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Best Tasting Coffee Brands to Drink Black Coffee
Coffee preparation and ingredients change from country to country, and there are so many unique concoctions to try. Check the article to know more.
Published November 23, 2021
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Chandra Melo
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Coffee is a global phenomenon. People enjoy a cup of coffee in basically every country across the globe. After oil, coffee is the most traded commodity in the world, but it has been a popular drink for centuries. Whilst everyone has their own preferences as to how they like to take their coffee, one thing all coffee drinkers have in common is the morning ritual: wake, coffee, go.
A morning coffee is what many people need to begin the day (not want, need). The unique flavor, the caffeine, the energy boost – enjoying a good cup of coffee before you do anything else is soothing, calming, and sets you up with the motivation to take on the rest of the day. Coffee preparation and ingredients change from country to country, and there are so many unique concoctions to try. With all these fancy things being done these days, sometimes it feels like they’re taking away from the flavor and richness of the coffee itself. Some coffee beans might not be quite to our tastebuds’ liking, but there are some coffee drink brands that have such deep and rich flavors. You’ve just got to find the best flavored coffee to drink black for you.
Benefits of Drinking Coffee
On top of the morning wake-up call, drinking coffee actually has a number of other benefits to our health. The most obvious benefit of drinking coffee is the effect on energy levels. The caffeine in coffee makes you feel less tired and is transported to the brain after ingesting, which is thought to have positive effects on memory, mood, and other mental functions. Caffeine is also a substance that has been scientifically proven to burn fat and boost your metabolic rate, making it a great choice for those trying to lose a few pounds. Some people swear by having a strong cup of coffee half an hour before working out or doing physical exercise. This is because caffeine increases adrenaline and promotes the breakdown of fatty acids into fuel, consequently improving physical performance. The risks of many chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and certain types of cancer, are thought to be lowered in regular coffee drinkers.
Black Coffee Around the World
The numerous health benefits and flavorsome nature of coffee makes it no surprise that it is one of the most popular drinks in the world. The sheer number of different ways there are across the globe to prepare and present a cup of coffee is absolutely endless. But by definition, a black coffee is just that, coffee with no added milk, milk substitute, or cream. Technically, true black coffee has absolutely nothing added, not even sugar, but for the sake of discovering world flavors and coffee cultures, here are some famous, and some slightly peculiar, variations of black coffee from around the world. If you’re a true coffee fanatic, some of these will leave you speechless, but others will have you clicking away to book that flight as soon as possible!
Türk Kahvesi With a higher concentration of caffeine, there’s no wonder that Turkish coffee is enjoyed beyond the borders of the country. Not only is it stronger than our standard espresso, the flavors and aromas are far richer. In turkey, making coffee is a traditional ritual that combines fine ground coffee, cool water, and (sometimes) sugar in a long-necked copper or brass pot with a slim handle, called a cezve. It is boiled on the stovetop until it bubbles, and the powder settles to the bottom; the foamy liquid is then served and enjoyed.
Cafezinho Brazil is the world-leading country in coffee production, so of course, their most popular coffee cannot be missed. The Cafezinho is all about hospitality and warm friendly vibes. They are small and strong, similar to an espresso, but being brewed with the sugar gives them that sweet difference. This pre-sweetened hot beverage is considered by many to be the national drink of Brazil.
Moroccan Spiced Coffee A fragrant take on an Arabic coffee, the Moroccans add up to six spices to their dark roast fine ground coffee. Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, peppercorns, and other aromatics are generally used to create delicate warming flavors. It just might take you a few experiments to work out which proportions of the spices suit you!
Kaffeost This Scandinavian take on coffee is a little more unusual. We know cheesecake as a firm favorite in the world of desserts, but what about coffee cheese? Traditionally enjoyed in Swedish Lapland and Finland, this halloumi-esque cheese is baked before being left to steep in your hot coffee. A curious, delicious, and rich way to enjoy a coffee.
