Coffee has been around for ages but there's a lot of information–or misinformation–surrounding the popular beverage. Some of these you may have heard before, maybe they're new to you, either way, we're here to set the record straight.
1. Dark roast coffee has more caffeine
We hear this all the time. People always say they prefer dark roasted coffee because it gives them that stronger boost of caffeine. But the difference in caffeine levels between a light, medium, and dark roast is actually pretty negligible. Dark roast surely has a "stronger," bolder taste to it, but that doesn't mean the bean holds any more caffeine.
However, this misconception can be true to some degree. Depending on how one measures their coffee before drinking it, it can have an impact on the caffeine level. If you're simply scooping with a spoon or free pouring for your morning cup, dark roast won't really be any higher in caffeine. But since darker roasted coffees weigh less than a lighter roast, if you took out that scale and got the exact ounce for a good cup, then technically yes, the cup of dark roast will have a bit more caffeine as there's "more" coffee per ounce than a light or medium roast.
2. Espresso is a type of coffee
When it comes to espresso, there can be a bit of misunderstanding. Espresso, by definition, is "strong black coffee made by forcing steam through ground coffee beans." It comes from the Italian term caffé espresso, which literally translates to "pressed coffee." So simply put, espresso is just a style in which coffee is made. Let's face it, there are so many companies (including ours) that do have a bean that is labeled as an espresso bean. But that doesn't have anything to do with the type of bean itself. Any bean can be made into an espresso. All it needs is to be ground fine enough for the water to be pressed through it in an espresso machine. When roasters create an espresso bean or blend, it just typically means that they have tested that bean and have found that the flavors do exceptionally well in the espresso style. But, if you have a favorite bean of any kind, don't be afraid to use it in your espresso machine even if it's not labeled as such.
3. Freshly roasted beans are the best
If we were talking about the best smell, then for sure, freshly roasted beans are the best. But taste-wise, if you get coffee that's too freshly roasted, it isn't actually going to yield the best taste. After being roasted coffee beans build up a lot of carbon dioxide, which takes a few days to wear off. That's why you'll hear the term "degas." We typically like to let our beans degas for at least 48 hours before we package and send them to our customers. That's also why in all of our packaging, we tell our customers to "burp" their cans. It allows any gas build-up to release while it's sitting on your shelf. Don't get to your coffee right away after receiving it? Don't worry! Coffee tends to peak in its quality around the 2-week mark.
4. Espresso has more caffeine than brewed coffee
This one is a bit tricky, and it's a bit of a yes and no type of question. Ounce per ounce, yes espresso does have more caffeine. One shot of espresso (which is equal to about an ounce) has about 64mg of caffeine, whereas an ounce of brewed coffee only has 12mg. However, no one is sitting here drinking one ounce of brewed coffee. If you're drinking a normal 8-12oz cup, you're getting anywhere between 96-144mg of coffee by the time you've finished. So if you're really looking for a caffeine boost when you hit that mid-day slump, a cup of coffee will get you farther along than one little shot of espresso.
5. Store your coffee in the freezer
Not sure how this one got started, but please never put your coffee in the freezer. It's important to keep your coffee in a cool, dark place for freshness, which to some may warrant thinking the fridge or freezer is the best spot. However, coffee beans are porous. They will let air and moisture inside them which isn't good for freshness. When you put beans in the freezer and then take them out to use them, the thawing of the beans will lead to condensation which causes the beans to lose their oils, which is what gives the coffee its taste and flavor. All you accomplish by freezing your beans is giving your coffee a dull and lifeless taste, and no one wants that.
6. Coffee is addictive
We've all been there (at least, I know I have). We think after drinking so much coffee for so many years, we have to be addicted right? I mean when's the last time you went a day without thinking that you needed a cup (or two, or three) of coffee. You may be craving that cup of coffee, but it's not considered addictive as it doesn't lead to any severe social or physical consequences like typical addictive drugs. Now, if you ever decide to stop drinking coffee after so many years, the first day or two may lead to discomfort or some mild headaches, but that's not quite considered a "withdrawal" symptom.
7. Coffee dehydrates you
While coffee/caffeine may have a mild diuretic effect, there's really nothing proving the risk of dehydration. The amount of water that's in a cup of coffee is enough to offset any form of dehydrating effect from the caffeine. Some even say coffee can contribute to your daily fluid requirement. However, that doesn't mean we advise replacing your recommended 8 cups of daily water with 8 cups of coffee.
With all this newfound coffee knowledge, now you can go into your next purchase with a steady mind. Or you can use it to show off to your friends the next time they try to hit you with one of these misconceptions.