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nescafé frequently asked questions

FAQs

Answers to the questions we get asked the most about in the world of NESCAFÉ®.

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General FAQs

Where did coffee originate?
Coffee beans were discovered in Ethiopia, where they are still grown today.Legend has it that a goatherd named Kaldi realised that his goats became far more active and didn't want to sleep at night after eating the berries of a certain bush. That was the start of the long history of coffee, with the first use of coffee as a drink being recorded in Yemen, in the 15th century. Since then, coffee has spread to various other regions in the world - with NESCAFÉ coffee beans coming from Africa, South America, and Asia.
How many types of coffee beans are there?
There are 4 types of coffee bean.Arabica, Robusto, Excelsa and Liberica. All four have radically different taste profiles. NESCAFÉ® uses a careful blend of two types of beans – Arabica, which makes a smoother, sweeter coffee, and Robusta, which brews into an intense, bold coffee, with a higher caffeine content.
What is a coffee bean?
A coffee bean is the seed of the coffee plant. It's the part that gets roasted, brewed, and ground into the coffee granules you use every day. Often referred to as a cherry, it is the pip inside the red or purple fruit of the coffee plant.
Where do coffee beans grow?
NESCAFÉ® carefully blends together Robusta and Arabica beans to create our signature instant coffee granules. The Arabica beans we use are grown in Latin America and Eastern Africa. The Robusta beans (as well as their close relative, the Conillon) we use require different growing conditions, and are farmed in South East Asia, and Western Africa. Conillon specifically grows in Brazil.
How is freeze dried coffee made?
Freeze-dried coffee is made by brewing ground coffee beans with water, evaporating some as much of the water as possible to leave behind a coffee extract, which is then frozen and broken up into soluble instant coffee granules.
How do we make instant coffee?
Making instant coffee granules from coffee beans is a long process with four main parts – harvesting the beans, drying them, roasting them, and milling them.
Is NESCAFÉ instant coffee real coffee?
NESCAFÉ instant coffee granules are made from 100% pure coffee. The only thing added throughout the process is plain water, which is then mostly removed toward the end of the process.
How much coffee do you use for instant coffee?
We’d recommend 1 teaspoon (3 grams) of NESCAFÉ instant coffee, but you might prefer it a different level of intensity. Experiment and find your perfect taste!
How do you make coffee more creamy?
Making your favourite NESCAFÉ deliciously creamy and smooth more is as simple as adding milk, creamer, or milk powder. A little bit goes a long way so try a all three options to find your perfect combination.
Is iced coffee just cold coffee?
Yes, precisely! The only difference is that iced coffee is made directly with cold water, instead of boiling your kettle first. While the ingredients are the same as a normal cup of coffee (coffee granules and water), you can add ice cubes, chilled milk, or whipped cream to flavour it with your personal style. It’s not the same as making a hot cup of NESCAFÉ and letting it cool – it’s about getting ice-cold refreshment from your favourite NESCAFÉ.
How many coffee types exist?
There are over 30 combinations of coffee types in the world - from Cappuccino's to a Café Au Lait. From this, there are thousands of unique recipes to make these coffee types your own, with new recipes being invented all the time. Give them all a try and find out which one is your favourite.
Which are the most popular coffee drinks?
The cappuccino, the latte, and the espresso shot are probably the most popular types – or at least, the most well-known. But there’s a lot more variety to be discovered and enjoyed. A café au lait takes it's inspiration from a latte but is made with brewed coffee whereas a lungo is similar to an espresso but comes in a larger volume.