Why Black Coffee is Best
Adding milk, flavors, sugars, and syrups is perfectly fine for some, but there are a few reasons as to why taking your coffee truly black, no milk or sugar, is the best way to drink coffee. Some coffee drink brands taste better than others, but once you find the best tasting coffee, why would you want to mask the deep flavors and tasty undertones with anything else?
Whilst caffeine can promote weight loss, adding all these extra bits to your coffee is sort of counterproductive. On the other hand, black coffee is low in calories but high in energy. When taking your coffee black, you get the most stimulation as the effects are not slowed or impacted by the other ingredients. When most people think of black coffee, they think of a harsh, bitter, charcoal-like taste. But coffee quality has seen a phenomenal increase over the past years, and coffee brands now include subtle flavorings like berries and spices. These high-quality blends are some of the best-flavored coffee to drink black.
Choosing a Coffee to Drink Black
The enormous range of coffee brands can be almost a little bit daunting. There is so much choice that it can be hard to know where to start or what is best for the type of coffee that you want to make. There are a few key elements that constitute the best flavored coffee to drink black. Many people are put off black coffee as the first time they try it, the right coffee hasn’t been used to get the best-tasting coffee.
Top tip: stay away from those grocery store brands. They’re mass-produced and just won’t provide the rich flavor profile of other coffee drink brands. Flavor profile is one of the most important considerations when buying coffee to drink black. Popular flavor profiles include dark chocolate, hazelnut, and cinnamon, but you can also get some coffees with undertones of lemon, strawberries, or cookies. If you’re new to the delicacy that is black coffee, it’s best to begin with a light roast as the intensity and bitterness are easier to drink than that of medium and darker roasts, which you can move onto later.
Best Brands for Black Coffee
Now you know what to look for in coffee to drink black, these considerations have been narrowed down to these coffee drink brands to provide you the best-tasting coffee.
Starbucks is arguably the most famous coffee provider and barista in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. Starbucks has a huge range of coffees with all kinds of flavor palettes to choose from. Their classic French Roast whole bean coffee is one of the most satisfying roasts to drink black, with hints of caramel and a slight smokiness. The best tasting Starbucks ground coffee has to be the Sumatra dark roast. This has such a unique flavor and doesn’t have everyone’s tastebuds dancing, but if you like hints of fruit that hasn’t got a harsh bitterness and only a slight smokiness, then this is one of the best flavored coffees to drink black.
Death Wish Coffee Co. Don’t be put off by the slightly intimidating name, though be prepared as their coffee does pack a bit of a punch. Their famous Valhalla Java Odinforce blend was created for the famous guitarist Zakk Wylde and is definitely strong enough to raise the Gods. For those in need of a caffeine boost, this is the holy grail. But on top of that, it is one of the nicest coffees to drink black and Valhalla Java nutrition cannot be rivaled.
San Francisco Bay Coffee For a slightly milder, sweeter flavor, amazon Colombian coffee could be your route to the best tasting coffee to drink black. Colombia is one of the world’s top coffee producers of arabica beans, which offer a more delicate and refined taste. For flavorsome amazon Colombian coffee, San Francisco Bay Coffee’s Colombian Supremo give you tones of dark chocolate and mandarin and can be bought ground or as whole coffee beans.
People are put off by black coffee with preconceptions of strong, bitter, and hard-to-swallow tastes. But black coffee can be some of the best tasting coffee, you’ve just got to find the best coffee drink brands that create the best flavored coffee to drink black.
About the author
Chandra Melo
Marketing as job, barista as passion. An authentic coffee lover, looking for the next fantastic cup of coffee that I will fall in love with. Coffee, for me, is more than a beverage. It's about community and connection - how can all the world consume the same fruit? And differently? How can we have so many different tastes? I also don't know. And because of this, I feel in love each day more for this world. Happy to share and make a change in the coffee community.
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