Coffee culture

Do White Coffee and Black Coffee Have Very Different Tastes? What's the Difference Between Black Coffee and White Coffee?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). Whether it's black coffee or white coffee, any coffee that can refresh you is good coffee? No, no, never misapply Grandpa Deng's famous quote~ Black coffee is black coffee, white coffee is white coffee, these two have different relationships and effects. Want to know the difference between black coffee and white coffee?

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style).

Is any coffee that can refresh you a good coffee, whether it's black or white? No, no, don't misquote Grandpa Deng's famous saying~ Black coffee is black coffee, white coffee is white coffee. The relationship and effects between these two are different. Want to know the difference between black coffee and white coffee? Let's follow FrontStreet Coffee's introduction~

White Coffee: Not Just Coffee with Milk

White coffee is not just regular coffee with milk. From bean selection to preparation, white coffee differs significantly from black coffee.

Roasting Differences

In terms of roasting, black coffee undergoes darker roasting compared to white coffee. During this process, natural additives like caramel and butter are incorporated, and coffee beans are roasted to near carbonization. Consequently, black coffee beans typically appear black, with deeper roasting producing more pronounced charcoal-like flavors.

The Essence of Black Coffee

Black coffee is unadorned coffee, delivering the most primitive coffee-tasting experience. Coffee brewed with home coffee machines produces uniform yellowish-brown foam. If using Arabica beans, the foam is fine, deep brown with a slight reddish tint; for Robusta, the foam is looser, dark brown with gray streaks. Beyond its mellow, rich taste, the most captivating aspect of a cup of aromatic black coffee is the enticing and mysterious fragrance released during brewing.

The Origins of White Coffee

White coffee is a Malaysian specialty with over 100 years of history. White coffee doesn't refer to the color being white, but rather to a product made from Arabica and Robusta coffee beans with added non-dairy creamer.

After light, low-temperature, long-duration roasting, special processes remove the caffeine from coffee. This eliminates the bitterness and acidity from carbon roasting, minimizing coffee's bitter-sour taste and caffeine content. Currently, most white coffee on the market is instant coffee containing malted milk or non-dairy creamer. In terms of aroma, black coffee emphasizes the coffee's inherent fragrance. For coffee enthusiasts, a coffee's aroma is its life essence. Any external condition can potentially alter the coffee's original aroma.

Bitterness Comparison

White coffee was created for Asians unaccustomed to the bitterness of black coffee. Compared to other coffees, white coffee has minimal bitterness and almost no acidity. Due to added substances like creamer, white coffee offers a relatively smoother mouthfeel.

For black coffee, different varieties, origins, storage methods, and roasting techniques all produce varying degrees of bitterness. Black coffee's bitterness is characteristic of coffee itself, with the sweet aftertaste following bitterness being its distinctive feature.

Functional Benefits

The benefits of black coffee don't need detailed explanation, as too many studies have proven the advantages of daily coffee consumption. What are the benefits of white coffee?

Like black coffee, white coffee can provide refreshment. It lacks black coffee's bitterness, has lower caffeine content, and is less likely to upset the stomach compared to black coffee.

For coffee lovers, black coffee is definitely superior to white coffee, allowing for a complete tasting experience of all the original flavors a coffee has to offer.

For those who don't particularly love coffee, white coffee can serve as a relatively preferred choice. However, since most white coffee on the market is instant, it's advisable not to drink more than four cups per day.

Important Notice :

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