Coffee is a Journey
The rich taste of your favorite coffee is only rivaled by a rich history.
Coffee was first discovered hundreds of years ago in the rugged splendor of Northern Africa. A popular legend has an ancient goat shepherd observing his herd acting unusually frisky after eating berries from a bush. Curious, he tried eating the berries himself and found that they gave him a renewed vitality. The news of this energy-laden fruit quickly spread throughout the region.
From there, coffee traveled to the verdant peaks of Turkey where coffee beans were roasted for the first time over open fires. The roasted beans were crushed, and then boiled in water, creating a crude version of the beverage we enjoy today.
Coffee Today
There are about 25 major species of Coffee, but the typical coffee drinker is likely to be familiar with two: Arabica and Robusta.
Arabica and Robusta beans are the two that are predominantly used around the world. Arabica beans represent approximately 70 percent of the world's coffee production. They're described either as "Brazils" (because they typically come from Brazil), or as "Milds" which come from elsewhere. Although Arabica beans contain less caffeine than Robusta beans, they yield more intense and fragrant flavors ranging from a sweet-soft to a sharp-tangy taste which is why they are used for NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto™ Coffee.
Robusta coffee is grown in West and Central Africa, throughout Southeast Asia, and parts of South America, including Brazil. They're hearty beans that are more tolerant of climate. Robusta beans are less aromatic and have a more neutral flavor than Arabica beans. It is Robusta beans that add body to a cup of coffee.
Coffee is a Journey
Coffee is the second largest commodity in the world, but at NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, we believe that quality is far more important than quantity. After all, a cup of coffee is only as good as its taste. Flavor, aroma and body wedded together in perfect harmony to create a deeply satisfying experience. Achieving this delicate balance is as complex and as rich as the flavor in your cup.
The path to producing coffee is neither short nor easy. Seedlings can take as long as five years to begin yielding harvestable fruit and special care is needed at each step along the way. Different types of coffee plants - combined with differences in soil, climate and post-harvest processing methods - result in a wide range of distinctly flavored varieties.
Yet through care and patience, the rich personality of these extraordinary crops is retained and complemented, resulting in a cup brimming with robust romance.