Coffee Explanations

by Nigel Ong

People love drinking both coffee and tea around the world, with some regions drinking more of one than the other. However, in a few places, instead of trying to choose between coffee and tea, they simply drink both… in the same cup.

Places such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia have perfected the recipe, mixing coffee, tea, and milk to form a sweet, satisfying drink. Called Yuen Yeung, this drink is the default drink for many in these countries. 

In this post, we will talk about Yuen Yeung, its origins, and how it is made. I will also sample a cup or two of the drink and then discuss pairing the drinks with food. Finally, I also share how you can try Yuen Yeung, regardless of location.

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Question: A friend of mine just returned from a trip to Australia. When I was talking to him about Australian coffee culture, he mentioned that on coffee shop menus he often saw a brew with an interesting-sounding name: piccolo latte. I have never encountered this type of coffee and he didn’t know what it actually was. Can you tell me? – Ed Jackness

Darren Oliver at Clearly Coffee Replies: Piccolo latte is a coffee that is difficult to encounter outside of Australia. Although the name suggests that it is an Italian coffee, it was invented in Australia, in Melbourne, or Sydney (baristas in those cities are still arguing about where exactly it took place). It also never became as popular as another Australian drink: flat white. So what is a piccolo latte and how does it differ from other milk coffees? How does it taste and, finally, how to prepare it yourself at home? I will answer these questions in today’s article.

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by Darren Oliver

Summer is coming to an end, and with it, we are slowly saying goodbye to the iced coffee drinks on the menus of our favorite cafes. So let’s take advantage of the warm weather that will be with us for the last month of summer! On this occasion, I would like to introduce my favorite coffee iced drink – the espresso with tonic, which is gaining in popularity.

In this article, I will talk about what this popular coffee drink is, how it was created, and also… how to make it yourself! After all, I believe that there is nothing better than a homemade tonic paired with your espresso of choice. I also believe that the greatest advantage of homemade tonic is the infinite possibility of exploring flavors: that’s why today I will present up to two variants of this amazing drink.

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by Lars H

I love Chick-fil-A, although I’m not a fan of their hot coffee. Recently I learned they also serve iced coffee too though, so I went back to try them all. Here’s what I found out.

There are three different iced coffees at Chick-fil-A to choose from. There’s regular iced coffee, vanilla iced coffee, and Frosted Coffee, which is a blend of their ice cream and cold brewed coffee. The regular iced coffee and vanilla iced coffees are also made with cold brewed coffee, along with 2 percent milk and pure cane sugar. The vanilla is just vanilla flavoring added to that.

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by Darren Oliver

This year we have experienced a hot summer. Record-breaking temperatures are taking their toll on everyone, so everyone is looking for a good way to refresh themselves. In our opinion, the way to deal with the heat is one: delicious iced coffee! However, we understand that tastes vary: some prefer sweet coffee, others black, and still others with the addition of milk or syrup. In the maze of different names used by chain coffee shops, one can get lost. After all, it’s not always clear if iced coffee in one coffee shop is the same as in another! So today we’ll talk about iced coffee and iced lattes at three popular chains: McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and Starbucks. 

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How Greece Taught Me To Love Instant Coffee – The Story of Nescafe Frappe

by Darren Oliver

I remember when I tried frappe for the first time. A friend of mine (also a coffee lover) had just returned from a vacation in Greece. During a conversation, out of nowhere, he pulled out a can of instant coffee and said, “I bet you I’ll make you an instant coffee, and you’ll like it.” As a specialty coffee lover used to high-quality, lightly roasted coffee brewed with alternative methods, all I could do was smile with pity. “Okay, a bet on a bag of good coffee,” I replied.

That’s how I lost a bag of coffee, and that’s how I came to know frappe, a type of coffee created in Greece that today has become a staple of many coffee drinks in the best-known chains like Starbucks and Costa Coffee. So, being in Greece for the first time, I couldn’t deny myself the specialty of southern Europe. What is frappe, where did it come from and how do you prepare it yourself? Let’s go on this fascinating journey together.

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There are different types of Vietnamese coffee. Here’s an explanation of how they work!

by Nigel Ong

One of the most popular Asian coffees may be Vietnamese coffee. Based on French coffee traditions, it has since adapted to the palates of local Vietnamese and developed its own style and taste. 

Vietnamese coffee is also widely available, as the diaspora take the coffee styles with them everywhere. Unlike Kopi Luwak, Vietnamese coffee is more palatable to many and does not harm animals. This also makes it more popular.

In this post, I visited one of the local Vietnamese cafes around my city and sampled some Vietnamese coffee. I also explore some ways you can enjoy the coffee better, such as flavorings and food pairings. 

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by Nigel Ong

India first tasted coffee in 1670, when Baba Budan brought these beans from Yemen. Since then, the Indians have developed their coffee culture, distinct from your regular Western coffee traditions. 

One of the most common ways to drink coffee in India is as a Filter Kaapi. Filter Kaapi basically means filter coffee and is incredibly popular in southern India. With the migrations of Southern Indians worldwide, they brought their coffee culture along with them. 

In this post, I will sample a cup of South Indian Filter Coffee and then describe the taste. I’ll also explain some ways to enjoy the coffee, such as the drinking process and the right food to pair with the coffee. 

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