Saturday, June 11, 2011

Coffee Brewing Guidelines - 7 Best Practices

There are primarily three distinct regions that successfully cultivate the most preferred beans that are traded, sold and consumed most often in response to continuous demand. These three are: The Americas - primarily Central and South America; Africa; and Asia, including the South Pacific Islands. Each has very different and distinct properties and characteristics particular to that region. There are various additional coffee growing regions which are lesser known and produce similar products and varieties.

The highest quality beans are known as Arabica and Robusta. These beans are preferred for use in most high-end retailers and coffee shops. This is determined by taste, flavor, aroma, and the overall perceived experience as it is prepared and consumed. The variations in quality are due to differences in a region's soil properties and climate conditions. The roasting method also affects the level of quality found in the end result. While you can find excellent commercial coffee beans, specialty coffee roasters seek to produce results of the highest quality. Coffee blends are combinations of flavors and beans, producing an endless selection of choices and varieties to satisfy most any connoisseur.

The natural unprocessed green coffee beans are heavily traded on the various commodity exchanges. They are then processed, decaffeinated, blended, treated, perfected, and much more by passionate and diligent roasters, brewers, and distributors of the products that are marketed by the popular name producers we are most familiar with today.

In selecting coffee beans you will need at least some knowledge about the various regions, the differences characteristic of those products, and be sure your supplier is as knowledgeable and professional - and is able to offer superior information and products. In addition to your choice of beans, your brewing method, grind, water, filter, freshness, cleanliness, storage and overall preparation and care will all contribute to your results. Figuring all these things into your test, you can more accurately determine your preferences - and know which appeal to you most.

The three major growing regions are distinguished by the taste qualities derived from the beans they produce. The Americas, or Central and South American coffees are known to be bold, full- bodied, highly acidic, and strong as they are typically found in most house blends and breakfast blends widely available and promoted. African, and Arabian coffees are described in terms like highly acidic, citrus, floral, fruity, and perfumy. Asian, Indian, and South Pacific blends are considered to be sweet, floral, nutty, lowly acidic and generally mild in nature. If you take the time to sample each independently, you will notice the differences and likely find your own terms to describe them.

Once you have found which coffee region most appeals to you, be sure to include some basic guidelines to improve your overall results and experience. These will get you started in developing correct and healthy methods in acquiring, handling and brewing your daily magic - while avoiding common misconceptions that many typically practice and rely upon.

1. Determine which region appeals most to you: whether mild, full-bodied, floral, nutty, fruity, etc., and make your choice accordingly.

2. Use only freshly roasted beans - out of an opened bag for no more than two weeks, for the best possible freshness. Use bottled or filtered water - as your cup of coffee is nearly all water to begin with.

3. Store them in a clean, dark, air-tight container at room temperature. Important! - Do not freeze or refrigerate coffee beans. Also, be sure that all your equipment is cleaned regularly. Cleanliness all the way around has a great impact on the results you expect.

4. Examine and smell them. Quality beans should look and smell right - sort of like fish. Coffee beans make a great potpourri, as they have a pleasant aroma - and naturally absorb odors.

5. Taste before you buy? You can acquire a sense of taste (quality) even by chewing the raw bean as is. Maybe not today, but get used to the idea as you will learn alot once you become comfortable in doing so.

6. Do the beans look healthy? Check for beans that are broken, cracked, or otherwise damaged in appearance. This is also an indication as to the quality and freshness you can expect.

7. Grind the beans for the particular (exact) filter you will be using. There are significant differences between grinding for a gold tone filter, and a paper filter. There is a specific grind for each brewing method, and they are numerous.

There is much to know about coffee and espresso, and its production and distribution. We are just scratching the surface of educating ourselves on our daily cup of coffee. You will learn much more as you go, and likely find new methods or products that you may not have otherwise considered.

Personally, I have been a coffee drinker (with cream & sugar of course) most of my life. It wasn't until I became more educated and learned how to actually taste coffee and found that I prefer the African grown coffees black. Experimentation and experience will likely be your best teacher as to your preferred choice of region, beans, and brewing method too. Enjoy!




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