Tag: coffee flavour

The chemistry of coffee

Posted on by Sara Walker

wcc article 3Most of us drink our cup of coffee without thinking too much about what’s in the cup, but what we’re tasting can be very complex. Roasted coffee beans are made up of around 1,000 different compounds which combine to give your morning cuppa that unique flavour. Some of these compounds exist naturally in the raw bean, and others appear as a result of the roasting process.

The best known compounds are alkaloids, of which everyone can name at least one – caffeine! More correctly known as 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, it’s naturally present but varies according to the type of bean and the preparation method.

Scientifically, caffeine is a secondary compound as it’s not essential to the survival of the plant. Plants have evolved to produce caffeine as a form of natural pesticide, as it’s toxic to fungi, insects and even to other plants. The caffeine is stored in vacuoles, specific cells that work like a locked cupboard, keeping the compound safe until it’s needed. Caffeine is safe for humans to ingest in the doses that we drink it in, and in fact has a number of health benefits.

Another natural compound found in coffee beans is  a bitter alkaloid called trigonelline. This degrades during roasting to produce two further compounds – niacin (vitamin B3) and pyridines. Niacin is vital for digestion, and also performs a range of other important functions in the body including repairing DNA damage. Pyridines contribute to producing the sweet, earthy aromas produced when coffee is roasted.

With all that going on, it’s no wonder that the flavour of coffee varies so much depending on country of origin, roasting time, roasting temperature, storage, growing season and much more. Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, though, you can be sure of a top quality blend all the time, as a great wholesale price. Visit our main website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk to find out more and browse our range.

Cooking savoury dishes with coffee

Posted on by Sara Walker

If you’re a coffee lover and you like your food, why not try cooking with coffee beans – savoury dishes that is.

You’re probably familiar with all the yummy desserts coffee can be added to – coffee and banana cake, chocolate brownies, and coffee based tiramisu, but what about coffee and meat or coffee and black bean soup?

At first it doesn’t sound that appetizing but adding coffee to your cooking could give your food a warm winter kick. Still not convinced? Don’t just take our word for it – try some of these recipes and make your own mind up.

Black Coffee Bean Soup

Ingredients:

Olive oil, one pound of black beans, one large onion, one pepper, two pieces of celery, one jalapeno pepper, two-three cloves of garlic, one tablespoon of cumin, water, two cups of freshly brewed coffee, one bay leaf, a pinch of salt, a good helping of cream and rocket for a garnish.

Make the dish:

Let the black beans soak overnight, then boil for a few minutes and drain. Heat the oil and fry the onion, garlic and the rest of the vegetables until they’re cooked. Add the cumin, black beans and brewed coffee beans to the mix and boil gently. Cover the food and simmer for another 30 minutes and blend once cooked. The soup can be served with some yoghurt or stirred in cream and rocket.
Delicous.

Beef and Coffee Bean Winter Stew

Ingredients:

Olive oil, one and a half pounds of beef, one large onion, two garlic cloves, two peppers, flour, a good splash of white wine, five tablespoons of freshly brewed coffee, salt, fresh thyme and few bay leaves.

Make the dish:

Start by heating the oil, and then add the beef until brown. Now take the meat out of the pan and cook the onion, garlic and peppers. After a few minutes add the flour, white wine and freshly brewed coffee beans and continue to stir. Now put the beef back into the pan, add some salt, pepper, fresh thyme and bay leaves and simmer until cooked. Serve with dumplings and green beans for a hearty English winter meal.