Monkey coffee beans are obtained after the coffee fruit is thrown away by monkeys after savouring their nectar. The acidity of the coffee is reduced by the saliva of the monkeys. It is produced by the rhesus monkeys and Formosan rock macaques after they chew the coffee beans and spit them in the ground instead of consuming them.
This coffee is a very rare type of coffee bean found in India and Taiwan. As this coffee is rarely found, it is an expensive affair to get a taste of it and enjoy it.
Let us discuss in a little detail about this rare monkey coffee.
Monkey Coffee Beans from India
Monkey coffee is mainly produced in Chikmagalur in India. The farms for producing this coffee are found in close proximity to the forest area and requires a lot of shade for it to grow properly. These monkey coffee beans are generally are formed with the help of Rhesus monkeys.
What is Monkey Coffee?
The monkey coffee bean is the seed that is found inside the coffee bean fruit or cherry. Monkeys select the sweetest and best coffee cherries that grow on coffee estates. After picking these coffee cherries they chew them in their own time.
After they are done with the fruit, they spit the leftover fruit along with the parchment surrounding it to the ground. The farmers rinse, wash, process and dry these seeds which have been chewed. They generally turn grey instead of green and once they are dried, coffee beans are roasted and become available in the market.
The myth behind Monkey Coffee
In the earlier times, the coffee beans chewed by monkeys were considered to be a natural waste and were hardly collected. It was only at the beginning of the 21st century that the chewed monkey coffee beans were collected by coffee producers and sold after being processed as a special one.
Benefits or Ill Effects of Monkey Coffee
Some of the health benefits include
Protects from several cancers
Prevents from stomach ailments due to low acidity content
Helps in preventing dementia
Protects and strengthens teeth
Boost energy and improves mood
Helps prevent migraine and headaches
There also certain points you need to keep in mind before investing in the monkey coffee beans.
As it is rare, authentic coffee is hard to find
Might get cheated on the price and you may not get the genuine product as it is not that easily available
How does Monkey Coffee Tastes?
Even though the method of brewing monkey coffee is very similar to brewing other coffees, the taste of monkey coffee is not the same as that of a regular coffee.
The flavour of the monkey coffee bean changes as the saliva of the monkeys helps in breaking down the enzymes in the coffee beans.
The taste of monkey coffee is more complex and sweeter than many coffees. It has a blend of many flavours such as citrus, nuts, chocolates and vanilla. Out of all these flavours, vanilla is more prominent.
Typically found in a light to medium roast, monkey coffee is very little traces of bitterness and a pleasant taste. Monkey bean coffee being a very rare and expensive coffee is usually preferred by people to be consumed on special occasions rather than being drunk on a regular basis.
The best way to savour monkey coffee is to have it without any additions like milk, creamer or sugar. It is best tasted like black coffee.
How Can You Purchase Monkey Coffee?
The production of monkey coffee mainly depends upon monkeys along with favourable climate conditions due to which there is a lot of inconsistency in its availability. It is very common for coffee producers to have a very limited amount of coffee available for the whole year. The number of coffee producers specializing in monkey coffee is very less in number.
The retail price of monkey coffee is several hundred dollars for a pound and the price of a cup of brewed monkey coffee can go up to 10 dollars.
It is very difficult to procure monkey coffee as it is scarce very difficult to find.
It can be sold through high-end coffee retailers, coffee farmers or from the website of speciality coffee roasters.
Monkey coffee beans are rare coffee beans that are grown in limited places like India and Taiwan and are a little pricy. This coffee is not much bitter and is best enjoyed as black coffee.
In order to retain its freshness, it is advisable to store monkey coffee carefully. It should be stored in an airtight container and kept in a place that is dry, dark and cool. The best locations for storing it are is away from the source of heat. Storing monkey coffee in the freezer or a refrigerator should be avoided as the beans can degrade because of the humidity and moisture in these places.
Sure, this coffee seems bizarre but hey, given the realms of coffee have made animal poop coffee popular, monkey coffee seems to be a fair deal. Too offbeat for you?
It’s an Ice breaker, it’s a Heart mender, it is a Cup of Coffee!
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee is almost therapeutic. Regardless of whether you like it with a hint of hazelnut syrup or a dollop(s) of ice cream; it is remedial for everyone.
