What is coffee, its history, types, flavors, and preparation methods? In the following few lines, we'll cover everything you need to know about coffee, highlighting Saudi coffee and the best coffee shops in the Kingdom.
History of coffee
Around the ninth century AD, coffee was discovered by chance, when a goat herder in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) noticed unusual activity in his goats after eating a type of plant with red fruits and beans.
The goatherd sought help from a monk in a monastery, who boiled the seeds and then drank them as a beverage. This made him more energetic and focused, and from here the story of this beverage, now beloved by billions of people.
In the 18th century, some governments decided to ban the consumption of coffee, such as Sweden, which banned it in 1746, believing that coffee encouraged radical thinking.
The origin of coffee
Coffee originated from fruit, which grows on trees in the form of red berries. Some African tribes used to eat it as food, not as a drink. Then, humans began using coffee beans to make coffee and consume it as a delicious beverage.
Brazil is the world's largest exporter of coffee beans, producing a third of all coffee, followed by Vietnam and Colombia in second and third place. Finland is the largest coffee consumer.
The spread of coffee
Coffee has become popular among both ordinary people and celebrities alike. While the goatherd is considered the first person to drink coffee in history, the famous composer and author Beethoven, who consumed 60 coffee beans in a single cup, is the most famous.
Factors affecting coffee
There are many factors that affect the quality and taste of coffee, including the following:
- Natural factors: such as climate, soil, and elevation above the Earth's surface. The quality of coffee beans increases in temperate climates, fertile and rich soil, and at high elevations.
- Agricultural care: When coffee is given the utmost care, using the best tools and fertilizers, and exposing it to adequate sunlight and water, it produces high-quality coffee.
- Harvesting and Fermentation: It is preferable to harvest coffee early, as this will produce fresh beans that are exposed to a proper fermentation method.
- Roasting: Coffee undergoes several types of roasting, such as strong, light, and medium, and each type of coffee has its own appropriate roast.
- Preparation: The way coffee is prepared affects its taste. Some people prefer to drink it black, others with milk, others iced, etc.
Types of coffee
Coffee can be divided into several types, according to different elements, as follows:
Type of grain
Coffee is divided into two main types of beans, which are as follows:
- Arabica: This type of coffee bean is characterised by its high quality and low caffeine content.
- Robusta: It has a rich, strong flavor, is high quality, and contains a high percentage of caffeine.
There are many other types of beans, but they are less well-known than Arabica and Robusta beans, such as Liberica, Geisha, Arabica brown beans, and others.
roasting degree
Coffee types are divided according to the degree of roasting into the following:
- Black coffee: This type of coffee is roasted strongly, giving it a dark color and a bitter taste.
- Medium roast: Medium roast, so its color is a mixture of black and yellow, and its taste is balanced.
- Blonde coffee: also called yellow or decaffeinated coffee, is roasted at a lower degree and has a lower caffeine content.
Origin and method of preparing coffee
Coffee is classified according to its origin and method of preparation, as follows:
- Brazilian coffee: This is one of the most popular types of coffee, characterized by its strong flavor and low acidity.
- Colombian coffee: It is distinguished by its high quality and unique taste, and it is also made in a variety of flavors.
- Arabica coffee: Coffee is grown in the Arabian Peninsula and Yemen, and is characterized by its blond color and light roasting.
- Turkish coffee: It is characterized by its black color and bitter taste. Sugar can be added to sweeten it slightly.
- French coffee: Milk is added to it, and it is made with light or thick foam, like a latte.
- American coffee: Also called iced coffee, it is brewed and served cold with ice.
coffee flavors
There are many coffee flavors that are mixed with coffee beans, including the following:
- Spiced coffee: such as cardamom, saffron, and cloves. This type is common in Saudi and Arabic coffee.
- Fruit-flavored coffee: such as strawberry, raspberry, etc., where fruit is added to the coffee during brewing or processing.
- Chocolate-flavored coffee: such as dark, sweet, or cocoa, which adds a distinctive taste and flavor to coffee.
- Vanilla Flavored Coffee: Like chocolate flavored coffee, it gives the coffee a nice sugary taste, softening its bitterness.
- Nutty flavored coffee: such as almond, hazelnut, and coconut, which gives the coffee a unique taste, especially for nut lovers.
coffee drinks
Coffee can be divided, in terms of the beverage, as follows:
- Black coffee: Black coffee is one of the most popular coffee drinks, as it is prepared using only water and coffee beans, without any other flavors or additives.
- Arabic coffee: Blonde coffee beans are flavored with different spices, such as cardamom, saffron, and ginger, and served in a small cup from a dallah.
- Latte: Espresso is added to a generous amount of milk with a light froth. This type is suitable for moderate coffee lovers.
- Cappuccino: Like a latte, espresso is added to a generous amount of milk, but the foam is evenly distributed.
