Foam is an important aspect of coffee preparation, and it determines, or validates quality in some coffee drinks.
Coffee Dictionary
You are unsure what one of the terms discussed on our blog means? This is the place to visit. You can also read this if you are looking for a fresh perspective on the terms in our articles.
This coffee glossary defines around two hundreds of words in the coffee lexicon, and it’s growing up. Most of our articles link to specific terms in this dictionary, so it’s easy to find the reference immediately. You can also search for a specific term, if this is easier for you.
The glossary is split in a few sections for easier browsing:
This coffee glossary defines around two hundreds of words in the coffee lexicon, and it’s growing up. Most of our articles link to specific terms in this dictionary, so it’s easy to find the reference immediately. You can also search for a specific term, if this is easier for you.
The glossary is split in a few sections for easier browsing:
- The Dictionary of Coffee and Espresso Equipment,
- Coffee Brewing Glossary,
- Coffee Health,
- Coffee Companies
- Supporting Terms
Inka
Inka is a Polish roasted grain beverage and brand. Developed in the late 1960s during communist rule, Inka has been produced in Skawina since 1971, a centre of coffee production since the early 20th century. Presently it is manufactured by GRANA Sp. Z O.O. While it was used in part as a coffee substitute to alleviate coffee shortages in the 1970s, Inka remains popular, in part to the fact that it is caffeine-free.
Pero
Caro is a brand of caffeine-free roasted grain beverages. Some consider it a coffee substitute. It is manufactured by Nestlé and was first introduced in West Germany in 1954.
Postum
Postum is a powdered roasted grain beverage often used as a coffee substitute. The caffeine-free beverage was created by Post Cereal Company founder C. W. Post in 1895 and marketed as a healthful alternative to coffee.
Thermostat
The thermostat is a key component of coffee brewing equipment. It is used to ensure coffee is brewed properly, and the extraction is optimal.
Hot plate
A hot plate is a portable self-contained tabletop small appliance that features one, two or more gas burners or electric heating elements. A hot plate can be used as a stand alone appliance, but is often used as a substitute for one of the burners from an oven range or the cook top of a stove.
Screen filter
A screen filter is a type of filter using a rigid or flexible screen to separate sand and other fine particles out of water. Typical screen materials include stainless steel, polypropylene, nylon and polyester.
Degassing
Coffee beans contain carbon dioxide immediately after roasting. The degassing starts right after roasting and is the process of seeping out the gasses from the beans. A lot of the CO2 leaves the beans in the first 24 hours after roasting; that is about 40%. Lighter roasts degass slower, whereas dark roasts degass faster. Gasses in the coffee beans are a sign of a freshly roasted coffee.
A Tassimo
The Tassimo Hot Beverage System is a consumer coffee machine that prepares one-cup servings of espresso, regular coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and various other coffee drinks, notably those including milk such as latte or cappuccino.
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an American global coffee company and coffee house chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 20,891 stores in 62 countries, including 13,279 in the United States, 1,324 in Canada, 989 in Japan, 851 in China, 806 in the United Kingdom, 556 in South Korea, 377 in Mexico, 291 in Taiwan, 206 in the Philippines, 171 in Thailand and 10 in India.
Black & Decker
Black & Decker has a division of domestic coffee maker appliances. The division focuses on the auto drip coffee makers as the most popular coffee brewing method.
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is a Swiss multinational nutritional, snack food, and health-related consumer goods company headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. It is the largest food company in the world measured by revenues. Nestlé’s products include baby food, bottled water, breakfast cereals, coffee, …
Beaker (glassware)
The main piece of a French press is a glass beaker. Because the beaker is exposed to high temperatures in a short time, they are subject to thermal shock, This is why beakers for French press coffee makers are made of …
National Coffee Association
The National Coffee Association (NCA) or (National Coffee Association of U.S.A. , Inc. ), is the main market research, consumer information, and lobbying association for the coffee industry in the United States. Surveys produced by the NCA are widely cited in mainstream media.
Thermal shock
Glassware in coffee brewing equipment is exposed to thermal shock when hot water, or coffee is poured into glass beakers, carafes, or other recipients. In order to solve the problem with glass cracking, manufacturers use borosilicate glass, which is resistant to thermal shocks.
Borosilicate glass
Borosilicate glass is a type of glass with the main glass-forming constituents silica and boron oxide. Borosilicate glasses are known for having very low coefficients of thermal expansion (~3 × 10 /°C at 20°C), making them resistant to thermal shock, more so than any other common glass.
De’Longhi
De’Longhi Group, or De’Longhi S.p. A, is a major Italian small appliance manufacturer based in Treviso, Italy. They manufacture coffee making equipment, including drip coffee makers and espresso machines.
Water tank
Many coffee makers rely on a water tank, or reservoir to supply the machine during brewing. The water tank solution is convenient, makes it possible to move the equipment, and it doesn’t require an expensive installation.
The water tank is used for drip coffee makers, espresso machines, and single serve coffee makers.
Timer
Timers are used in coffee makers for various applications. The most common applications are: timing the brewing, starting the coffee maker, or turning it off, timing coffee grinders, as a way to measure the amount of coffee beans used, timing the extraction as a way of controlling the brewed coffee volume.