The very mention of the word coffee reminds us of a café or a coffee shop and on visiting these places it generally becomes difficult on what to order as the variety of milk coffee is mind-boggling. There is a variety of coffee available to suit different tastes that go beyond just normal coffee.
With different kinds of beans available at the best coffee farms, many forms of coffee can be brewed using a little bit of innovation and imagination.
Let us dive into some of the best milk coffee drinks that will want you to get in your kitchen and experiment.
Cappuccino
Is a favorite among many people. It is inspired by the distinct hoods on the robes of Italian monks called capuchins. It is served with a foam cup of thick milk. A good cup of cappuccino can instantly energize you to begin your day with a full swing.
Recipe for a good cup of cappuccino
Take 1 shot of espresso and add it to half a cup of steamed milk and one-third cup of milk foam. Combine all three of them and enjoy.
Latte
Latte is another variant of the cappuccino family but in a mildly flavored version. A latte has less froth and more steamed milk as compared to a cup of cappuccino. You can also enjoy it by flavoring it with a dessert syrup of your choice.
Another way of relishing the latte is by adding ice and some whipped cream.
Recipe to an energizing cup of latte
Take one shot of espresso and add it to ten ounces of steamed milk. Now top it up with half an inch of foam. You can also add some dessert syrup or ice or whipped cream to add flavor.
Affogato
Italians have inspired many versions of coffee and one of them is affogato which is more of a dessert than coffee. It includes ice cream or gelato along with a shot of espresso. You can always create variations by adding a dash of liqueurs along with espresso.
Recipe to a delightful affogato
Take one scoop of any ice cream preferably vanilla and add one shot of espresso on top of it. Enjoy the bold and creamy iced drink with a distinct flavor of espresso.
Cortado
This interesting drink has its origin in Spain and owes its name to the Spanish verb cortar which means to cut. The name is so as the strong espresso has a lot of acidity and the dairy cuts out the acidity so produced.
It is a common ratio of 1:1 of espresso and milk where milk cuts the bitterness of the espresso. Cortado is generally served in a glass or a metal cup.
Recipe to this delicious drink
take two ounces of espresso and an equal amount of foamed milk. The milk should be just slightly foamed. Serve a cup of love to be savored.
Mocha/Mochaccino
Mocha has its origin from the city of Mocha in Yemen, an early coffee trade center. Most people are of the opinion that mocha and mochaccino are the same, but there is no clarity on why. Both these drinks are made out of espresso and chocolate. Mocha is a latte with some added chocolate which is used as a sweetener.
A mochaccino is considered to be closer to a cappuccino where the espresso and milk ratio is concerned.
These two drinks are often served with whipped cream.
Recipe to this lip-smacking drink
Take one tablespoon of chocolate syrup and add a shot of espresso to it. Now add one-third of steamed milk and top it up with one-third of whipped cream. You can also add marsh mellows and cinnamon for some variation.
Flat white
This delicious drink has its origin in Australia and is one of people’s favorite. It is important to have the right proportion of steamed milk and espresso for preparing a perfect cup of flat white. The microfoam topping is the most challenging part and requires a skillful and careful steaming of milk to get the dense froth which is the highlight of this drink.
Recipe to a frothy flat white
Take one shot of espresso and add four ounces of milk steamed to get a dense froth.
Frappuccino
Frappuccino is widely called a frappe. This is a mixture of many ingredients to get the required consistency. It is also known as a coffee milkshake that requires to be frozen, creamy, and strong coffee.
Recipe to a strong coffee milkshake
Take one shot of espresso, add one cup of ice to it along with half a cup of milk. Now add three tablespoons of brown sugar and blend them to enjoy your Frappuccino.
Coffee is a very versatile drink that can be made and consumed in a variety of ways. One can experiment using different various ways and with different beans, milk, and other ingredients.
Haven’t turned into cafephile yet? Give them all a (double) shot!
Our last article on list of black coffee drinks and above list of milk coffee drinks and recipes will give you a fair idea about the best types of palatable milk and black coffees which can be customized to your taste using a little creativity and experimenting with ingredients. milk-based coffee also helps you avoid acidic reactions.
So go ahead, brew a perfect cup of coffee, and savor it.
