Coffee is a favorite topic among coffeeholics. Many of us like to sit around and share theories or funny stories about coffee. If you enjoy talking about coffee, you may have heard some of these things.
For example, some people think coffee beans are nuts? There are also those that refer to coffee as bean soup. That’s what we want to discuss in this article. Why has this become a trending topic?
Why Do Some People Refer to Coffee as Bean Soup?
One reason that coffee is referred to as bean soup could be the way it is brewed. That refers specifically to coffee brewing methods that require boiling and steeping such as in the use of a French Press.
That may remind you of the way you make soup especially if it comes from a can. So it may not seem like a far stretch for some people to call coffee bean soup when they look at things from this perspective.
Coffee could also be referred to as coffee bean soup because of the term beans used to refer to the nut -like seeds we use to brew it. Beans, peas, and other legumes, are often used to make soup which is why some people may call coffee a soup.
But even with these explanations, one thing that hangs in our minds is the word soup. Therefore, knowing what it means may help us to differentiate it from coffee.
Soup is a liquid made by boiling or cooking meat or vegetables. The ingredients in a soup are boiled for as long as it takes to extract flavor and nutrients from them. They are usually taken as a snack or as part of a course meal.
So what is coffee? The best place to start is with what is used to make it and that’s coffee beans. What are they?
Are Coffee Beans Really Beans?
Although they are referred to as “beans,” coffee beans are actually seeds. Beans are legumes harvested from pods, while coffee beans are seeds you get from coffee plant cherries.
Coffee seeds are extracted from cherries through various processes such as washing or wet hulling. They are then roasted into the various roasts you find in cafes or grocery stores, such as dark roast and light roast coffees.
The different roasts are then infused with hot or cold water to extract their flavor and oils when preparing brews such as Americano, Espresso, and Cold Brew coffee.
What is Coffee?
So if coffee is not coffee bean soup, what is it? Well, coffee is often referred to as a beverage similar to others, such as tea. However, these seeds or their grounds are added to some soups, which may be why you hear the term coffee bean soup.
But the benefits of coffee cannot compare to those of soup. The latter is mostly used to satiate us when hungry, while coffee is used to boost our alertness due to its caffeine content.
Therefore, while you can take a cup of coffee to wake up if you are groggy, nobody thinks of doing the same with soup. Instead, we choose to eat soup when we are feeling hungry.
Also, while soup is made using meat, veggies, or legumes, coffee is brewed from the seeds of the Coffea tree. There are Arabica coffee seeds, Robusta coffee seeds, and Liberica coffee seeds.
Arabica coffee beans/seeds are preferred over Robusta by coffee drinkers. They make light, aromatic, and flavourful coffee with low caffeine content and fruity or floral notes. Arabica coffee is often used in many coffee houses to brew popular beverages such as Americano.
Robusta beans/seeds contain more caffeine than Arabica. They produce boldly flavored coffee with nutty or earthy notes. These beans make great Espresso coffee, and their grounds are often used to make instant coffee.
Liberica is quite rare and expensive. It is usually sold by small holders, or speciality coffee roasters online. Coffee made using Liberica coffee beans has a woody taste and a fruity, floral aroma.
Coffee is also different from soup in terms of its appearance and taste. While soup is a bit thick and oily with chunks of meat or veggies in it, coffee is a plain liquid. It’s dark, amber, or light brown in color with a bitter or acidic taste that varies based on the brewing method used to prepare it.
And while good soup from scratch takes 30 – 45 minutes to make, some coffee beverages such as Espressos are brewed in 30 seconds. Others, like drip coffee, take a maximum of 5 minutes to make. Cold brews take up to 12 hours to make but do not require any heating process.
The Origin of Coffee
While we may have been drinking soup since man discovered fire, coffee was only discovered in the 15th century. It first popped up in Yemen when traders introduced coffee seeds to the Yemenis. Once they learned how to roast coffee beans and make coffee using them, they decided to cultivate coffee plants and export coffee beans.
That signified the beginning of coffee’s popularity in other middle eastern countries from where it found its way to Europe.
Now coffee is grown all -over the world and classified according to its country of origin. There are coffee beans from Harar in Ethiopia and those from Kenya. Other places that produce excellent coffee are Colombia, Indonesia, and Brazil.
Benefits of Taking Coffee
While soups are often used as a healthy meal option, coffee has benefits too. It can;
- Boosts energy due to the effect of caffeine on the brain’s neurotransmitters.
- Lower your chances of getting Diabetes by bettering the functions of the pancreas
- Stimulates metabolism, which promotes fat burning, thereby aiding in weight loss
- Enhances performance by increasing endurance, especially when taken before training
- Supports liver functions by preventing liver scarring
Conclusion
Now you know the answer to “Is coffee bean soup?” We’ve given our opinion with a few facts thrown in.
Coffee is such an exciting beverage. There’s more to learn from it than just its name. For example, there are different coffee seeds you can use to brew coffee. There are also various coffee methods used for brewing, some of which you can try at home.
If you are interested in coffee, explore these aspects, and you’ll be enthralled by all there is to know about it. In the meantime, enjoy your favorite coffee beverage with the knowledge that it can never be called soup.
