If you’re here, we assume you’re a coffee lover that’s probably had traditional coffee at some point in your life. If you’re like me, at least a cup a day. However, you may be surprised to find out that there is such a thing as white coffee. Although some people refer to regular coffee with cream and sugar as “white coffee,” that’s not what we’re talking about here.
White coffee beans are different from traditional coffee beans requiring a different brew. If you want to brew your first cup of white coffee, then there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind; more on that later. This article will go over what white coffee is, how it’s different, all of its delicious benefits, and how to make a cup of white coffee in 2022.
What Is White Coffee?
If you’re curious if the beans are actually white – yes, they are! At least, they’re white in the way we’re primarily discussing in this article. To create the perfect cup of white coffee, you’ll also need to roast the coffee beans appropriately.
Lebanese White Coffee, for example, isn’t coffee at all but a mixture of hot water, orange blossom, and flavored honey. On the other hand, Ipoh white coffee is a regular coffee that originated in Malaysia. For Ipoh white coffee, you’d roast coffee beans with palm oil margarine and serve with condensed milk.
Roasting white coffee beans is an art. Coffee beans are a little finicky, so different roasting methods will dramatically affect their flavor. Nailing down the proper roasting balance for coffee beans takes time, effort, and a little bit of patience.
Is White Coffee the Same Thing as Flat White?
In some cases, you may hear the term “white coffee” as a reference to Flat White or a regular coffee with cream and sugar. Flat white coffee has espresso made with regular roasted beans. However, coffee beans adopt the brown color commonly associated with regular coffee beans with a traditional coffee bean roast. With a White Coffee bean roast, the colors of the beans will not turn that brown color.
Additionally, white coffee is not a blond roast or a traditional light roast coffee. Roasted white coffee beans are one of a kind.
Why Is It Called White Coffee?
Because most coffee brewing methods cause coffee beans to turn a deep, dark brown, white coffee stands out. White coffee is aptly named, as its name is due to the light color of the white coffee bean.
Where Does White Coffee Come From?
White coffee is a new trend in 2022. However, it’s been around for about a century after its introduction in a Western Asian country, Yemen. Then and there, they would traditionally serve white coffee with hawaji, a Yeoman spice.
What Is The Difference Between Black Coffee and White Coffee?
Here are the main differences between black coffee and white coffee.
Roasting Temperatures
Roasting temperatures play the most prominent role in differentiating white coffee from black coffee. While roasting black coffee at around 400-480 degrees, you need to roast white coffee at a much lower temperature, about 325 degrees.
Caffeine Content
When you roast black coffee, you essentially burn the caffeine off. The high temperature when roasting coffee actually breaks down the caffeine in the bean.
Does White Coffee Have More Caffeine?
Because you need to roast white coffee at lower temperatures, the caffeine is extra intense. Some coffee connoisseurs claim white coffee may have twice as much caffeine compared to black coffee. Realistically, it’s closer to a 5% increase in caffeine.
Acidity
Coffee is considered acidic, and its acidity depends on its roast. The process of brewing white coffee results in a less acidic coffee. Maybe you have GERD or acid reflux, but love a fresh cup of coffee to start your day. Some studies suggest avoiding coffee altogether if you have acid reflux. Because white coffee is less acidic, it is easier on your stomach and better for those with sensitive stomachs.
Taste and Aroma
While we all love the smell of brewing coffee first thing in the morning, it’s more than that. All coffee beans start out as green coffee beans. When you roast coffee beans, this causes chemical changes, affecting their flavor and aroma. The aroma dramatically affects what your cup of coffee will taste like, so it’s essential to keep that in mind.
Cooler and slower roasts have a light, sweet, and nutty taste like white coffee. Hot and longer roasts bring bold, smokey, and somewhat bitter flavors. However, there’s no right or wrong coffee taste; it’s all up to personal preference.
What Are the Benefits of White Coffee?
White coffee not only has more caffeine, but it has more chlorogenic acid due to its light roast. Studies show that this potent antioxidant has the following health benefits:
- Anti-diabetic
- Anti-carcinogenic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-obesity impacts
- Can provide a more natural option to treat or prevent some chronic diseases
- Less acidic and easier on the stomach
So simply put, if you drink white coffee, you can reduce the risk of diabetes, lower your blood pressure, and even lose weight.
Is White Coffee Healthier Than Black Coffee?
As if you didn’t need another reason to love coffee, a plain black cup of coffee has next to no calories and an abundance of nutritional benefits. However, a light roast equals more antioxidant qualities, so you’re essentially getting more bang for your buck (or cup). So while both are excellent options, white coffee is the healthier option.
