Having been in the coffee and tea business for the 30+ years I find it truly amazing what some people pay for and think is a great cup of coffee, including most of the national chains.
There are two types of coffee beans produced, Arabica and Robusta and five grades of coffee beans, (1) being the best quality product of each type and (5) the lowest grade.
Arabica beans are the better product and produce a milder flavor coffee ( not a weaker flavor). Robusta beans are the least desirable and cheaper product producing a more acidic bitter flavor. Oiler as well. You can make either product as strong as you like by a darker(longer) roast or a heavier throw. The darker the roast the less the caffeine. Don’t confuse a dark strong flavor profile with a caffeine buzz. That’s your subconscious listening to what’s been marketed for years.
Let’s use Starbucks ( the fast food kings of the coffee world) as an example. While they have done a great job of marketing their brand and making coffee relevant again the product is an inferior product. While their marketers and website will claim otherwise they use a higher mixture of Robusta beans and lower quality number (3). Roast it very dark (see slightly burned) and promote the profile as “Gourmet” And boy they have done a great job of this.
Not to miss out on the opportunity to make a buck Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds have done a great job of upgrading their coffee lines. Recently in more than one blind taste test Dunkin’s and McDonalds were preferred over Starbucks.
I’m sure the Tim Horton, Gloria Jean’s, Caribou, Peet’s, Seattle’s Best etc. fans will have an opinion on this. Props again to Starbucks as most of these chains would be irrelevant without the Starbucks explosion.
That’s coffee 101 for the day. Now get a cup of joe and get back to work.
