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March 31, 2025

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Everyone seems to have an opinion when it comes to coffee, so what’s the truth about the world’s most-loved sip? We asked an expert to debunk 12 of the most talked about coffee myths, and here’s what he had to say.

Shaun Kumar expert banner.

Shaun Kumar is a passionate and driven individual with a deep-rooted love for coffee and an unwavering commitment to excellence in the hospitality industry. With a career spanning over 20 years in all aspects of coffee, Shaun plays a pivotal role in product development, quality control, and customer engagement, leveraging his expertise to create memorable coffee experiences for brands such as Piazza D’Oro.

Person scooping up a handful of coffee beans.
Not all coffee myths are untrue. Image: Canva

Myth 1: Coffee is a bean

No, coffee is not a bean, it is the seed of a coffee cherry. The ‘bean’ moniker comes from its appearance, but it is more accurately a roasted seed, similar to cacao.

Myth 2: Coffee should be stored in the fridge

Yes and no. Coffee is best preserved in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool, dark place, not in the fridge. When stored in the fridge, the condensation and moisture can degrade the flavour.

I keep my ‘limited edition’ coffees vacuum-sealed in the freezer and take them out for 5 minutes before I grind and brew them.

Myth 3: Dark beans are stronger than light ones

Darker roasts develop a bolder, more intense flavour but this doesn’t necessarily mean they have more caffeine; light roasts can retain slightly more caffeine. The ‘strength’ ‘Italian Style’ and ‘French Roast’ is largely about taste and roast intensity rather than caffeine content.

Light and dark coffee beans in mugs.
Coffee colour isn’t an indicator of caffeine content. Image: Canva

Myth 4: Coffee dehydrates you

According to Health Direct, we get about one-fifth of the water we need from food, the rest comes from liquids that we drink. You can get water from any fluids — including tea and coffee, fruit juice, milk, soup and soft drinks.

Myth 5: Espresso is the strongest choice at your cafe

Espresso is more concentrated in flavour, however, its small serving size means it typically contains less caffeine per serving than a full cup of brewed coffee. The ‘strength’ depends on both concentration and volume; regular drip coffee may deliver more overall caffeine.

All coffee brewed in Australia counts as strong if you use less milk or make it a ristretto.

Myth 6: Espresso is a type of bean

Wrong. Espresso refers to a brewing method that forces hot water through finely ground coffee – it isn’t a distinct type of bean. Some people aren’t aware that espresso is the base for many favourite coffees, including lattes, flat whites, cappuccinos and mochas!

Machine pouring Espresso.
Espresso is behind most of your favourite coffees. Image: Canva

Myth 7: You should use freshly roasted coffee immediately

The smell of freshly roasted coffee often gets our tastebuds tingling and although fresh coffee is great, the beans need a few days to degas after roasting. If we brew too soon after roasting this can result in uneven extraction and below-average flavour.

Myth 8: Coffee is naturally bitter

Coffee has a complex flavour profile. It also has acidity and sweetness that can be accentuated or subdued by roast level and brewing method. The bitterness of coffee is only one aspect and this can be balanced with water or milk as well as the proper extraction recipe.

Myth 9: Cold brew is the same as iced coffee

Wrong. Cold brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water over many hours. Iced coffee, on the other hand, is brewed hot and cooled over ice.

Cold brew is a concentrate, made using a Toddy or Cold Drip tower over hours and often diluted with water and/or milk. Iced coffee is prepared with an Espresso machine. The distinct brewing methods yield different flavour profiles and acidity levels.

Cold brew coffee.
Don’t confuse your iced coffee with cold brew. Image: Canva

Myth 10: Decaf has no caffeine

Decaffeinated coffee still contains a small amount of caffeine, usually around 2-5 mg per cup, due to the limitations of the decaffeination process. 1 oz of 30 ml of espresso contains roughly 63 mg of caffeine. This value can vary slightly based on factors like the coffee bean, roast level and extraction method but 63 mg is the widely accepted average.

Myth 11: The stronger the smell, the stronger the coffee

Although a robust aroma may signal a well-roasted bean, this doesn’t reliably indicate higher caffeine content or overall ‘strength’. The flavour and aroma depend on the bean’s origin, roast and brewing method not just on scent intensity.

