Coffee drinkers always have a lot of questions about the latest coffee trend, and white coffee is no exception. Questions like "Does white coffee have more caffeine than regular coffee?" Some people even want to know "Is white coffee really white?" are a valid question because most people know that coffee beans are green before they're roasted. Let's get down to the nitty-gritty and understand what white coffee is.
White coffee is a “lightly roasted” coffee bean that has taken the coffee and espresso community by storm. Now, dark roast lovers are probably screaming, but the rest of you may be curious about this seemingly new concept and whether it’s worth trying at your local coffee shop.
Coffee with milk is not really white
As exciting as it may be to show off your luxurious cup of white coffee, "white" doesn't actually refer to the color of the coffee. Although the resulting brewed beans will be a light beige color, the coffee won't actually be white. From what we know, white coffee refers to very light roasted coffee at around 325°F compared to the typical light, medium, and dark roast coffee at 450°F–480°F. White coffee has retained the natural, earthy flavors of the original coffee bean. If you're someone who loves light roast coffee, you might find white coffee appealing to your palate.
White coffee can also have different meanings depending on the type of drink you get, it could mean a 'Flat White', or a cup of coffee with cream or milk, or it could refer to the place where you bought the coffee, but for the most part, it refers to the roasting process of the bean.
Where does it come from?
The concept of white coffee is said to have originated from a centuries-old tradition in Yemen. Variations of white coffee have also been found in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Lebanon. In Yemen, it was traditionally served with hawaij. Hawaij, which means "mixture" in Arabic, is a blend of spices used in both savory recipes such as soups and stews and in sweet desserts and beverages, including coffee.
White coffee comes from the same hard green coffee beans that regular coffee comes from. It can be Robusta or Arabica depending on the coffee bean blend. The quality of the coffee bean is extremely important and can affect the overall flavor of the coffee after brewing.
Not to be confused with Malaysian white coffee, which is a type of coffee drink made from roasted coffee beans with margarine mixed with sweetened condensed milk in a cup to create a delicious, creamy, and sweet coffee.
How is the taste?
Even if you don't like the taste of coffee , you may want to try a white roast. People generally compare the taste of a white roast to tea rather than a regular cup of coffee.
Much of the deep flavor of coffee comes from the roasting process. Therefore, this lighter coffee won't have the flavor you might desire. This ultra-light roast has a smooth, somewhat nutty flavor.
Another distinction is that white roasts retain more of the flavor of the original bean. The flavor varies greatly depending on the variety and where it's grown. This is why white roast coffee from one company can vary from another.
Does it have more caffeine than traditional beans?
Yes and no. The myth is that white coffee contains 50% to 70% more caffeine than a typical cup of light, medium, or dark roast coffee. While coffee loses some of its caffeine content the longer it's roasted, it doesn't lose up to 70% of its caffeine content. White coffee is said to contain 5.4% more caffeine than a regular cup of coffee; however, some say you can barely tell the difference between the caffeine content in white coffee and dark coffee, for example. Whatever your preference, this small number could sway your preference when choosing white coffee if you're not particularly interested in higher caffeine content.
When it comes down to it, white coffee has become an increasingly popular trend, especially among coffee shops. Like many new coffee trends, they rise and fall with the taste buds of coffee and espresso drinkers. As for white coffee, this traditional Yemeni beverage has been around for centuries and seems here to stay, so why not try this fascinating cultural cup of joe?