Genetic determinants of liking and intake of coffee and other bitter foods and beverages

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Coffee is a widely consumed beverage that is naturally bitter and contains caffeine. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of coffee drinking have identified genetic variants involved in caffeine-related pathways but not in taste perception. The taste of coffee can be altered by addition of milk/sweetener, which has not been accounted for in GWAS.

Using UK and US cohorts, we test the hypotheses that genetic variants related to taste are more strongly associated with consumption of black coffee than with consumption of coffee with milk or sweetener and that genetic variants related to caffeine pathways are not differentially associated with the type of coffee consumed independent of caffeine content. Contrary to our hypotheses, genetically inferred caffeine sensitivity was more strongly associated with coffee taste preferences than with genetically inferred bitter taste perception. These findings extended to tea and dark chocolate. Taste preferences and physiological caffeine effects intertwine in a way that is difficult to distinguish for individuals which may represent conditioned taste preferences.

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04January
2022
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Category: Coffee

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    Medium Dark Roast

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    Rich, dark color, this roast has some oil on the surface and with a slight bittersweet aftertaste.

    Dark Roast

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    This roast produces shiny black beans with an oily surface and a pronounced bitterness. The darker the roast, the less acidity will be found in the coffee beverage. Dark roast coffees run from slightly dark to charred, and the names are often used interchangeably — be sure to check your beans before you buy them!

    Light Roast

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    - Light brown in color, this roast is generally preferred for milder coffee varieties. There will be no oil on the surface of these beans because they are not roasted long enough for the oils to break through to the surface.

    Medium Roast

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    - This roast is medium brown in color with a stronger flavor and a non-oily surface. It’s often referred to as the American roast because it is generally preferred in the United States.

    Extra Fine

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    Turkish coffee is essentially very strong coffee with fine grinds in it. Based on that description alone, it’s a no-brainer that this kind of coffee requires an extra fine grind. To give you an idea of size, the coffee grinds should resemble powdered sugar, making it even finer than what’s used espresso. The grinds need to be so fine that some grinders can’t even accommodate Turkish coffee. So, when you’re looking for a coffee grinder, make sure it has the proper settings should Turkish coffee be your coffee of choice.

    Fine Grind

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    For stovetop espresso makers, use a fine coffee grind. A fine grind will be similar in size and feel to that of sugar. It should also be slightly coarser than a grind used for a regular espresso maker. Fine grind is required because of the short time the coffee grind comes in contact with water. Pressure builds up in the espresso maker which forces the water through the fine grinds. If you were to use a coarse grind, the water would not be able to extract the flavor from the beans. Due to this, espresso is the most sensitive of coffee types when it comes to the size of the grind of coffee beans and brewing good coffee. If the grind is just slightly finer or coarser, it can drastically affect the end taste of the espresso.

    Medium Coarse Grind

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    For pour over coffee, the best grind to use is a medium-coarse grind. A medium-coarse grind will be similar in size to a French press grind but less chunky and will feel slightly smoother. If you are using a cone-shaped pour over, then use a medium-fine coffee grind instead. Since there are many different pour over brewers, each one will need a slightly different grind. You may need to experiment a bit more with this method until you find what tastes best for you. Keep in mind: the less time the water is in contact with the coffee grind, the finer the grind should be.

    Coarse Grind

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    Brewing coffee with a French Press requires a coarse, even grind. A coarse ground will look somewhat chunky. Because the coffee is steeped in boiling water, the contact time between the water and coffee is much longer, which requires a coarser grind. Grinding the coffee too coarse will make the coffee weak. Grinding too fine will make the coffee murky and taste bitter.

    Medium Grind

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    Siphon coffee requires a medium grind size between filter and espresso but closer to the filter size. Siphon coffee makers typically use a cloth or metal filter, producing a full-bodied and clean cup. You don’t want the grinds to be too fine that they’ll clog the filter and you don’t want them to be too big. If the grinds are too big, flavor will be lacking as it is a quick brewing process. Learnhow to make siphon coffee.