What Does A Strong Cup Of Coffee Actually Mean?

What makes a good cup of coffee? The answer depends on your preferences, of course. Still, some metrics determine what coffee aficionados consider a stellar cup of java — some of which you may have never even thought about. 

For instance, Atlas Coffee Club shares that the taste of your coffee is primarily determined by how much you're agitating the beans, which is just a fancy term for pouring water on ground coffee beans. If your water is too cool, you won't draw out all of the beans' flavor.

Of course, the quality of the coffee beans matters too. According to Barista Lab, the crème de la crème of coffee beans is called specialty coffee, which is grown around the world in areas with exemplary soil and climate conditions. There are various additional factors at play when making a great cup of joe, including the freshness of the beans, the type of water, and filter quality.

In fact, crafting a perfect cup of coffee is a science that most people have yet to nail down, made more difficult by the fact that there are over 1,000 chemicals in a cup of coffee, some of which are still unknown (via Ars Technica). What is easier to narrow down, however, is what makes up a strong cup of coffee.

According to Japanese Coffee Co., two variables indicate if a cup of coffee is strong, the first is caffeine content. Since ground coffee is typically 2 to 5% caffeine, the main way to make a strong cup of joe is to simply use more of it. Mr. Coffee also advises going for a light roast for maximum caffeine because these beans are roasted less and thus retain more of the jittery stuff you're looking for. 

If you've ever been to Starbucks, you know this to be true — not only does it have some of the highest caffeine content in its coffee compared to other chains, but the blonde roast has more caffeine than Pike Place or the featured dark roast (via Caffeine Informer).

For those who aren't just looking at coffee as a way to stay awake, Japanese Coffee Co. explains that a potent flavor is another way to describe a strong cup of coffee. In a world of Frappuccinos, Pistachio Cream Cold Brews, and a plethora of milk and sugar options, a strong cup of coffee can be a black cup without all the additions. 

It's important to note, however, that strong coffee does not necessarily mean bitter coffee. While a black cup may have a bitter taste, that's simply the taste of java — true bitterness is attributed to green beans used to make it, or burnt coffee, according to Driftaway.