Coffee Lingo

Acidity:

gives coffee its sparkle, liveliness, or snap to the drink

Arabica:

a specific variety of coffee - Coffee Arabica - considered by most to be the best variety of all coffees

Americano:

a shot or two of espresso that has been poured into a glass filled with hot water

Aroma:

the fragrance of brewed coffee

Barista:

a person who makes coffee as a profession

Bitter:

a flavor characteristic of over-roasted coffee

Bland:

the pale flavor found in low grown robusta coffees

Blends:

a mixture of two or more varieties of coffee beans

Body:

the heaviness or weight of the coffee in your mouth

Bright:

tangy acidity

Briny:

The salty sensation caused by excessive heat after brewing

Creme:

the foam that forms when you brew espresso.

Cupping:

the tasting and evaluation of coffee

Decaffeination:

coffee with 97% or more of its natural caffeine removed

Demitasse:

a small cup used for serving espresso. French term meaning "half cup"

Doppio:

a double shot of espresso

Espresso Breve:

espresso with half and half

Espresso Method:

a method of brewing coffee that has very hot water going through finely-ground beans very quickly

Exotic:

has an unusual aroma or flavor, such as berry or floral

Flavor:

the total impression of aroma, acidity, and body

French Press:

a device for making coffee in which ground coffee is steeped in water. Grounds are then removed from the coffee by means of a filter plunger which presses the grounds to the bottom of the pot. Also called a plunger pot

Froth or Foam:

milk which has been made thick and foamy by aerating it with hot steam

Grade:

the classification of green coffee beans (beans before roasting) by size and density

Hard Bean:

coffee grown at higher altitudes (4000-4500 ft.) beans from these higher altitudes mature slower and are desired for being harder & denser than other beans

Soft Bean:

coffee grown at lower altitudes (under 4000 ft.)these beans mature faster and produce a lighter, more porous bean

Solo:

a single shot of espresso

Sweet

smooth coffee that is free from harsh flavors

Tone:

the appearance or color of coffee

Varietal:

a single or straight coffee from one region

Winy:

a flavor reminiscent of fine red wine.