What is White Coffee?
Our coffee drinkers have so many questions about the newest coffee trend; white coffee. We want everyone to know what goes into their cup of white coffee, so we researched on top of all that we already knew to continue to be your one-stop resource for all things coffee. We know that coffee is a passion for many of you, and it most certainly is a passion for us. Some of the questions we’ve been asked are…
- Does white coffee have more caffeine than regular coffee?
- How to make white coffee?
- What makes coffee white?
What is White Coffee? White Coffee is coffee roasted half of the way through and to a lower temperature. By roasting it to this much lower temperature, you get a whitish colored bean that is higher in caffeine because you roast out less caffeine. This results in a very nutty and sweet taste profile much different from traditional coffee.
We only roast the green beans somewhere in the low 300-degree range. By contrast, a blonde roast is around 420 degrees, and a dark roast is in the 465-to-475-degree range. We like to joke that our Pale Moonlight White Coffee is half-baked.
WHERE DOES WHITE COFFEE COME FROM?
White coffee comes from the same type of beans that are used in traditionally roasted coffee. Whether it’s a blonde roast or a light roast or a medium roast or a dark roast – all of these use the same quality green coffee beans.
The process behind roasting white coffee has been around for at least 50 years. In the past, you could find it here and there but it wasn’t until 2015 that word started to spread that this “other” kind of coffee was perfect for lattes and had a better caffeine kick. Then some studies were done that showed it had more of the healthy antioxidants that were roasted out in the traditional darker roasting process. Sales started to take off, and word of mouth spread quickly. Fast forward to the 2021 explosion in interest, and that is where white coffee came from. The truth is it is not known who tried roasting coffee to such a low temperature first nor why. The important thing is that they did so we can all enjoy a different way to love coffee.
WHITE COFFEE VS BLACK COFFEE
When comparing white coffee vs black coffee, there are several significant differences like roasting temperature, caffeine levels, and flavor.
Both start with the same green coffee beans but because it is roasted to a lower temperature, white coffee retains up to 50% more caffeine than fully roasted black coffee. It also retains more healthy antioxidants because it is roasted to a much lower temperature. The most distinct difference between white coffee and regular coffee is the taste profile. It is more like a sweet, nutty tea vs the strong coffee flavor we are all used to. It is also a much harder and denser bean than a traditionally roasted coffee. This makes it very difficult to grind on a typical home coffee grinder. Most roasters will sell it primarily as ground coffee for that reason. It is not an exaggeration to say white coffee should be in its own unique category. Its growing popularity can be tied to the fact that it is everything traditionally roasted coffee is and more. More caffeine, more healthy antioxidants, and more get up and go for you.
White coffee does not brew the same as regular coffee in your home brewer; the result looks more translucent. However, if you do a second pour-over, you can get a more dense liquid. We also suggest adding one scoop of regular roasted coffee if you are used to the smokey, deep coffee aroma/flavors.
DOES WHITE COFFEE HAVE MORE CAFFEINE?
The short answer is yes; white coffee has up to 50% more caffeine than regular coffee. The reason for this is that for black coffee more caffeine gets roasted out during the roasting process. As with all coffee, the amount of caffeine in a cup can vary significantly depending on how much coffee you use and the method you use to brew it. The brewing method with the highest amount of caffeine per ounce is white espresso, and the brewing method with the lowest amount of caffeine per ounce is the traditional flat bottom drip brewing method. But again, the bottom line is white coffee has up to 50% more caffeine content than black coffee so buckle up when you have a cup!
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WHITE COFFEE?
When looking at the benefits of white coffee, the two most obvious ones are the higher caffeine levels and more of the healthy antioxidants that green coffee naturally has. It has up 50% more caffeine than fully-roasted coffee. It has a nutty flavor that blends well with all the same creamers and flavors that fully roasted coffee does. In addition to the ‘lift’ in caffeine, white coffee is less acidic and therefore better for your stomach and digestive system than traditionally roasted black coffee is. Coffee becomes acidic during the roasting process, and because white coffee is roasted halfway, it doesn’t develop the acidic taste that can be associated with traditionally roasted black coffee. Green coffee is very high in Chlorogenic acid. As coffee is roasted, much like the caffeine, Chlorogenic acid is slowly burnt off. Since white coffee is roasted to a much lower temperature, it holds onto the Chlorogenic acid, which is known to be a powerful antioxidant. Chlorogenic acid has been known to reduce the risk of diabetes, reduce blood pressure, and stimulate weight loss. We recommend that you research the health benefits of white coffee and green coffee.
