Clearly Coffee

By Matt Gibson

If there’s no hope for you slowly moving into becoming a coffee drinker, and you are sure that trying to do so is a waste of time, there are plenty of non-coffee alternatives that you may not have thought about. First and foremost, there are thousands of different teas available, many of which have comparable amounts of caffeine to coffee.

Black teas are usually the highest in caffeine content aside from matcha green tea. Most black teas contain around 37 milligrams of caffeine per cup, while matcha greens are available in a wide range of caffeine strengths, some of which have as much as 130 milligrams of caffeine per cup. Black filter coffee averages out to about 40 milligrams of caffeine per cup, while caffeinated teas average about 20 milligrams per cup. However, many black teas are closer to 40 milligrams than 20, and some green teas have very high caffeine contents. 

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By Matt Gibson

If you are not a fan of coffee drinks, there is no reason to try every drink on this list, but if you’ve only ever had a cup of regular drip coffee from a machine, or perhaps coffee and espresso or cappuccino, there’s a good chance that you may find a coffee drink on this list that is more agreeable to your taste.

At the least, give this list a scan and see if there are a few drinks on it that you would like to try just to see if you like them. You can find most of these options at any coffee bar. Lots of delicious choices here!

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QUESTION: Why is Kona coffee so special? It’s really expensive and most places don’t even stock it, but I don’t understand what makes it good in the first place. — Howard E

ANSWER: 100 percent Kona coffee can be quite expensive, with some roasts going for $20-30 per pound, and other roasts going for as much as $100 per pound or higher. These prices are incredibly high for coffee, and yet Kona coffee flies off the shelf so quickly that it is often hard to find. But what makes Kona coffee so special? 

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QUESTION: Does finer grind make stronger coffee? I like my coffee very strong. — Vivian A

ANSWER: Do more finely ground coffee beans will make you a stronger cup of coffee? Not exactly, although your brewed coffee will taste stronger when you grind the coffee more finely. This may seem to be a bit of a contradictory statement, so let us explain what we mean a bit.

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By Erin Marissa Russell

Ready to learn all about the four main types of coffee beans? It seems like the more you delve into the world of coffee, the more there is to learn. From different levels of roast to different preparation methods, there’s a whole world of information that can get you closer to the perfect cup. Here’s a guide to the four main types of coffee beans out there to help you choose the coffee you’re going to enjoy drinking the most.

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QUESTION: Why is Hawaiian coffee so expensive? I really enjoy it, but can’t afford to keep buying those tiny bags of beans for big bucks! — Warner F

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QUESTION: What is the point of pour over coffee? Why can’t I just use a machine? — Jennifer A

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QUESTION: Should I grind coffee beans daily? It would probably be easier for me to just grind them all at once, but I want the best tasting coffee. — Blake C

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QUESTION: What are the four steps of tasting coffee? I’ve been getting more into expensive beans and speciality roasts, and they say a lot of things about taste notes, so I’d like to learn more about how to really experience them correctly. — Janice B

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QUESTION: Is expresso stronger than coffee? My friend says that coffee is actually stronger, but I thought espresso was. — Jerry S

ANSWER: Turns out your friend is correct. A cup of coffee has more caffeine than a shot of espresso. But there’s a lot more to answering this question. Whether you are a student who is staying up all night to cram for an important test, or new parents trying desperately to stay up later than your baby so you can have a little time to yourself, getting the right amount of caffeine is not something you want to leave up to guess work. You need a good burst of energy from caffeine and you need it quickly. We are here to help. 

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