You may have heard of the term "white coffee". Isn't white coffee just a black coffee with milk in it? Of course not!

White coffee is coffee that has a light roast. We always like to joke that white coffee is half-baked, for its green beans are only roasted somewhere in the low 300-degree range; while a blond roast is around 420 degrees, and a dark roast is in the 465-to-475-degree range. By roasting it to this much lower temperature, you get a whitish-colored bean that is higher in caffeine because you roast out less caffeine, which results in a very nutty and sweet taste profile that is much different from traditional coffee.

White coffee gained massive popularity and is a type of a health fad in North America. This claim is primarily due to the number of antioxidants and beneficial nutrients that are retained because of the short roasting time. There are also many variations of white coffee around the world, for example, Malaysian-Style White Coffee. White Coffee, originating in Ipoh, Perak, is a specialty drink. The green coffee beans are roasted with margarine until they get a dark color. Then they're ground and brewed. The resulting drink has a slightly caramelized hint and is served with condensed milk, hence the white color. White coffee here is usually served along with the kaya toasts (one of the oldest Malaysian coffee shops delights).

Followings are the other two famous types of white coffee.

Kahle Bayda. Kahle Bayda is a caffeine-free drink made from water, orange blossom water, and sweetener is added if required. The drink is often served after a heavy meal in the Middle East. It is cleansing and traditionally thought to have a soothing effect when drunk.

In Indonesia, the term Kopi Putih translates to white coffee, and it refers to coffee beans that are roasted less than regular coffee beans.

What makes white coffee differ?

Higher caffeine level. As we all know, the caffeine's density is inversely proportional to the duration for which the beans are roasted - the longer they are roasted, the lesser caffeine content it has. Therefore, white coffee has almost more than 50 percent caffeine content than fully-roasted coffee. What's more, its nutrients aren't lost as well during the roasting process.

Less acidic. Coffee becomes acidic during the roasting process, and because white coffee is roasted halfway, it doesn't develop the acidic taste that can be associated with traditionally roasted black coffee.

More antioxidants. The nutritionists claim that white coffee is rich in chlorogenic acid, a great antioxidant. As coffee is roasted, as the caffeine, chlorogenic acid is also slowly burnt off. White coffee beans are roasted for a shorter time at a lower temperature, helping coffee beans retain chlorogenic acid when compared to regular coffee.

What are the benefits of white coffee?

Perk you up. Due to its high caffeine content, whether you have to stay awake at night, alertness or want an instant energy boost, white coffee is the best bet. Besides, it can also reduce your risk for dementia. Some research suggests that those who drink a cup or two of coffee daily have a lower rate of mild cognitive impairment than those who never or rarely consume coffee.

Easier on the stomach. White coffee is less acidic and therefore better for your stomach and digestive system, which makes white coffee a healthier choice as compared to regular coffee.

The most important advantage of drinking white coffee is the chlorogenic acid present in the beans. It has been known to lower the risks of diabetes, blood pressure, and inflammation, improve cardiovascular function, and help with weight loss. It can also cause less risk of teeth stains than regular coffee drinking leads to.

White coffee is an excellent alternative for coffee drinkers, so if you're looking for nutty flavors, less acid, and a drink that's gentler on your stomach and teeth, white coffee might be for you.