Coffee 101

Coffee today is the world’s most popular beverage consumed. It employs more than 20 million people globally, ranging from farmers, pickers, processors and alike. It’s been said that coffee originated in Yemen. My feeling is where ever it came from, coffee has been a life saver to millions.

Purchasing

When purchasing coffee, it is best to know when the beans were roasted. Generally coffee is best if used a day or two after roasting, and kept in an air tight container. The flavor should not diminish significantly until after seven to ten days. Old coffee beans may appear very oily, and will have little or no aroma, or will take on a somewhat unpleasant aroma.

Grinding Tip

Never grind more coffee than you will use for immediate brewing. Once the beans are ground the flavorful oils are exposed to the damaging air. As these oils dissipate, so will the flavor of your coffee. Once ground, coffee will begin to lose its flavor almost immediately. Different methods of brewing will require different grind consistencies.

Storage Tip

Never store your coffee in the refrigerator. Coffee will absorb flavors and aromas from other food products in your refrigerator. Freezing coffee can also have a damaging effect, and we do not recommend this practice unless you will not use-up your supply of coffee for a prolonged period of time [two weeks or more]. Coffee should be stored in a clean, dry, airtight container, in a cool, dark place. The enemies of roasted coffee are moisture, air, light, and heat. Storing your coffee away from them will keep it fresher longer. Therefore, an airtight container stored in a cool, dry, dark place is the best environment for your coffee.

Freezing Coffee

Freezing and refrigeration of roasted coffee is hotly debated. When coffee is roasted, the beans release their oils and essences to give the coffee its distinct flavor. You'll notice these oils are more prominent on dark-roasted coffee and espresso. When you break down these oils by freezing, you are removing the flavor.

When to Freeze Coffee

How long does coffee stay fresh? A good rule to use is two weeks. Now, if you happen to have found a great price on bulk coffee, and you don't plan on using it within two weeks, the freezer can be an acceptable one-time shot. What this means is that once you take it out of the freezer, it should never go back in. The constant changes in temperature will wreak havoc on your coffee. The frozen moisture on your coffee will melt and be absorbed into the bean. When you put it back into the freezer, you are repeating the process. The goal in freezing coffee is to keep it away from moisture. If you have a five-pound bag of coffee to store, divide it up into weekly portions. Wrap those portions up using sealable freezer bags and plastic wrap. I've even read you should go so far as to suck out the excess air from the freezer bag using a straw! Remove the weekly portion when you need it, and store it in an air-tight container in a dry place like your pantry. Do not put it back into the freezer!

A quick review for serving the best coffee:

1. Buy whole beans directly from a coffee roaster if possible.
2. Look for valve-sealed bags, not vacuum-sealed.
3. Store your coffee beans in a sealed container in a dark place.
4. Grind your beans just before brewing.

 

 

Roast Profiles Not every coffee is roasted to the same level. We try to find the perfect roast profile to enhance each coffee we import, so that each coffee has its own taste, and is discernable from our other coffees. Roasting will not only bring forth the natural flavors and oils from within the bean, but it will also add a roasted flavor ranging from an essence of light cinnamon to a bittersweet caramel smoky flavor. It is the job of the Roastmaster to celebrate and honor the beans attributes with a perfect roasting recipe and then to recreate that same roast consistently. The roasting process is a lot of what sets good coffee apart from exceptional coffee.

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Roast Profiles

Not every coffee is roasted to the same level. We try to find the perfect roast profile for each coffee so that each coffee has it's own taste, and is discernable from our other coffees. The roast profile is indicated on the picture of the coffee. Light roast to the left and darker to the right.

 

Blending

With more than 100 coffee-growing regions in the world, each producing beans with distinctive characteristics, we believe proper blending is essential to the balance of flavors necessary to create superior espresso.

A single coffee bean will generally not possess the complexity necessary for great espresso. Many espresso blends will contain three to seven different types of beans.

The experienced roaster, with his knowledge of each bean, artfully combines them to create the desired blend of flavors. The roaster's blending knowledge is usually a closely guarded secret.

In the United States, 100% Arabica beans are generally used for gourmet espresso blends. In Italy, some Robusta beans will often times be added for the additional crema, caffeine, and complexity they contribute to the blend. The Italians possess generations of expertise in the art of blending coffees for espresso.

Argument still exists among roasters as to which should occur first, the roasting or the blending. Generally, roasting each varietal separately to maximize its flavor characteristics, and then blending, will produce the best result

Grind types

Drip grind

Drip grind is a fine grind of coffee, for use in filter coffee makers, in which the brew drips through a filter into the serving pot

Espresso grind

Espresso grind is much finer than regular brew coffee. Almost powder-like, yet slightly gritty, like the consistency of superfine sugar. This provides the proper resistance to the water being forced through it. 

French Press

A French press, also known as a press pot, requires coffee of a coarser grind than does a drip brew. Finer grounds will seep through the press filter and into the coffee.