Coffee is a drink that has been around for ages. And it is a drink that is equally enjoyed across all parts of the globe. No matter where you go or which country you travel to, you will surely find people sipping and enjoying their cup of coffee. But as time passes and new trends make it to the market, we also see a lot of variations in the presentation and recipes of coffee.
One such trend or variety of coffee that seems to be the talk of the town these days is none other than white coffee. Yes, you read that right. White coffee. And unlike the first thing that comes to mind on reading this, white coffee does not refer to coffee that is brewed with milk or creamers. Rather, it is an entirely new type of coffee that has surely attracted a lot of attention from coffee lovers and enthusiasts.
If you have never heard of white coffee, or even if you have but are still unsure about what it truly is, you are at the right place! Through this article, we will be decoding everything you need to know about White Coffee. From the origins to the taste, you will get to read it all in one place! So, let’s dive right in.
Table of Contents
Origin Of White Coffee
The origin and introduction of white coffee goes back to Yemen. White Coffee is actually a very light blend of coffee. This specific blend of the coffee is so light that the beans rarely even acquire the dark brown characteristics of the coffee beans. This is why the drink made using these light colored beans ends up turning white in color rather than the dark brown color that we all are used to seeing.
The dark brown coffee beans, the ones that are generally widely available, are roasted at a temperature of 450-480 degrees Fahrenheit. But unlike these beans, the white coffee beans are roasted at only 325 degrees Fahrenheit. The lower temperature leads to beans that not only look white, but are also harder than the properly roasted coffee beans. Therefore, grinding the white coffee beans is a tedious task and requires the use of powerful, commercial scale grinders so that the beans can evenly be grounded and no lumps remain. After the grinding of the coffee beans, when they are brewed, the resulting drink appears whitish to beige in color. Therefore, the drink is known as White Coffee.
The Taste
If you are someone who is not a fan of the traditional strong brewed coffee, white coffee would be an ideal choice for you. Due to the lesser roast and blend, the coffee is not as strong as dark coffee. Rather, people report that they experience a nut-like taste with almost no bitterness and an acidic after taste when sipping their white coffee.
Due to the lower roasting temperature, the naturally occuring sugar inside the bean does not caramelize and the organic acids are also retained rather than evaporating. This is the reason why the coffee bean lacks the conventional bitterness and is slightly acidic in taste and feel.
However, the taste of white coffee cannot be generalized. It depends on a number of different factors for instance the type of the bean that is selected for roasting, the temperature as well as the duration for which the bean is roasted and last but not the least, whether the bean is roasted as it is or any spice has been added to the blend.
The area from which White Coffee originates, Yemen, is known to add a mix of spices known as Hawaij to the coffee bean grounds. These spices commonly include cumin, turmeric, black pepper and cardamom. But some other spices are also added to the blend at times. The nutty texture of coffee paired with the spices adds a unique aroma and taste to the coffee.
Caffeine Concentration
An important query that people have regarding white coffee is whether it contains the same amount of caffeine as regular dark coffee or not? You might be shocked to know that many people assume white coffee has a lesser concentration of caffeine. But in reality, the concentration and strength of caffeine is indirectly proportional to the roasting time of the coffee bean.
The longer a bean is roasted, the lower is the caffeine concentration. Which means that roasting the bean for a shorter amount of time would lead to a higher concentration of caffeine which is exactly the case with white coffee. The lesser roasting time is the reason why white coffee is way more potent, when it comes to caffeine concentration, as compared to the traditional dark coffee.
Black Coffee Or White Coffee – Which Is Better?
People are often confused about whether or not they should switch to white coffee and leave black coffee for good. Many people enjoy coffee because it is a source of caffeine and it keeps them going. But there are other consumers who sip coffee solely for the sake of health benefits and perks.
In terms of caffeine concentration, as already discussed, white coffee does have a higher concentration of caffeine as compared to dark coffee. Therefore, it is undoubtedly a better option for people who are looking for a higher caffeine dose.