When we hear or read the word coffee, the first thing that comes to mind is a coffee shop or a cafe and when we do visit these coffee shops, small/big or buy coffee from a renowned coffee farms the first thing is that we get confused looking at the menu. There are so many variants of coffee that it becomes difficult to decide what to drink and impossible to try all (yes, even for a coffee lover). With so many variants of beans, brews, and types of coffee that it will be impossible to taste all of them in a lifetime. This makes trying them all the more important.
While people love experimenting with coffee, it’s more about different brewing methods, beans, grinding methods, water temperature and more just to get that perfect cup of coffee.
Here we are going to discuss the best black coffee drinks and help you decide what all to try. You probably have had the aroma settled in your senses already so here we go!
Espresso
A perfect espresso shot is a creamy sweet syrup which is truly the essence of a wonderful coffee. It takes a lot of expertise to prepare a perfect espresso that is creamy and smooth containing just a little pinch of bitterness.
The difference between espresso and other coffee drinks is its preparation method.
Recipe for a perfect espresso shot
Take 7-9 grams of coffee.
Pour clean water forced at 195-205F (90.5-96.1C) with a lot of pressure grinding the coffee beans for 20-30 seconds to allow it to brew well. This will prepare a single shot of 25-35 ml which is .85-1.2 ounce.
To prepare a double shot multiply the numbers by 2.
To keep it simple, espresso is one of the most loved coffee shots which is highly concentrated and needs a short time to be brewed under a lot of pressure.
The taste of espresso largely depends on the way the coffee beans are roasted. The darker the beans are roasted; the more bitter the espresso will be. Roasting the beans lightly or medium make the best espresso as this allows the sugar and oils to be preserved leading to a balanced taste.
Americano
Iced Americano Vardish
Americano is one of the much-debated coffee on the menu. It is made by pouring some water into the espresso shot after it is brewed by diluting it. Many people who love coffee take americano to be diluted, but on the contrary, sometimes an espresso shot tastes much better with a combination of some water.
It helps in making it more aromatic keeping the elements in place.
Recipe for a beautifully brewed Americano
The three important things to be kept in mind while preparing an americano are
The temperature of the water-
The temperature of the water should be 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Adding too hot or too cold water will not make a perfect americano.
Flavor Profile-
There are many different coffee flavors to prepare an americano. And mixing hot water with the shot of espresso will only dilute the coffee flavors. There may not be any particular flavor for preparing an americano, but many different flavors will require different preparation methods.
Style of shot
While choosing a shot to prepare americano, ristretto shots are preferred by many coffee lovers due to its intensity. These shots are highly flavored, brighter, and sweeter as compared to the espresso shot.
Ristretto
Even though ristretto originated in Italy, it was made popular by the Americans. The intensity of flavors in a ristretto is higher which means that the level of favoring compounds of coffee is difficult and not as concentrated as in espresso.
To prepare a perfect cup of ristretto
Brew the coffee for the same time as an espresso shot just keeping the water restricted. This changes the extraction of coffee shifting the flavor to a sweet, syrupy, and acidic one.
The final cup of a ristretto is a sweet, syrupy, and bright espresso shot. Even the bitterness is very little.
Long black
The long black is very popular in the café of Australia. It is similar to Americano just the method is reversed.
Recipe for preparing a long black
Fill the cup with hot boiling water and then pour the espresso or ristretto shot from the top. This will help to give the long black a rich flavor as well as reserve the crema.
Another way of preparing a long shot is by pulling the espresso shots straight into the water. This helps in preserving the flavor for a longer time also helping in creating a beautiful pattern on the top of the coffee.
Lungo Espresso
Lungo espresso is also Caffe Lungo and is a favorite in Italy. the taste of Caffe Lungo can be extremely bitter as compared to a properly brewed one.
The recipe to prepare the Lungo shots
Brew it for more than one minute which is longer than the normal espresso.
Food. Water. Black Coffee – that’s all the essentials you need in life.
The above list of black coffee drinks and recipes includes the best black coffee and is a must-try for every coffee lover. A good cup of black coffee not only helps in energizing you but also has a lot of health benefits. So, experiment at home or visit a nearby café and brew yourself a perfect cup of black coffee drink with the help of the recipes above.
