How do you spell coffee correctly?
Kaffee, Caffee or Cafe? How is the drink actually spelled? It is a complicated word with a lot of potential for typos and confusion. What is certain is that Kaffee (with two "e"s) is the generic term for the black drink we all love so much. Caffeine is derived from it, but loses an "e". Enough with the jumble of languages: let's get the dictionary out and get started.
Spelling mistake or not quite wrong?
Kaffee stands for the drink, as well as for the beans or the grounds from which it is prepared. The dictionary now throws words like "mocha" or "espresso" into the mix as synonyms. It is obvious that these are by no means synonyms, and certainly not the same in taste or preparation. Anyone who orders an espresso but receives a filter coffee would certainly not accept this definition. These words are more like subspecies of the umbrella term "Kaffee".
Kaffee is also the kernel of the fruit of the coffee plant. This is processed in the country of cultivation, dried, roasted, ground, and then prepared into a drink. Scientifically, this kernel is called "Coffea". That is likely where the root of the "C" in "Café" and similar words lies.
Coffea Arabica and Coffea Canephora (Robusta) are scientific names for the varieties of the coffee plant.
Caffè, Café and Coffeeshop
"Caffè" is the Italian translation of coffee. Since coffee is as much a part of the Italian way of life as gesturing while speaking, many people associate the drink with this beautiful country. By the way, if you order a "Caffè" there, you will get a short, concentrated caffeine kick that Germans, Swiss, and Austrians call "espresso".
"Café" is a French word that found its way into the German language over time and is used there as a synonym for a coffee house. No one can argue with that. Wasn't the "Café" the place where educated intellectuals exchanged ideas about art, literature, and philosophy and brewed up—excuse me, hatched—the foundations of the French Revolution?
"Coffee" is the English version. However, a "coffeeshop" can lead to confusion in some countries. For example, in the Netherlands, you probably won't get espresso or mocha in such a shop, but rather legally sold drugs.
Colloquialisms, dialects and real mistakes
Language is changeable and alive. So there is nothing wrong with "Kaffi", "Kafe" or even a Turkish "Kahve". This brief excursion shows that many paths lead to the goal and our favorite drink, served warm and cozy, has the potential to promote tolerance and international understanding.
