The Forgotten Element in Specialty Coffee: Rethinking Milk’s Role

The Forgotten Element in Specialty Coffee: Rethinking Milk’s Role

In the intricate world of specialty coffee, where every detail matters, one critical component remains consistently overlooked: milk. Despite its integral role in countless coffee beverages, milk rarely receives the same scrutiny as beans, origins, or brewing methods. This oversight, highlighted by coffee expert and entrepreneur Enea Muskaj, has sparked a crucial conversation about the standards surrounding milk in specialty coffee.

Muskaj’s thought-provoking Instagram post addressed this gap in the industry, arguing that milk should be treated with the same care and precision as single-origin coffee beans. “The Forgotten Element of Specialty Coffee: Milk,” Muskaj wrote. “Having spent a year in the UAE, I’ve noticed an important conversation missing from the specialty coffee scene: milk. Locally sourced, farm-fresh milk isn’t just a nice addition—it’s essential.” His call to action urged coffee professionals to prioritize milk quality, not as an afterthought, but as a defining feature of an exceptional cup.

This sentiment struck a chord, drawing responses from experts and enthusiasts alike, all of whom contributed nuanced perspectives to the discussion.

A Shift in Cultural Perception

Claudia, from Keep Calm and Drink Coffee in Italy, shared her personal evolution in coffee preferences, moving from milk-based drinks to black coffee. Yet, she acknowledged the significant impact milk quality has on beverages like cappuccinos, underscoring the importance of this often-ignored element.

Milk in the UAE: Quality and Awareness

Coffee expert Sayed Naveed provided a deeper look at milk quality in the UAE, where standardized products dominate the market. “For years, I never gave much thought to the quality of milk,” he admitted. However, a recent conversation with Muskaj led him to reflect on factors that influence milk’s taste and nutritional value, from the breed and care of cows to the processes of homogenization and pasteurization. He also raised concerns about how industrial treatments might exacerbate lactose intolerance, emphasizing the need for greater awareness about the milk we consume.

Crafting the Perfect Texture

From Al Ain, UAE, coffee expert Khaled Al Dhaheri shifted the focus to how milk is handled in cafés. “The issue isn’t just about milk quality,” he argued. “It’s about steaming it correctly.” According to Al Dhaheri, improper steaming often results in textures that fail to meet the standards of specialty coffee. “The froth process for cappuccinos, lattes, and flat whites is frequently mishandled, even in high-end cafés,” he noted, calling for a renewed emphasis on technique to ensure each drink achieves its intended texture and flavor profile.

The Larger Problem: A Need for Standards

Al Dhaheri’s observations resonated with Naveed, sparking a candid exchange about the lack of consistency in milk preparation across the industry. “Many cafés, especially in the West, prioritize speed over quality,” Al Dhaheri lamented. “This is not Starbucks. Specialty coffee deserves better.” Both experts agreed that the industry must uphold higher standards, not only in milk sourcing but also in preparation techniques.

The Chemistry of Milk: Insights from Rony Baz

SCA-certified coffee expert Rony Baz added a scientific dimension to the conversation, emphasizing the role milk plays in achieving a balanced cup. With over 60% of a cappuccino’s composition consisting of milk, Baz explained how its fat content, proteins, and lactose contribute to the drink’s texture, foam, and sweetness. He criticized the use of UHT milk in specialty coffee, calling it “pure laziness” and stressing the importance of fresh, whole milk to enhance the coffee experience. Baz also acknowledged the growing demand for alternative milks, such as oat and soy, while noting that they often fail to replicate the results achieved with fresh dairy milk.

Elevating Milk: A New Standard for Specialty Coffee

This dialogue has underscored a fundamental truth: milk is far more than a complement to coffee—it is a key ingredient that shapes the overall experience. The conversation revealed several critical insights:

  1. Milk Quality is Non-Negotiable: Locally sourced, farm-fresh milk enhances flavor and texture, while industrial processes may compromise both.
  2. Steaming Techniques Matter: Proper handling of milk is crucial to achieving the desired consistency and flavor balance in milk-based beverages.
  3. Awareness is Essential: Just as specialty coffee educates consumers about beans, it must also highlight the importance of milk in creating exceptional coffee experiences.

At QahwaWorld, we recognize the need to redefine standards in specialty coffee by giving milk the attention it deserves. This conversation is only the beginning of a broader movement to ensure that every element of coffee, from bean to cup, reflects the highest quality and care.

We invite you, our readers, to contribute to this vital dialogue. Share your thoughts with us at news@qahwaworld.com, and join us in reshaping the future of specialty coffee. Together, let’s elevate every cup.

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[:ar]Privacy Policy for qahwa world At qahwaworld, accessible from qahwaworld.com, one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by qahwaworld and how we use it. If you have additional questions or require more information about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us. This Privacy Policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website with regards to the information that they shared and/or collect in qahwaworld. This policy is not applicable to any information collected offline or via channels other than this website. Our Privacy Policy was created with the help of the Free Privacy Policy Generator. Consent By using our website, you hereby consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. 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Privacy Policy for Qahwa World

At Qahwa World, accessible from https://qahwaworld.com, one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by Qahwa World and how we use it. If you have additional questions or require more information about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us. This Privacy Policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website with regards to the information that they shared and/or collect in Qahwa World. This policy is not applicable to any information collected offline or via channels other than this website. Our Privacy Policy was created with the help of the Free Privacy Policy Generator.

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Like any other website, Qahwa World uses 'cookies'. These cookies are used to store information including visitors' preferences, and the pages on the website that the visitor accessed or visited. The information is used to optimize the users' experience by customizing our web page content based on visitors' browser type and/or other information. For more general information on cookies, please read the Cookies article on Generate Privacy Policy website.

