Coffee Dictionary

Coffee Dictionary
by Ryan Jacobs

Here is a quick list of coffee terms and their meaning. This isn’t an all encompassing list, but should be enough to give your education a jump start.

Acidity: Refers to the mouthfeel of coffee which corresponds to the amount of time a particular coffee’s flavors lingers on the palate. Typically, the higher the acidity, the quicker the flavor leaves the palate.

Baba Budan: coffee hero who smuggled coffee out of Ethiopia and paved the way for its journey to the rest of the world.

Barista: One who prepares espresso based drinks.

Blade Grinder: This type of grinder will grind coffee by way of a spinning blade. While effective, it results in unevenly ground coffee which will yield inconsistently brewed coffee.

Blending: The art of using multiple coffee beans/roast styles to accomplish a satisfying cup. In addition to creating wonderfully unique coffee, it can sometimes allow roasters to maintain low costs.

Body: Refers to the mouthfeel of coffee on the palate corresponding to the perceived ‘weight’ of the beverage.

Burr Grinder: This type of grinder precisely crushes coffee to uniform size depending on the setting it is given. The advantage of this is consistency in the brewing.

Doppio: Italian for double. As in “Espresso Doppio” or just “doppio”. Translates into a double espresso

French Press: Coffee brewing method. Also know as the ‘plunge pot’, ‘press pot’ or ‘cafetiere’. This method requires a coarsely ground coffee, hot water, a french press pot. See Troubleshooting French Press Coffee.

French Roast: Darkly roasted coffee with high amounts of oil on the surface of the bean

Grande: Italian for tall, big, heavyset, large, great

Green Beans: Coffee which has made it to all levels of processing except the actual roasting. Green Beans will store well for years without loss in quality.

Java Jacket: Device used to wrap around paper coffee cups to prevent you from burning your hand on the thin cup.

Kaldi: Legend has it that this goat herder discovered coffee. He was led to it by noticing his goats frolicking around a particular tree.

Lungo: Italian for long. Used to describe method of pulling a shot of espresso. Results in more ounces of the beverage.

Pull: 1.The act of preparing espresso. 2. Part of espresso machine which includes the filter basket and the handle.

Ristretto: Italian for restrain. Used to describe method of pulling a shot of espresso resulting in less fluid in the beverage.

Second Crack: Point in the roasting process where steam builds up in the bean and oils begin to come to the surface. At this stage, ‘tipping’ occurs and little black chips come off the bean.

Shade Grown: Organic method of growing coffee which is good for the environment and good for the coffee. It employs the use of growing trees which provide natural habitats for birds. The birds, in turn, eat the insects and this eliminates the need for pesticides. See Primer on Shade Grown Coffee.

Skinny: Ordering a coffee beverage requesting the use of skim milk.

Tamp: Action of packing espresso into the espresso pull.

Tamper: Device used for packing espresso uniformly into the ‘pull’.

Venti: Italian for twenty. As in twenty ounces of coffee at some coffee chains.

Viennesse Roast: Very dark roasted coffee with high amounts of oil on the surface of the bean.