How was your cup(s) of coffee this morning?

Whether you got a takeaway from your favourite coffee shop, had it brought to you while in bed, or waited for it to form a thick liquid while bubbling through a percolator on the stove, it’s time to realise that not every cup is equal.

One of the most common drinks worldwide, it’s great news that mounting data keeps suggesting coffee is good for you. Moderate coffee drinking has been linked to lowered risk of cardiovascular disease, liver diseases, diabetes, and an overall lowered risk of dying too soon.

Winning.

But from the flavour right through to the chemical make-up, everything that happens before the pour can affect the taste and quality of a cup of Joe.

To get the most out of your coffee, check the information below, from ARS Technica:

The Components

One cup of typical coffee contains more than 1 000 chemicals. Can you even? Although scientists have yet to tease out each one for closer examination, there are some big players:

Caffeine: One of the most widely consumed psychoactive drugs worldwide, caffeine enhances perception, reduces fatigue, increases abilities to stay awake, and may help improve long-term memory. In addition, caffeine is linked to boosting metabolic rate and energy expenditure, and it may reduce the risk of developing metabolic syndromes.

Chlorogenic acids: Around 45 of these phenolic compounds have been found in coffee and have been linked to lower risks of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. They have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Trigonelline: A bitter alkaloid, it has been linked to protecting the brain from damage, blocking cancer cells from moving around, combating bacteria, and lowering blood sugar and total cholesterol.

Kahweol and cafestol: These diterpenes, which contribute to the bitter taste of coffee, have been linked to preventing and battling cancer cells.

The Bean

There are around 70 types of Coffea, the flowering plants that produce coffee beans [above] – but two dominate the market share: Coffea Arabica (Arabica beans) and Coffea canephora var. Robusta (Robusta beans):

Arabica is the most common bean, noted for its aroma and balanced flavors [sic]. Arabica tends to have more trigonelline and diterpenes (kahweol and cafestol). Robusta beans, on the other hand, tend to have more caffeine and chlorogenic acids.

And now you know.

The Roast

Baked between 180 and 250 degrees Celsius for somewhere between two and 25 minutes, beans are transformed from mild-tasting and green to delicious and toasty brown:

During the scorch, sugars and fats degrade, amino acids and sugars react with each other, and degradation products spark chain reactions. This all culminates in the formation of dozens of aromatic compounds that make up that enticing coffee bouquet.

What you’re left with here is the fact that there are many, many different final products. Some are going to hit all of the right notes, and others are best left in the rearview mirror as you zoom on by.

Whether you’re a coffee aficionado or just dabbling now and again, we’ll point you in the direction of one local business that’s getting it right.

We’re talking about Vida e Caffé – each of their six blends are unique in their beauty, rich in their complexity, and memorable in their own right.

Vida’s house blend is Estrela, available in a decaf option as well. Portuguese for ‘star’, Estrela is a courageous, brave blend designed to be gutsy and bold, to stand out from the crowd, and to fuel conversation.

Head into one of their many stores across South Africa and enjoy their snack pot promo from February 1. For R59, you can get a solo Estrela coffee and any snack pot.

Look at this tasty little number:

Available in both capsules and bags, you can now get Vida coffee in your very own home. Why? Because they want to take their coffee experience home with you.

You can find stock at Vida stores around the country, as well as @home, Takealot, Yuppiechef, DionWired and more, so there’s really no reason for you to go without a cup of coffee from your favourite coffee shop all the damn time.

You can pop over here to see the rest of the coffee flavours available.

[source:arstechna]