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You may consult this list to find the Privacy Policy for each of the advertising partners of Qahwa World. Third-party ad servers or ad networks uses technologies like cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons that are used in their respective advertisements and links that appear on Qahwa World, which are sent directly to users' browser. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. These technologies are used to measure the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns and/or to personalize the advertising content that you see on websites that you visit. Note that Qahwa World has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.

Third Party Privacy Policies

Qahwa World's Privacy Policy does not apply to other advertisers or websites. Thus, we are advising you to consult the respective Privacy Policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information. It may include their practices and instructions about how to opt-out of certain options. You can choose to disable cookies through your individual browser options. To know more detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers, it can be found at the browsers' respective websites.

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Under the CCPA, among other rights, California consumers have the right to: Request that a business that collects a consumer's personal data disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal data that a business has collected about consumers. Request that a business delete any personal data about the consumer that a business has collected. Request that a business that sells a consumer's personal data, not sell the consumer's personal data. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us.

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We would like to make sure you are fully aware of all of your data protection rights. Every user is entitled to the following: The right to access – You have the right to request copies of your personal data. We may charge you a small fee for this service. The right to rectification – You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate. You also have the right to request that we complete the information you believe is incomplete. The right to erasure – You have the right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to object to processing – You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to data portability – You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us.

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Another part of our priority is adding protection for children while using the internet. We encourage parents and guardians to observe, participate in, and/or monitor and guide their online activity. Qahwa World does not knowingly collect any Personal Identifiable Information from children under the age of 13. If you think that your child provided this kind of information on our website, we strongly encourage you to contact us immediately and we will do our best efforts to promptly remove such information from our records.[:ru]Privacy Policy for qahwa world At qahwaworld, accessible from qahwaworld.com, one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by qahwaworld and how we use it. If you have additional questions or require more information about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us. This Privacy Policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website with regards to the information that they shared and/or collect in qahwaworld. This policy is not applicable to any information collected offline or via channels other than this website. Our Privacy Policy was created with the help of the Free Privacy Policy Generator. Consent By using our website, you hereby consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. Information we collect The personal information that you are asked to provide, and the reasons why you are asked to provide it, will be made clear to you at the point we ask you to provide your personal information. If you contact us directly, we may receive additional information about you such as your name, email address, phone number, the contents of the message and/or attachments you may send us, and any other information you may choose to provide. When you register for an Account, we may ask for your contact information, including items such as name, company name, address, email address, and telephone number. How we use your information We use the information we collect in various ways, including to: Provide, operate, and maintain our website Improve, personalize, and expand our website Understand and analyze how you use our website Develop new products, services, features, and functionality Communicate with you, either directly or through one of our partners, including for customer service, to provide you with updates and other information relating to the website, and for marketing and promotional purposes Send you emails Find and prevent fraud Log Files qahwaworld follows a standard procedure of using log files. These files log visitors when they visit websites. All hosting companies do this and a part of hosting services' analytics. The information collected by log files include internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), date and time stamp, referring/exit pages, and possibly the number of clicks. These are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable. The purpose of the information is for analyzing trends, administering the site, tracking users' movement on the website, and gathering demographic information. Cookies and Web Beacons Like any other website, qahwaworld uses 'cookies'. These cookies are used to store information including visitors' preferences, and the pages on the website that the visitor accessed or visited. The information is used to optimize the users' experience by customizing our web page content based on visitors' browser type and/or other information. For more general information on cookies, please read the Cookies article on Generate Privacy Policy website. Google DoubleClick DART Cookie Google is one of a third-party vendor on our site. It also uses cookies, known as DART cookies, to serve ads to our site visitors based upon their visit to www.website.com and other sites on the internet. However, visitors may choose to decline the use of DART cookies by visiting the Google ad and content network Privacy Policy at the following URL – https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads Our Advertising Partners Some of advertisers on our site may use cookies and web beacons. Our advertising partners are listed below. Each of our advertising partners has their own Privacy Policy for their policies on user data. For easier access, we hyperlinked to their Privacy Policies below. Google https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads Advertising Partners Privacy Policies You may consult this list to find the Privacy Policy for each of the advertising partners of qahwaworld. Third-party ad servers or ad networks uses technologies like cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons that are used in their respective advertisements and links that appear on qahwaworld, which are sent directly to users' browser. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. These technologies are used to measure the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns and/or to personalize the advertising content that you see on websites that you visit. Note that qahwaworld has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers. Third Party Privacy Policies qahwaworld's Privacy Policy does not apply to other advertisers or websites. Thus, we are advising you to consult the respective Privacy Policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information. It may include their practices and instructions about how to opt-out of certain options. You can choose to disable cookies through your individual browser options. To know more detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers, it can be found at the browsers' respective websites. CCPA Privacy Rights (Do Not Sell My Personal Information) Under the CCPA, among other rights, California consumers have the right to: Request that a business that collects a consumer's personal data disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal data that a business has collected about consumers. Request that a business delete any personal data about the consumer that a business has collected. Request that a business that sells a consumer's personal data, not sell the consumer's personal data. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us. GDPR Data Protection Rights We would like to make sure you are fully aware of all of your data protection rights. Every user is entitled to the following: The right to access – You have the right to request copies of your personal data. We may charge you a small fee for this service. The right to rectification – You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate. You also have the right to request that we complete the information you believe is incomplete. The right to erasure – You have the right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to object to processing – You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to data portability – You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us. Children's Information Another part of our priority is adding protection for children while using the internet. We encourage parents and guardians to observe, participate in, and/or monitor and guide their online activity. qahwaworld does not knowingly collect any Personal Identifiable Information from children under the age of 13. If you think that your child provided this kind of information on our website, we strongly encourage you to contact us immediately and we will do our best efforts to promptly remove such information from our records.[:]
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