Where Can I Buy White Coffee?
You can purchase white coffee just about everywhere you purchase black coffee. Even though you may have missed it before, white coffee is in most grocery stores. You can also buy white coffee on online marketplaces, such as Amazon. Poverty Bay and Wired Willey are coffee brands that sell delicious white coffee beans. Or, you can simply head to your favorite coffee shop to give it a try.
White Coffee Preparation and Recipes
Rather than learning how to roast the beans yourself, you can purchase coffee that’s been roasted to perfection. Here are some flavor combinations and recipes that work well with white coffee.
French Press
Like drip coffee, you will want to go easy on white coffee grounds. Rather than making the maximum amount of coffee, start with a cup or two at a time. Add one TBSP of coffee for every 200 ml (6.7 oz) of water. Pour hot, unboiled water into the pot, and stir slowly. Carefully add in the plunger and stop right above the water. Let it stand for 3-4 minutes, and gently plunge.
Irish White Coffee Recipe
Nutty white coffee pairs fabulously with Irish liquor.
- Two shots of white coffee
- 1.5 oz of Irish liquor
- Steamed milk (your preferred amount)
Iced Hazelnut White Coffee Recipe
White coffee isn’t just for hot coffee. Give this iced white coffee recipe a try.
- In a french press or drip coffee maker brew 2 heaping tablespoons of white coffee
- Pour a couple tablespoons of creamer, 1 tablespoon of hazelnut syrup, and a pinch of hot cocoa powder in a glass. Mix it all together.
- Add 1 cup of ice and slowly pour the brewed white coffee over the ice to cool it down as you pour.
- Add another cup or so of ice to your coffee.
- Stir the iced coffee a few times to fully cool it down and enjoy!
Coconut White Coffee Cappuccino Recipe
- Make two shots of white coffee espresso
- Heat ⅓ cup of coconut milk in a saucepan and froth. You may also add a tablespoon of your favorite coconut creamer.
- Pour the frothy coconut milk over the espresso shot. Hold the foam back using a spoon as you pour, and top the foam off when you’re finished.
- Dust a bit of cocoa powder or cinnamon on top and enjoy!
How Do You Brew White Coffee Beans?
The best way to brew white coffee is with an espresso machine, but it’s not the only way.
How Do You Make White Coffee
- Espresso Method
- Drip Coffee Preparation
- French Press
Espresso Method
Using an espresso maker will be your best bet to mastering the white coffee brew. Here is how to do it.
- Add roughly 7 grams per espresso shot.
- Firmly tamp the ground coffee into the portafilter.
- Soak the ground coffee and wait 15-20 seconds before you run the shots as usual. Adding this step results in more flavor and caffeine.
- Add your chosen creamer, milk, sugar, or flavorings. We suggest heating milk and sugar and frothing it to top it off.
White Angel
Preheat a small saucepan to medium-low heat and warm up milk and sugar for a couple of minutes until it simmers. Froth the milk and sugar until it’s frothy. Add your preferred amount of white chocolate or vanilla syrup to the bottom of your mug. Then, pour white coffee over the syrup and top with the frothed milk.
- 2 oz White Coffee
- 1 oz Vanilla Syrup
- 12 oz Frothed Milk
Drip Coffee Preparation
Drip coffee makers can be tricky to perfect. White coffee grounds tend to absorb water and swell twice their volume, which may cause some overflow. Any standard drip coffee maker should work fine; just be sure to start small to ensure you don’t overflow grounds into your pot. Avoid using any pour-over brewers or Bunn brewers.
Snickers Jitters
Follow the exact instructions above for the frothed milk. Add the chocolate, caramel, and hazelnut syrup to the bottom of the mug, add coffee, and top with frothed milk.
- 2 oz of White Coffee
- 1/2 oz Chocolate Syrup
- 1/4 oz Hazelnut
- 1/4 oz Caramel Syrup
- Frothed Milk
How Do You Drink White Coffee?
You can drink white coffee just as you would black coffee. We suggest trying white coffee without any flavorings, milk, cream, or sugar to get an idea of its natural flavor. From there, you’ll have a better idea of how much of everything you’ll need.
Conclusion
White coffee is a roasting method that affects the caffeine, acidity, flavor, and aroma. This coffee has a sweet, nutty flavor. The main difference between black and white coffee lies in its roasting method. White coffee roasts at a lower temperature, causing more whitish-beige color than dark brown. Because white coffee roasts less heat, it has a higher antioxidant content, giving it many health benefits. If you have acid reflux, GERD, struggle with weight loss, or want to reduce blood pressure, white coffee may be an excellent option for you.
