» Meet 
I start almost every day with a cup of coffee, but it wasn't until recently that I thought about what makes a really great cup. I don't think I'm alone in this. In fact, I think coffee will come into its own someday soon, just as wine has. Wine becomes fun when you know the difference in the grapes and how they change the flavors. Coffee is the same.
Coffee flavors are sometimes described as herbal or citrus -- but it's not as if the beans actually have citrus flavor added to them. Geography and weather create the difference in the taste, just as the grapes that are used to make wine can create wildly different flavors. Coffee is grown in 70 different countries, and each region's beans are very different.
The first step to making a great cup is to experiment with coffee from different regions to decide where your favorite coffee comes from. For example, my favorites are from South America and Africa, though the flavors are distinctly different. South American coffee is rich in flavor, with distinct cocoa undertones. It's great with milk and sugar. African coffee has hints of lavender and lemon notes that make it a little more unusual, but not as milk- or sugar-friendly. You can even make your own blends by mixing coffees from different regions.
The way coffee beans are dried and roasted also changes the flavor. If you really want to understand coffee, try roasting your own beans at home. Buy green, unroasted coffee beans (available online) and spread them on a baking sheet. Roast them in a 350-degree F oven until they pop, then let them cool down and grind them in a coffee grinder. Try roasting the next batch a few minutes longer and compare the flavors.
No matter where your coffee is from or how long it's roasted, brew the perfect cup by using the proper ratio: 2 tablespoons of ground coffee with 6 ounces of unfiltered water. Good to the last drop!
48 Comments
LEAVE YOUR COMMENT
You must sign in to leave a comment