What's the difference between "bitter" and "strong" in coffee?

When a big family group sits drinking coffee, it always hears the conversation "I like bitter coffee" and "me too, and the stronger the better!" At first glance, there seems to be no problem with the content of the dialogue, but does the "bitterness" of coffee really have anything to do with "strong"? Or is there a difference? You should know the little secrets of these coffee.

I still vaguely remember the feeling of drinking coffee for the first time. At that time, I couldn't tell the quality of coffee from the bad. All I know is that coffee refreshes me and frees me from drowsiness. If the coffee is too bitter, I will add some sugar. For me at that time, suffering was equated with caffeine. That's all I drink coffee for.

20 years later, now I know more about coffee. Good coffee is not necessarily bitter. The taste of high-quality coffee is supple, mild and mellow. Although my craving for caffeine has not changed, now I pay more attention to the taste of coffee. So, what's the difference between "bitter" and "strong" coffee?

The bitterness of coffee

Bitterness is not equal to high quality. There are five reasons:

1. Maybe the coffee is too bitter because you chose the wrong variety. Robusta coffee is cheaper than Arabica coffee, but it is more bitter.

two。 Maybe the coffee is too bitter because it is overextracted. The time of brewing coffee is very important. You must make sure that the coffee doesn't take too long to brew.

3. Maybe the coffee is too bitter because the water is too hot. No one wants to get burned on their tongue while drinking coffee. Too high water temperature will spoil the original taste of coffee. Make sure the water temperature does not exceed 92-96 ℃.

4. The coffee is too bitter, perhaps because of the improper degree of grinding. You should make sure that the degree of coffee grinding matches the way it is brewed. For example, when you make espresso, the coffee powder is finer; when you make drip coffee, the coffee powder is thicker.

5. Maybe the coffee is too bitter because the coffee machine didn't clean it in time. If you don't clean the coffee machine regularly, there will be a lot of old coffee powder left inside the coffee machine, which will make the coffee very bad.

The concentration of coffee

Strong coffee is not necessarily bitter. It has a stronger flavor and a slightly stronger bitter taste than ordinary coffee. I remember a coffee expert told me that balanced coffee has the following five characteristics:

1. The perfect Italian espresso should strike a perfect balance between sour and bitter taste.

two。 Some people think that "strong" refers to the amount of caffeine. You know, espresso doesn't have as much caffeine as drip coffee.

3. Others think that "strong" refers to the amount of coffee. An ordinary espresso should be 25-30 milliliters. If you make a double espresso, the amount is 45-60 milliliters. So the double espresso is indeed stronger and the aftertaste of the coffee is more bitter.

4. Different kinds of coffee or different varieties of blended coffee will also affect the concentration of coffee. Some coffees are floral and fruity, while others are dusty, astringent and irritating.

5. The degree of roasting of coffee will also affect the taste of coffee. It is true that deep-baked coffee is more bitter than other coffee.

Do you understand now? Cheap coffee is more bitter; strong coffee is more bitter, but tastes better. Truly high-quality coffee beans, clean coffee machines and correct brewing techniques can ensure that the taste of coffee is perfectly balanced.

The above content comes from Cafe Culture Magazine.