Coffee has become the second most valuable commodity in the world after oil. It originated in the highlands of Ethiopia during the 15th century, and 125 million people today depend on coffee for their livelihood. The World Bank estimates that nearly 500 million people are involved in the business, if you include the people who make the cardboard cups. Coffee has become big business, and with the recent explosion in coffeehouses around the world, it shows no sign of slowing down.

There are many different types of coffee available from various parts of the world. There are different types of roasts, cappuccinos, lattes and the best-selling instant. There are a few tips to remember when selecting your coffee.

With instant coffee, the flavor will never be as strong or intense as that of real coffee. Instant coffees are made with a low-grade robusta, a type of coffee bean. Intense processing eliminates any aroma or flavor that is associated with real coffee.

There have long been discussions as to whether single origin coffees are better than blends. Alpha beans that have complex characteristics are best brewed alone, but inferior beans can achieve a more rounded flavor through blending. Blends taste better when brewed through an espresso machine. This distorts the flavor and heightens the acidity. Single origins are best brewed using slow methods such as filters or cafetieres.

The strength of your drink depends on how much coffee you use when making it. A teaspoon in a pint of water will make it weak; eight ounces will make it strong. Dark roasts increase the bitter, burnt flavors, but they do not necessarily increase the strength.

A latte is a very popular drink, but to the experts, it isn’t actually coffee. Lattes don’t exist in Italy, despite the Italian derivation of the name. The name latte was invented in the United States by vendors in the 1980s. It is essentially hot milk with a dash of coffee thrown in. Basically, some believe, it is coffee for people who don’t like coffee.

Coffee beans are grown the world over. The altitude, climate and soil give each bean its own particular flavor. In Ethiopia, Yirgacheffe is grown at the highest altitude in the world, 7,000 ft (2.13 km), and is an unusually good accompaniment to curries. Indonesia has Aged Sukawesi, which is stored in palm-thatched barns under humid conditions for several years. The result is a heavy flavor and a total absence of acidity.

The most expensive bean in the world is produced in Indonesia. Called Kopi Luak, it costs 700 US dollars (USD) for a kilogram (2.2 lb) and has a flavor that is impossible to imitate. The reason for this is that the Civet cat chews on the ripe cherries and the stone, or coffee bean, is retrieved by farmers once it has taken its natural course through the cat. The bean is then washed and roasted, and the intense odor of the drink comes from the musk secreted by the anal glands of the cat. Perhaps this is not the best drink for a pick-me-up at breakfast.