Black coffee is a type of drink brewed using only water and ground coffee.

Black Coffee


What is Black Coffee?

Black coffee is a type of drink brewed using only water and ground coffee. It does not contain milk, cream, or any extra flavors or ingredients. Coffee is derived from the seed of the coffee tree.

  • The two commonly cultivated coffee species are Arabica and Robusta.
  • While black coffee is similar to an Americano in that it has no sweeteners or cream, it does not use espresso or finely coffee ground beans.

The top five most popular black coffee brands on the market are:

  • Lifeboost Dark Roast
  • Volcanica Kenya AA
  • Koffee Kult Dark Roast
  • Kicking Horse Decay
  • Death Wish Valhalla Java

Origin of black coffee

The coffee plant originated in Ethiopia. According to history, Kaldi, an Ethiopian goatherd, discovered that the goats had consumed some type of bean and became very energetic. He took the beans to an abbot in a local monastery, where the abbot made a drink that kept him active during evening prayer. Over time, the increasing popularity of coffee beans lead to them reaching the Arabian Peninsula. In the 1600s, coffee drinking became popular in Turkey and Iran as people loved to consume this drink and socialize.

In the late 1600s, coffee reached Europe through Italy. Coffee houses began to open in Europe, although this beverage wasn’t popular there until the 17th century. People in Europe were initially afraid of the new drink and its effects. Gradually, coffee started replacing beer and wine as the new breakfast drink. In 1689, the first coffee house opened in Massachusetts in the United States. Since then, it has remained a popular drink all over the globe. 

Function

Coffee can serve several functions in the kitchen. Black coffee is popularly consumed at breakfast time as a hot drink, but can be enjoyed at any time of day. This beverage is commonly used to infuse desserts such as tiramisú. It can also serve as a spice rub. It is even a popular marinade for meats.

Nutrition

A  237g serving of black coffee contains:

  • 2.4 calories
  • 0.1g of fat
  • 0.3g of protein
  • 0g of carbohydrates

Black coffee has significant health benefits, which include:

  • It can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
  • The caffeine in this drink can control the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
  • It may lead to a lower risk of heart disease.
  • It can lower the chances of developing melanoma.

However, it is possible to consume this in excess. To avoid the adverse effects of consuming too much caffeine, it’s best to follow the FDA’s recommendations on caffeine consumption. The ideal quantity of coffee for healthy adults is four or five cups of coffee (400mg) per day. 

Commercial production

Brazil is the world’s largest producer of coffee. The global revenue from the coffee market stands at $362.601 million in 2020. The market is estimated to grow by a yearly rate of 10.6%. 

The coffee tree takes about three to four years to produce flowers. Also, it takes about five years to produce any good berries. Coffee trees thrive in temperate climates that don’t reach high temperatures. The coffee trees’ berries become red when they are ripe and produce two coffee beans within them. People harvest these berries by carefully handpicking the ripe ones and then, the coffee beans undergo processing and drying. Finally, the coffee beans are milled, roasted, ground, and packaged. 

Application

Black coffee is easy to make. All you need is instant coffee and water. Follow the steps below:

  • First, boil the water. 
  • Then, add the instant coffee to a cup. 
  • Finally, add the boiled water to the mixture and serve hot.

If you want to maintain the flavor of coffee beans, keep them in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature.

Black coffee recipes

This brewed beverage can be adjusted to suit many palates. Here are some popular recipes:

FDA regulation

The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the production, growing, and harvesting of coffee beans. However, the body classifies this substance as a product that is rarely consumed raw. The FDA also inspects imported coffee beans for any signs of insect infestation, molds, or defects. 

References

Burke, Kenneth. “12 Reasons Why You Should Drink Black Coffee Every Day.” www.lifehack.com, Lifehack, 17 Jan. 2018, https://www.lifehack.org/326383/12-reasons-why-you-should-drink-black-coffee-everyday

“CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.” accessdata.fda.gov, US Food & Drug Administration, 1 Apr. 2019, https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=112.2&SearchTerm=black%20coffee