I have received many calls regarding keeping coffee fresh, caffeine content, roast color and oily beans recently so I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to dispel some coffee myths I have come across…
1. Keeping coffee fresh.
Putting coffee beans in your refrigerator or freezer will not keep your coffee fresh. Coffee is porous and will absorb odors and moisture just like a fresh box of baking soda. Freezing coffee will dry out the bean robbing it of the very oils that comprise its characteristics. The best way to keep coffee fresh is to buy smaller packages and keeping your coffee in a sealed air tight container away from any light.
2. Dark roast coffee has more caffeine than light roast.
Many people believe dark roast coffees have more caffeine than lighter roast. It may have a bolder flavor, but it actually has less caffeine in it than a lighter roasted coffee. Dark roast tend to have less caffeine due to the roasting process. When coffee is roasted, oils are released from the center of the bean. Caffeine is also released and burned off.
3. Espresso is a specific kind of bean.
Many people believe espresso is a specific type of bean. Actually the key in making a good espresso is brewing method. Espresso is ground finer and unlike conventional coffee brewing methods; espresso is brewed by forcing very hot (but not boiling) water under high pressure through the ground espresso. Any whole bean coffee can be used as espresso. Master roasters blend different types of beans to produce a high quality espresso that has the perfect balance of acidity, sweetness, viscosity, and crema.
4. Coffee causes stomach ulcers.
Although coffee can aggravate an ulcer it is not the cause. What causes ulcers is bacteria that grow in your stomach.
5. Coffee will sober you up
In the movies, the drunk usually drinks some coffee after the urging of friends and proceeds to drives off into the sunset. While many people believe that coffee will sober you up, it is simply not true. It will wake you up, keep you alert but you still will be intoxicated. Your best bet you to have a cup of joe and call a cab!
These are just a few we have come across. If you have other coffee myths you would like busted please email us.