HOW DO YOU BREW WHITE COFFEE BEANS?
White coffee does not brew the same as regular coffee in your home brewer; the result looks more translucent. Brewing depends on the type of coffee machine or home brewer you have.
Since white coffee is half-roasted; the final product is a very hard version of fully-roasted coffee that would tear up most non-industrial home grinders. For that reason, we grind all of our Pale Moonlight for you to a fine grind. The grounds are denser and less porous than regular ground coffee, which makes brewing it equally unique. The best way to brew any white coffee is with equipment that uses pressure. The three types of coffee makers we recommend are Espresso Machines, Moka Pots, and The AeroPress. All three brewing methods can produce an excellent 2 to a 4-ounce cup of pressure-brewed white coffee that will become the base for making a wide variety of incredibly tasty (and highly caffeinated) drinks.
HOW TO MAKE WHITE COFFEE
To make white coffee at home once you’ve purchased it, we recommend using a home espresso machine. This will yield the strongest results. and give you that nutty tea-like complex flavor.
STEPS TO BREW WHITE COFFEE WITH AN ESPRESSO MACHINE
1. Fill the portafilter with the appropriate amount of white coffee – 7 grams for a single shot and 15 grams for a double shot. If you don’t want to take the time to weigh the coffee, fill the portafilter until it is rounded on top.
2. Tamp the grounds firmly into the portafilter. There is a school of thought that says do not tamp, but we disagree, and our tests have proven the tamp method works well. Remember, ground white coffee beans are gritty, hard, and do not absorb water like regular ground beans do, packing them down is essential.
3. Pre-soak the grounds by starting your shots, count to four, then stop your shot. Wait 20 seconds, and then run your shots through again as you usually would. This extra step will help get the most flavor and the most caffeine out of every draw.
4. Best served as a latte.
STEPS TO BREW WHITE COFFEE WITH A MOKA POT BREWER
Moka Pot – This brewing method, also known as stove top espresso, was invented by Italian engineer Alfonso Bialetti in 1933 and named after the Yemeni city, Moka. This method has a loyal following in the coffee world. Using a Moka Pot is slightly more complicated, but it is not at all difficult once you find a rhythm. The following process will yield the equivalent of a double shot of espresso.
1. Using the stove top burner, boil at least 4 ounces of water (filtered if available).
2. After the water has reached the boiling point, put 4 ounces into the bottom chamber. If you want to eyeball the amount, it is around 1/4th of the way full.
3. Place the filter basket and fill it with 15 grams of white coffee. Shakedown, so it is level. If you don’t want to weigh it out, use two heaping tablespoons of white coffee grounds.
4. Screw on the top chamber (bottom chamber will be hot) and place directly on the stove burner, change heat to medium.
5. Let the water in the bottom chamber come to a soft boil for a few minutes. Adjust the heat up or down accordingly; if it explodes upward, turn the heat down; if it is barely coming through, turn the heat up. It should be a steady, predictable stream, and you will know it is done when the Moka Pot starts to hiss. Practice makes perfect.
6. Best served as a latte.
STEPS TO BREW WHITE COFFEE WITH AN AEROPRESS
AeroPress – The AeroPress was invented in 2005 by Aerobie president Alan Adler. It is in the same price range as the Moka Pot but much easier to use. It is also great for camping or road trips when packing space is limited. Brewing white coffee at home with an AeroPress is easy to perfect and gives you more control in making your personal best cup of coffee. The following process will yield the equivalent of 2 shots of espresso and takes about 5 minutes from beans to cup.
1. Put water on the stove top to boil. Once the water is ready, we recommend preheating the AeroPress by pouring boiling water through the cylinder.
2. Next, place the filter into the filter cap and screw it into the bottom of the main brew chamber. Add 17 grams of white coffee to the main brew chamber and shake a little to level it out. AeroPress comes with a large scoop, and 1 level scoop is very close to 17 grams if you don’t want to weigh.
3. Place the five-sided base with the funnel on top of a sturdy cup. Make sure the whole thing is balanced and secure. Pour hot water (200 degrees is ideal) into the main compartment up to the top of the circle surrounding the 1. There are three numbers for differing brew sizes. The exact amount of water is 100 milliliters if you want to measure.
4. Stir the mixture of water and coffee grounds for 15 to 20 seconds. Put the pump into the top of the chamber and push down slowly, stopping for a moment if the resistance is strong. When you have pushed to the bottom, you’re all set. Remove brewing equipment from the top of the cup.
5. Best served as a latte.