Gourmet Coffee Guide
Do you really like coffee? Perhaps you'd like to explore the many varieties of
Arabica Beans are considered the premium type of coffee bean.
* '''Region Grown''' The taste, flavor, and acidity of coffee varies by the region where it was cultivated.
* '''Acidity'''wine'>dry white wine. High acidity coffees are called lively, while low acidity coffees are referred to as smooth.
* '''Body'''bodied", but never both, although it is common for there to be a balance between acidity and body.
* '''Finish''' A finish is the aftertaste left by coffee. A coffee's finish can be sweet, light, crisp, heavy, or lingering.
* '''Flavor''' Many coffees pick up distinct flavors from the soils they are grown in or from neighboring plants. Coffee can have almost any flavor. Common flavors are
nuts,
spices,
fruits, and
herbs.
* '''Price''' Quality comes at a price. Most gourmet coffees are more expensive than your average supermarket coffees.
* '''Availability''' Most gourmet coffees are not sold at local supermarkets. Don't fret. Buy gourmet coffees online, where almost every variety can be found (and often at a bigger discount than you would find by going into specialty coffee store).
* '''Roast''' Roasting green coffee beans makes or breaks coffee. It's practically an art form. Timing, process, bean size, moisture, and bean darkness all come into play to reveal the true characteristics of the coffee. Roasting is essential to gourmet coffee.
Gourmet Coffee Beans 101
There are two main types of coffee beans that are used to produce most of the world's coffee.
*
Coffee Growing Regions 101
Every coffee growing region has their own distict flavor. While exploring gourmet coffee, you should try coffees from a variety of regions to find out which coffee growing region you like the most. Here are some popular coffee growing regions.
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* '''South America and Central America'''Antigua'>Guatamala Antigua.
* '''Africa and Arabia'''Mocha'>Yemen Mocha.
* '''Pacific or Island'''Mandheling'>Sumatra Mandheling.
Coffee Roasts 101
The process of roasting coffee beans has a profound effect on the overall taste and quality of a coffee. Roasts referring to regions or nations refer to the degree of the roast and have little to do with geography. Here are some popular roasts:
* '''
Cappuccino and
Espresso.
Coffee Blends: Good or Bad?
Do not be afraid of buying gourmet coffee blends. The darker the roast, the less acidity in the coffee. That's why gourmet coffees are often mixed with other gourmet coffees. Mixtures attempt to find the perfect balance of body, acidity, flavors, finish, and aromas.
Flavored Coffees
Coffees flavored with non-coffee related flavors, such as hazelnut, vanilla, and chocolate, can still be considered gourmet. Gourmet coffees are found in a huge variety of flavors, even fruit flavors such as raspberry, blueberry, and peach.
