How do you spell coffee correctly?
Coffee, Caffee or Cafe? How is the beverage actually spelled? It's a complicated word that has a lot of potential for typos and confusion. What's certain is that Kaffee (with two "e"s) is the umbrella term for the black beverage that we all love so much. Caffeine is derived from it, but loses an "e". No more linguistic confusion: let's consult the dictionary and get started.
Spelling errors or not entirely wrong?
Coffee stands for both the beverage and the beans or powder from which it is made. The dictionary now throws words like "Mokka" or "Espresso" into the ring as synonyms. That these are by no means synonyms and certainly not the same in taste or preparation is obvious. If someone orders an espresso but receives a filter coffee, they would certainly not accept this definition. These words are rather subtypes of the umbrella term "coffee".
Coffee is also the kernel of the fruit of the coffee plant. This is processed in the country of origin, dried, roasted, ground and then prepared into a beverage. Scientifically, this kernel is called "Coffea". This is probably where the root of the "C" in "Café" and similar words lies.
Coffea Arabica and Coffea Canephora (Robusta) are scientific names for varieties of the coffee plant.
Caffè, Café and Coffeeshop
"Caffè" is the Italian translation of coffee. Because coffee is so much part of the Italian way of life as gesticulating while speaking, many associate the beverage with this beautiful country. If you order a "Caffè" there, you receive a short, concentrated caffeine fix, which Germans, Swiss and Austrians call an "Espresso".
"Café" is a French word that has found its way into the German language over time and is used there as a synonym for a coffeehouse. No one can really object to that. Wasn't the "Café" the place where educated intellectuals exchanged ideas about art, literature and philosophy and laid the foundation for the French Revolution, excuse me, hatched it?
"Coffee" is the English variant. However, a "coffeeshop" can lead to confusion in some countries. In the Netherlands, for example, you're unlikely to get an espresso or mocha in such an establishment, but rather legally sold drugs.
Colloquialism, dialect and real errors
Language is changeable and alive. So there's nothing wrong with "Kaffi" "Kafe" or even a Turkish "Kahve". This little excursion shows that many roads lead to the goal and our favorite beverage, served warm and cozy, has the potential to promote tolerance and international understanding.