- Iced Coffee: Coffee is prepared naturally, then chilled and brewed for up to 24 hours, and served over ice.
coffee quality
Coffee is divided into several types, in terms of quality, as follows:
- Specialty coffee: This is the finest type of coffee, grown in suitable environments at ideal altitudes, such as Colombia. However, it is always expensive.
- High-quality coffee: This type of coffee is characterized by its high quality, but it does not reach the quality of specialty coffee, and its cost is usually somewhat higher.
- Commercial coffee: This is the most popular and widely used type worldwide, characterized by its medium quality and affordable price for middle-class people.
Benefits of coffee
Coffee in its various types, such as black, blonde, and decaffeinated (caffeine content reaches 3%), has many benefits, such as the following:
- Coffee contains antioxidants, which help the body's organs function properly and naturally, and also protect the body from disease.
- Different types of coffee contain varying levels of caffeine, making them a powerful stimulant for the body and brain, and they also protect against headaches.
- Coffee contributes effectively to weight loss because caffeine helps burn fat naturally.
- Coffee is an effective factor in preventing serious diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and others.
Best times to drink coffee
There is no specific time to drink coffee . It can be consumed at any time, but it is recommended not to drink it immediately after waking up or shortly before going to bed, as this may cause insomnia and staying up late.
Also, you should not consume large amounts of coffee per day. It is best to have one or two cups to benefit from it and avoid its harmful effects.
Arabic coffee
Coffee is widely consumed in Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia, where most of it is made from Arabica beans, with spices such as cloves, cardamom, saffron, and others added.
The coffee is not roasted to a high degree, so it is always blonde or yellow in color, and the caffeine content is low, in addition to its rich, strong taste with different flavors.
Types of Arabic coffee
There are various types of Arabic coffee , depending on the preparation method. There is a Saudi, Egyptian, Emirati, Lebanese, Yemeni, Syrian, Moroccan, and other methods of preparation.
Arabic coffee can also be divided according to the degree of roasting, into black, medium, blonde, and green, and also according to the type of coffee beans, such as Harari, Khawlani, and Luqmati.
History of Saudi coffee
Coffee first appeared in Saudi Arabia in the 16th century AD, when Ottoman traders brought various types of coffee to markets in Saudi Arabia, specifically in the city of Jeddah.
In 2015, Saudi Arabia registered Arabic coffee (Saudi Arabia) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Year of Saudi Coffee
Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan announced that 2022 will be the Year of Saudi Coffee , as part of the Quality of Life Program, one of the programs to achieve the Kingdom's Vision 2030, celebrating the cultural and popular heritage of coffee in the Kingdom.
Until 2022, coffee in the Kingdom was known as Arabic coffee. However, the Ministry of Commerce has directed commercial establishments to adopt the term "Saudi coffee" instead of "Arabic coffee" for reasons related to cultural heritage, commercial activity, marketing, and other reasons.
Saudi Coffee Festival
In 2023, the Culinary Arts Commission organized the Saudi Coffee Festival to achieve several goals, such as the following:
- Highlighting Saudi coffee as an authentic cultural heritage.
- Introducing the Saudi community to the history of coffee in the Kingdom.
- Educating the community on coffee cultivation and care methods.
- Introducing the community to coffee preparation customs and serving principles.
- Promoting the presence of Saudi coffee, both locally and internationally.
Year of Saudi Coffee
Types of Saudi coffee
There are many types of Saudi coffee , including the following:
- Original coffee: Also known as traditional coffee, it has a strong flavor and dark color, made by blending high-quality coffee beans with spicy flavors.
- Green coffee: Green coffee beans are not roasted and are low in caffeine, making them extremely healthy for the body.
- Blonde coffee: It has a yellow color, is not roasted to a high degree, and retains its natural flavor. It also has a very strong and rich taste.
- Coffee with milk: Mix milk with coffee and place it in a pot over a suitable heat. This produces a wonderful taste and is also healthier for the body.
Best Coffee Shops in Saudi Arabia
Thana Store is one of the The best coffee and tea shops in Saudi Arabia , offering a wide variety of high-quality coffee and premium tea at very reasonable prices.
Thana Store offers Saudi coffee with cardamom, Saudi blonde coffee, moderate blonde coffee capsules, Saudi coffee capsules with cloves, in addition to Saudi coffee capsules with cardamom and Saudi coffee capsules with saffron .
Shop the finest coffee
Get the finest coffee products in Saudi Arabia now from Thana Store, with high quality and very reasonable prices, with delivery service to all regions of the Kingdom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is coffee called by this name?
There are many reasons for this, such as the derivation of the name coffee from the verb qaha, which means not being hungry. Some also attribute it to strength, energy, and other reasons.
What is the best type of coffee crop?
There are many high-quality coffee crops available, such as Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica.
What is the best coffee shop in Saudi Arabia?
The Kingdom is home to many excellent coffee shops, such as Thana, which offers high-quality coffee packs and capsules.