Minimoka knows that people who choose its coffee-makers investigate, nose around and above all, enjoy coffee. The places it comes from, the toasting or its history are things which only a true coffee expert knows. Discover the secrets of this liquid delicacy with Minimoka.
Arabica coffee was described for the first time in 1753 and is one of the most popular coffees due to its delicate flavour, caramel taste and refined aroma. It makes up 70% of the annual production and its most common varieties are Typica and Bourbon. Other highly popular varieties are Blue Mountain, Hawaiian Kona and Moka. The bean emerges from a large bush which flowers every 9 months. Its main disadvantage is its low resistance to pests.
Robusta coffee appeared around 1895 and makes up 30% of the annual production. It is a bush which can reach up to 10 metres in height. The fruit takes 11 months to ripen, is highly resistant to pests and diseases and can be grown in a greater number of areas. These properties make it a profitable alternative to Arabica coffee, although its flavour is stronger and it has higher caffeine content.
Discovered in 1872, the Liberica bean emerges from a large bush which can reach a height of 18 metres. Its leaves and fruit are larger than other varieties and it is common in Malaysia and some areas of Java. It is marketed in small quantities because its aroma and taste are in limited demand.
It is said that it appeared in modern-day Ethiopia. A shepherd found the bush and after trying its bitter seeds, threw them into the fire. When they toasted, the seeds gave off an intense aroma and a drink was prepared with them.
The drink spread rapidly in the Muslim countries thanks to pilgrims and merchants. In 1475 the first cafeteria opened in Turkey.
Coffee arrived in Europe in about 1600 thanks to Venetian merchants. The first coffee-houses” appeared in Italy. In Southern and Western Europe the drink was very well accepted and the first cafeterias opened in Oxford and London.
Coffee arrived in Boston in 1689 and it had become the official drink of the British colonies following the rise in the price of tea. It spread through the rest of the colonies, such as Indonesia, Java or Santo Domingo, and later to Colombia and Brazil.
In many countries, coffee was associated with progressive ideas, as social groups often gathered in cafeterias. In Spain, we have the Café Gijón (1888) in Madrid or the Café Novelty (1905) in Salamanca.
Around 1900, an Italian named Luigi Bezzera invented a pressurised machine which prepared coffee and boosted its properties. Thus was born the first espresso coffee-maker.
Today coffee is one of the most social drinks in our country and is completely integrated into our daily lives. We invite you to join in with the story with Minimoka.