or as small as they want.
Factors other than caffeine
The caffeine content accounts for only a small part of coffee's strength. Thousands of compounds are extracted, which contribute to aroma, taste and function. Each method has its own pattern of extraction, and they can work against each other or work together to inhibit or enhance effects.
The oils responsible for the crema are also more easily extracted at high temperatures, pressures and fine grinds (another potential benefit for espresso and moka). These methods also yield higher levels of solutes, resulting in a less watery consistency. Again, this all depends on how you ultimately dilute and serve the coffee.
To complicate matters, the taste buds that detect caffeine and other bitter compounds are different in each individual due to genetics and "taste education." This means that the same coffee can evoke different experiences of bitterness and strength in different people.
Is coffee healthy or not?
Depending on the research (and the headline du jour) coffee can come out as a healthy or an unhealthy drink. Part of this has to do with the optimism bias (we want coffee to be good for us, because coffee tastes so good!), but it certainly has to do with the brewing method as well.
Precisely because there are so many differences, it is difficult to say anything about health or the lack thereof. That said, there are several studies that have shown filter coffee to have positive cardiovascular outcomes in the elderly.
This connection may be coincidental, based on other related habits, but there is some evidence that filter coffee is healthier because more diterpenes (a chemical found in coffee that may be related to raising cholesterol) remain in the coffee and filter , so that less ends up in the cup.
What should also not be underestimated is that coffee gives people a moment of happiness. Good for your well-being and therefore good for your health!
When it comes to coffee
As you can see, each brewing method has its own characteristics and ingredients. This gives each method a unique profile of taste, texture, appearance. But when it comes to coffee, the brewing method is ultimately very personal.
The most important thing is that you enjoy your cup of coffee. Do you like strong or weak coffee? From a moka pot or from your Senseo? Let us know how you prefer to drink your coffee!
Source: theconversation.com/Newcastle University
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