Major Differences
Other than the caffeine concentration, another major difference between the white and dark coffee is the presence of chlorogenic acid. Due to the lower roasting temperature, white coffee retains the chlorogenic acid which is further linked to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. It is also known to have a great impact on one’s heart health. Therefore, the use of white coffee over dark coffee is highly recommended for people who are at risk of a cardiovascular disease or have had a heart attack or a stroke before.
However, there are some conflicts between whether White coffee is as good or better than dark coffee or not. Some people claim that the differences are not backed by reliable scientific research therefore, the findings are not reliable enough for one to immediately replace the intake of dark coffee with white coffee. But due to the stronger acidic content, the use of White Coffee is not really recommended for people who are prone to having an acid reflex.
Consumption
Due to the nutty and earthy taste and lack of bitterness, white coffee is generally brewed without any milk or creamer. However, if you would like to add to the richness and creaminess of the coffee, you can opt to add almond milk or any other milk to the coffee. But if you truly want to experience the taste of white coffee to the fullest, it is recommended that you enjoy it pure i.e. brewed only using water.
Some people like to have the coffee beans as they are while others like the variation which comes with the spices mixed into them. The choice of how to enjoy the white coffee is purely one’s personal preference and you should feel free to experiment and play around with the flavors of the white coffee to come up with a recipe that tingles and suits your taste buds the most.
After all, the consumption of coffee is a personal choice and there is no hard and fast rule that dictates how one should and should not enjoy their cup of freshly brewed coffee. Therefore you can have white coffee hot, warm or cold, it totally depends on your preference and liking.
Brewing White Coffee
Now comes the most important part, how can one actually brew white coffee? Is it the same as brewing dark coffee or does the process differ? Many cafes and coffee shops have tried to complicate the process of brewing white coffee. This has ended up scaring a lot of people and they feel as if it is close to impossible for one to be able to brew white coffee on their own. In reality, it is quite simple to make white coffee and there is no reason why you would not be able to prepare it at your home.
Coffee Beans
The most important thing about brewing white coffee is finding the right coffee beans. The secret to a good tasting cup of white coffee lies in the selection of the beans, therefore make sure that you buy authentic and reliable white coffee beans that can truly do justice to your coffee craving. It is best to buy beans that are already ground. White coffee beans are a lot harder as compared to traditional dark coffee beans. Therefore trying to grind them using a personal grinder would be a lot of work and effort.
Brewing Process
You can easily use your espresso maker or coffee pot to brew white coffee. The brewing process and time is almost the same as that for dark coffee so there is nothing that you would have to do differently. If you want to add the spice mix, you can do so while brewing the coffee. But some people say that adding the spices during the brewing loses taste. Therefore, you can also add the spice mix to the blend once the coffee has been brewed.
Once the coffee is brewed and it has acquired the creamy and beige color, you can go ahead and serve it. Add some almond or any other nut milk if you want to do so or enjoy the coffee as it is.
Due to their mild taste and lesser roasting time, the use of an espresso maker to brew the coffee is highly recommended. If you choose to use a coffee machine to brew the white coffee beans, make sure to select the concentrated strength option. A lighter brewing strength will end up causing the beans to lose flavor.
Final Thoughts
There is a lot of excitement as well as some misconceptions surrounding white coffee. Some people think that it is not even coffee. Others mistake a cup of coffee containing milk or creamer to be white coffee. In reality, white coffee is a variation of coffee that only differs based on the intensity of the roasting of the coffee beans.
The same coffee beans, when roasted for a lesser amount of time at a lower temperature, do not acquire a dark color and end up as white coffee beans. The main difference between the white coffee and dark coffee is of nothing but the taste and the intensity of the caffeine concentration. If you are not a fan of the dark coffee’s bitterness and still need to find an alternative to curb your caffeine cravings, opting for white coffee would be an excellent decision for you.
Even if you are not ready to let go of dark coffee, at least try the white blend for once, even if it is just for the sake of experiencing it.