Many of us like to begin our day with a freshly brewed cup of coffee. It is a perfect energy booster to keep you going the entire day. Purchasing coffee from retailers and departmental stores is the closest on a busy day, but it depends on the availability and often creates a hole in our pockets.
It is thus more beneficial to connect with the local coffee farmers and stock yourself with less expensive and fresh beans directly cutting out on all middlemen from the supply chain and having the best source at hand.
Let’s now dive into coffee farms and direct procurement to understand the benefits of directly buying coffee from coffee farmers.
What are coffee farms and coffee farmers?
Coffee farms are farms where coffee cherry seeds are planted and coffee trees are grown. There are many different types of coffee farms that can help you in understanding how coffee is produced.
Small Family-owned Farms – Small scale farmers are responsible for growing around 80% of the coffee produced in the world. Coffee farming is a source of livelihood for more than 125 million people.
High Production Farms – Around 20% are high production farms that are not owned by families. The coffee output farms of Vietnam and Mexico are the commercial hub of the coffee business.
Organic Coffee Farms – Organic farms are refrained from using chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides for increasing their coffee plants. This helps in the early ripening of the berries and helps in producing a healthy yield.
Organic coffee is more expensive than the standard ones.
How to find and select the best coffee farms?
Coffee is a product that can vary in properties based on various factors. In order to procure the best coffee, there are a few things to look out for:
Choose Source Country – The first step is to determine the country of origin from where you want your coffee to be sourced. Each country has its distinct coffee characteristics which are aided by the varying soil fertility, altitude, processing methods, and local varieties. The desired order quantity and frequency is a major factor because coffee can’t be sourced all year round from the same country.
Choose the Coffee Producing Region – Each country can have multiple coffee-producing regions defined by climate and geography. Each region’s coffee can differ in taste and aroma. Having an understanding of each region’s flavor profile can help you choose wisely.
Research Processing Methods – The processing method greatly impacts the flavor profile of any coffee produce. There are three main processing methods – natural, honey, and washed. It is important to know each process in detail and how it affects the coffee.
Visit the Coffee Farm and Taste the Coffee – Once your preferred source country and region are selected, you should visit the coffee farms in that location for a process called “cupping”, where you can sample the coffee and get an idea about the flavor profile of the coffee on offer.
Fair Trade Certified – If you want your coffee to be sourced only from farms that provide safe working conditions to the coffee farmers and do not use harmful chemical pesticides, you should buy from Fair Trade Certified coffee farms only.
What are the benefits of procuring coffee directly from producers?
Purchasing coffee directly from producers is popularly known as Direct Trade. The benefits of direct trade include:
Greater Transparency – From start to finish, the process is highly transparent with every specific detail provided to you by the farmers and producers. This includes the specific farm where the coffee was produced.
Better Prices for Everyone – Since direct trade removes all middlemen from the coffee purchasing process, the purchase price is lesser for customers while giving more money to the farmers. This is a win-win situation for all stakeholders involved.
Better Relationships with Producers and Farmers – Direct trade allows you to facilitate long-standing relationships with coffee producers and farmers. This provides encouragement and better earning opportunities to farmers while also ensuring value delivery for customers.
Great Quality of Coffee – Since you are directly procuring coffee from farmers, you can make informed decisions based on your sampling of coffee. Farmers are incentivized to choose high-quality beans as they have better monetary returns. This allows you to choose the best quality of coffee.
Best coffee farms in 2021
Some of the best coffee farms in 2021 which you can visit for an enriching experience are:
Finca La Valentina (Panama) – This coffee estate is located in the mountains of Boquete and produces Geisha coffee.
Finca El Ocaso (Colombia) – This coffee farm can accommodate up to 10 tourists with on-site rooms and has daily tours of 3-hour duration, available in both English and Spanish.
Arusha Coffee Lodge (Tanzania) – One of the largest coffee farms in the country.
Suan Lahu (Thailand) – Run by the Lahu tribe, Suan Lahu farm offers insights not only into Thai coffee but also the culture of the Lahu people.
We hope this article shows you the benefits of procuring coffee directly from the farmers who toil tirelessly to ensure that you get the best cup of black coffees or milk coffees all year long.
