Divided over matters, yet united by coffee.
As much as we love our cup of joe, different aspects of coffee have served as points of contention within the community for as long as one can remember.
Whether it’s the simple matter of which beans are better - arabica or robusta - or something more nuanced like single origin vs blends, coffee lovers have strong opinions and don’t shy away from making it known.
In this blog post, we’ll explore 6 of the most common things the coffee world can’t agree on.
Light Roast vs Dark Roast
A matter of personal preference, much like the others listed below, the level of roast leads to a debate on what’s actually important - origin characteristics or a classic bold profile?
On the one hand, some people think that light roasts are better because they preserve the origin flavours, exhibit a bright acidity, and display a wider range of notes. You can enjoy the inherent complexity of the bean through a light roast.
Dark roast fans believe that roasting the bean to such a level adds to the body of the coffee, making it significantly richer and bolder. If you prefer coffee that is chocolatey, bitter, or smoky, you would definitely think the darker the roast, the better.
Espresso vs Filter Coffee
Two methods of brewing coffee, two different stances.
Espresso enthusiasts see it as the pinnacle of coffee craft. A cup of espresso is intense, concentrated, and syrupy in texture.
In a cup of filter coffee, you get to taste the nuances of the profile much better. It’s cleaner, less acidic, and not as bitter as some espresso can be.
When it comes down to the question of which is the truest expression of coffee, there’s no absolute answer.
If you believe coffee is meant to reflect the origin, you’d probably prefer a filter. On the flip side, if you think coffee is art and that it is meant to capture a sensory punch, then you’d definitely like espresso better.
Arabica vs. Robusta
Arabica coffee has held the prime spot among all coffee varieties, often being compared to the second most popular coffee, robusta. The cultivation of each coffee significantly influences the profile.
Arabica lovers believe that arabica coffee surpasses all others. The complexity, sweetness, smooth profile, and flavour notes ranging from fruity to floral appeal to them.
Whereas robusta coffee is harsher, has more pronounced bitterness, notes of chocolate and nuts, and contains double the caffeine. Those who love robusta coffee consider its bold profile to be more preferable. They aren’t looking for bright acidity or sweet flavours from the cup.
Adding to the debate is yet another aspect - arabica plants tend to be more susceptible to plant diseases and are harder to grow. Robusta plants are more resistant and comparatively less difficult to grow.
In this case, how can one truly determine one coffee as being better than the other in all aspects?
Manual Brewing vs Machines
When it comes to coffee, for some people, convenience trumps all else. Their priority is to get a decent cup as quickly as possible. They value the consistency that a smart coffee brewer or an espresso machine offers.
Manual brewing advocates, on the other hand, believe in having full control over the process. For them, the ritualistic brewing, the five different steps that capture the bean-to-brew journey are meaningful. So they can’t fathom the idea that someone could press a couple of buttons and automate the entire brewing process.
In this debate of artistry vs convenience, which side do you stand on?
Decaf vs Non-Decaf Coffee
Those who drink decaf coffee will tell you just how often they have been told that it's not “real coffee”.
This is largely because a lot of people associate coffee with being a source of caffeine. If you take the caffeine out of it, they’d wonder, what’s even the point of drinking coffee then?
The problem with this thought process is that it disregards coffee lovers who either don’t have a preference for high caffeine, or due to health reasons, can’t consume it. For them, decaf coffee is the go-to option.
There’s so much more to coffee than just getting that burst of energy in the morning. It’s rich in flavours, aroma, and has an entire culture built around it.
Still think decaf coffee is the inferior option?
Single Origin vs Blend
It’s a common myth in the coffee world that single origins are of better quality compared to blends. But that entirely depends on who you’re asking and what they’re standards of quality are.
Simply going by bean quality and processing methods, both blends and single origins can tick all the boxes.
So why then this debate over the two? To put it simply, people who think single origins are superior stand by the ideas of traceability and transparency. They love coffee that has a distinct and unique flavour profile.
Others who prefer blends rely on coffee that tastes consistent and is well-balanced.
While single origins can be great for experiencing the attributes that a region is known for, blends help cater to customer preferences by creating a specific profile.