Myth 12: Drinking coffee at night keeps you awake

Individual caffeine sensitivity and tolerance vary, so an evening coffee won’t keep everyone awake. It doesn’t work for me!


Heard a coffee myth we haven’t touched on? Leave a comment below!


Comments
  • I’m newly becoming a coffee fanatic, this was an interesting read. Loved reading about the different myths, and other helpful facts. Coffee really is so versatile of a flavour and drink


  • Myth 4, it is widely known by medical experts that tea and coffee are diuretics, hence they can have a dehydrating effect. I’ve never even heard the one about keeping it in the fridge. Interesting read


  • Opening up a fresh bag of beans is definitely in my top favourite scents list. I can’t believe some people keep beans in the fridge, that doesn’t sound like a good idea for your coffee machine! And I wish I was someone who could have an evening coffee and not stay awake. An evening affogato is lush


  • I did not know there was sooo much to know about coffee, I love it but I didn’t know half the stuff that is mentioned here. I used to work night shift and did drink a lot of coffee to help me stay awake, whether it worked or not I’m not sure but I have never had a coffee before bed.


  • OMG coffee is life!!! Interesting read, definitely was not aware it wasn’t a bean and now I get why I love Cold Brew!! Nothing beats the smell of freshly roasted coffee first thing in the morning, although will def need to remove the coffee from the fridge from now on!


  • What an interesting article! A few off my coffee beliefs have definitely been changed after reading this (causally removing my beans for the fridge haha)
    I love a good cup of strong coffee, and it is interesting to know that the bolder bean doesn’t indicate caffeine strength as I have always thought so.


  • I can’t believe it’s not a bean and instead is a seed! I never knew that! Also can’t believe that it won’t keep some people up. Definitely feel like I get that caffeine buzz from real coffee- not so much the instant type though. So many myths debunked in this article!


  • Love my coffee! If I don’t have my 6.30am coffee in the morning, watch out! I’m Mrs Grumps. For me, instant coffee is not an option. I’ve been buying coffee beans and grinding them in my espresso machine for as long as I can remember. This article is an interesting read and is relevant to me. Coffee is life!


  • I can have a coffee five minutes before bed and still fall asleep with no problems, whereas friends of mine have to limit their coffees to early in the day. I guess we all react differently to caffeine.


  • I love my coffee, it is part of my daily routine and is something I really enjoy having every day. This was a fantastic article which I thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning more about coffee and some of the myths out there. I love coffee, I couldn’t live without it ever.


  • I love my coffee and now I know a lot more about coffee and I can go back to my coffee at night. I used to work night shift at the hospital and would have anywhere between 3 – 6 cups a night. I stopped this once I gave up work but knowing it won’t necessarily keep my awake I’m going to try a cup tonight. Thank you for this information. I learnt a few new things that are very interesting


  • Well there are definitely some things I have learnt reading this article! I was always taught that coffee isn’t particularly good for you and that it dehydrates – I think I actually learned that in school. So that was very interesting. I guess as to keeping you awake it depends on your tolerance level as the body gets used to things over time.


  • I live for a good coffee every morning. I like a nice strong one in the morning and then a more medium strength around 11am. I use to drink way to much coffee but have found that if I start off with a strong one each day, I don’t crave as much throughout the day. Nothing beats the scent of a good strong coffee being brewed – yum!


  • I am a self confessed coffee addict and I certainly learnt a few things from that article! Thank you! I don’t drink coffee at night but mostly because it makes me need to pee. My eldest daughter will have a coffee before bed because she finds it relaxes her and helps her sleep!!


  • A very interesting read, especially since I’m a coffee addict. I am happy to read that coffee is not dehydrating, although I still try and have one glass of water for every cup of coffee I drink.


  • That’s definitely a lot of myths debunked! Definitely a few on there that i didn’t know myself and have always wondered – so that was definitely handy and useful to know! An interesting one was reading that coffee can be vacuumed sealed and stored in the freezer! Definitely never would have guessed that one.


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