Do You Like Your Coffee Strong?

There is a catch phrase in the vocabulary of the average coffee drinker that continually puzzles me. I can never quite figure out what exactly a person means when they refer to a particular cup of coffee as "strong." Someone will say, "I don't like their coffee. It's too strong." Someone else will say, "Give me something strong that'll wake me right up." Like these two expressions many of the contexts that surround the usage of the buzz word "strong coffee" are unrelated. One person says "strong coffee" and they are talking about one thing and another person says "strong coffee" and they are talking about something else. In order to clarify exactly what it is people are detecting in their coffee so as to classify it as strong or weak, let us consider few potential meanings of the expression.

1. Bitterness - Most likely this is what people are talking about when they say strong coffee. Bitterness can be in a coffee for multiple reasons and is generally not a desirable attribute. I define bitterness as the tart sensation that typically occurs on the top back of the tongue and induces somewhat of a gag reflex. It can mean that the coffee was either under or over roasted during the roasting process, that the beans themselves contained defects before roasting, that the coffee was brewed with a higher bean to water ratio than your palate is accustomed to. The Specialty Coffee Association of America recommends that desired ration to be 2 tablespoons of coffee to every six ounces of water. Starbucks uses such a ratio--as do many other specialty retailers. If you perceive this proportion as bitter, try adding a little hot water after brewing. If it's still bitter, chances are the coffee itself is not for you.



2. Caffeine - Some people request a strong coffee on the basis of their need for caffeine. In this case, the most obvious answer is to use a higher bean to water ratio. If you drink a cup of coffee with more coffee brewed into it, you will get more caffeine. However, this method might also increase the chances of bitterness perceived in the cup. In such a case, people would be right to assume more bitter (more heavily proportioned) cups of coffee to be more caffeinated. Yet, the level of roast may also affect the amount of caffeine present in a cup of coffee. Lighter roasts tend to be more caffeinated as it is believed that more caffeine is lost the longer coffee is roasted. Thus, high levels of caffeine may or may not be associated with "strong coffee."



3. Roast - Another aspect of coffee that may get it to be dubbed "strong" is the depth of its roast. Starbucks Coffee is noted both for its darker roasts (a reputation starting with Alfred Peet at Peet's Coffee) and the strength of its coffee. Darker roasts may evict the notion of bitterness though the actual taste sensation probably would not be classified as "bitter." Darker roasts have a smokier, more burnt impression on the palate. One might consider them to be more hearty or robust--definitely more aromatic. If you think it might be the roast making coffee either too strong or just strong enough for you, try a French Roast of a particular brand alongside another more mildly roasted blend of the same brand. If the darkness of the roast corresponds to what you were thinking by "strong coffee," you've found the answer.



4. Acidity/Body - The least likely reason people may dub a coffee strong or weak deals with the intensity of these two tasting attributes. The acidity refers to the stinging sensation on the sides of the tongue while the body refers to the weight of the coffee on top of the tongue. A highly acidic coffee may be perceived as sour--as it sort of makes you pucker when it hits the sides of the tongue. Some people may feel the "bite" of an acidic coffee and perceive it as strong. Likewise, a heavier-bodied coffee may be perceived as "strong" due to the lingering effect it has on the palate and the fullness of its texture. A heavy body takes over the mouth and sticks for hours. If either of these is the sensation you are getting in your "strong coffee," it most likely has to do with the specific coffee you are drinking and not the brand or brewing method.

Clearly, one can understand why I'm confused when I hear the expression "strong coffee." A coffee may be darkly roasted but have little caffeine. A coffee may be highly acidic but not bitter. A coffee may be highly caffeinated but have little body. There are so many meanings for "strong." So, please, if you have any decency, DO NOT ask if I like my coffee strong!