So you’ve just heard someone mention “White Coffee”, but you’re not entirely sure what it is. Is it a coffee that contains milk? Like a latte or cappuccino? Before you think any further, hold that thought and continue reading. In this article, I will be going over what white coffee is and where it originated from.
What is White Coffee?
To answer your previous thought, white coffee isn’t a coffee with cream or milk, nor is it a variation of the flat white. While this might come as a surprise, the existence of white coffee has been around longer than you probably have expected. White coffee originates from a century-old Yemen tradition where the coffee beans go through a low roasting temperature (325F/163C), below the average standard. Due to the low roast temperature, the coffee beans are light in colour in comparison to the regular roasts. The white coffee beans are very hard and do require to be ground by a commercial grinder. Once they are ground and brewed, the coffee takes on a beautiful tan colour.
What does White Coffee taste like?
White coffee’s taste profile can be described as a low bitter “nutty” flavour with a sharp acidic after taste. Since the beans are roasted at a low temperature, the natural sugars of the coffee beans are not caramelized, resulting in a sweet after taste that is not bitter. Just like a traditional light roast, many natural flavours remain in the coffee bean during the light roasting process. Depending on what region and growing condition of the bean, you can expect different tasting profiles. (1)
In Yemen culture, white coffee is served with “Hawaij” a traditional mix of spices that is made up of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves. The cardamom in the Hawaij delivers a nice warmth to the coffee, while the ginger gives it a nice kick. This combination of the two not only gives you an extremely delicious coffee but can also help you with digestive problems if you’re feeling unwell.
White Coffee vs Black Coffee
Many people like to think that White Coffee is a lot more caffeinated than Black Coffee. Though this is slightly true, it is known that during a longer roasting process the caffeine in the coffee bean can slightly decrease, but it’s not as extreme as people might think. There is a small 5-8% caffeine increase from the darker roasts. According to doctors, it is known as a health elixir. Since the bean roasts at a low temperature, it retains a greater amount of chlorogenic acid which is known to help lower blood sugar levels and boost your metabolism. (2)
How to Drink It?
White Coffee is best drunk as-is, or with “Hawaij”. Some coffee drinkers recommend adding almond or vanilla soy milk since it compliments the coffee’s nutty taste profile. When it comes to taste there aren’t any rules, it all comes down to personal preference.
Where Can I Buy It?
So are you looking to try White Coffee? Chances are that your local supermarket probably won’t be carrying it. But don’t you worry! I’ve listed some various coffee companies below that carry it.
Caffe Bianco by Caffe Appassionato
The Caffee Bianco white coffee by Caffee Appassionato is lightly roasted coffee that is composed of 100% Arabica coffee beans. It has a well-defined nutty taste, a light body and is nicely caffeinated. The coffee is low in acidity and is a great choice for anyone that’s looking to make a transition into the coffee. The beans are roasted locally in Magnolia, Seattle since the early ’90s. Check them out here
- Extremely lightly roasted coffee, This 'white coffee' Blend is comprised of 100% Arabica coffee beans
- It offers a distinct nutty, light bodied, high caffeine coffee experience
- Hand roasted for just enough time to achieve the desired nutty flavor when brewed. Positively different than traditional dark roasted coffee.
- Because of shorter roasting times, white coffee beans are much denser than traditional roasted coffee and would likely break an average household grinder. We use a special grinder to produce the desired consistency to maximize the flavor and caffeine of the coffee.
- While called “white” coffee, the roasted beans are actually a light tan in color and the brewed coffee will have a light brown hue. Non-coffee drinkers will likely find the taste appealing!
White Tornado by Poverty Bay Coffee Co.
The Poverty Bay Coffee company has over 30 years of experience in small batch micro roasting and coffee sourcing. They bring you a delicious White coffee that has been roasted at a low temperature of 325 degrees. Giving the coffee a bold nutty flavour that will have you wanting more after each cup. This coffee will give you a nice jolt of caffeine compared to your regular coffee roasts, keeping you well-caffeinated throughout the day. Check them out here
- WHAT IS WHITE COFFEE: White Coffee is coffee beans that have been slow roasted to a much lower tempurature, it has up to 50% more caffeine than fully roasted coffee and a very unique taste that is sweet and nutty and blends well with any other flavoring.
- HOW ITS MADE: White Coffee is made by roasting coffee beans at a lower temperature and for half of the time that regular coffee is roasted. White Coffee is half-baked! To be more specific, White Coffee is roasted to around 325 Degrees whereas fully roasted coffee is roasted to anywhere from 450 Degrees to 480 Degrees.
- BENEFITS OF WHITE COFFEE: White Coffee has up 50% more caffeine than fully-roasted coffee. It has a very nutty flavor that blends well with all the same creamers and flavors that fully-roasted coffee does. Some people report that White Coffee has a bolder coffee flavor than black coffee. In addition to the ‘lift’ in caffeine, White Coffee is less acidic and retains more antioxidants.
- POVERTY BAY COFFEE CO: With over 30 years’ experience of coffee sourcing and small-batch micro-roasting in the Pacific Northwest, our coffee blends are superior in taste.
Polar Bear Blend Ground Coffee by Alaska Artisan Coffee
The Alaska Artisan Coffee company presents an organic roast that is roasted using fresh mountain air from Alaska. Located in the stunning city of Palmer in Alaska they are just forty miles north of Alaska’s largest city Anchorage. This coffee has a nutty taste that packs a higher antioxidant and caffeine level than regular coffee roasts. The Alaska Artisan Coffee company are coffee experts with over 20 years of roasting experience. Check them out here.
Wired Willey’s by Lowery’s Coffee
If you’re looking to get as wired as Willey, then this roast is for you. This is an extremely lightly roasted coffee with a smooth body that has a unique nutty taste and is supercharged with caffeine. White coffee is prone to expansion so when making espresso, tamping is not recommended. Check them out here.
- Caffeine content description: caffeinated
- Item form: Ground
- Caffeine content: Caffeinated
- Container type: Bag
- Item package dimensions: 9.0 inches
Espresso Classico by Bargreen’s Coffee
Dating back more than a century, the Bargreen’s Coffee company has been serving nothing but quality to its loyal customers of over 120 years. The Espresso Classico is a perfect example of their excellent quality. Offering a highly caffeinated and low acidic roast that is nutty and mellow in taste with no bitterness. Check them out here.
![Espresso Classico WHITE Ground Gourmet Coffee [Net WT 1 lb]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41bZpdCcPOL._SL160_.jpg)
- Caffeine content description: caffeinated
- Specialty: Kosher Certified
- Special ingredients: Kosher Certified
- Caffeine content: caffeinated
- Container type: Plastic Bottle
Special White by Abbey Roast
Made from Brazilian Arabica coffee beans this low-temperature roast is roasted to a perfect golden hue. Delivering a creamy light body and nutty-tasting profile, that is rich in natural antioxidants and packs a great deal of caffeine. This is a great transitional coffee for any avid tea drinker. Check them out here.
How to Brew White Coffee
The process of brewing white coffee is just like any other coffee. Since the beans are very dense, you are most likely going to be buying them pre-ground. They require a heavy-duty commercial grinder, a household grinder will most likely get damaged or won’t do a proper job.
Most white coffee roasters recommend brewing white coffee with an espresso machine or any form of concentrated brewing method for best results. They also encourage you not to tap the grind, for it will expand in the portafilter.
Once you have your brew, you can spice it up with “Hawaij” or add some almond or soy milk. You can also enjoy it as is!
So there you have it! White Coffee, sounds amazing right? If you haven’t tried it, I recommend giving it a go!
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