7 Simple Steps to World Class Gourmet Coffee #CoffeeWorld

7 Simple Steps to World Class Gourmet Coffee #CoffeeWorld

Search far and wide but the truth is that it does take some time and energy to find a great gourmet coffee these days. If you do know of a perfect coffee shop, you are one of the lucky ones. But, did you know that you can basically make your own gourmet coffee from home? rn rn Just follow these 7 simple steps and you will be brewing the perfect cup of gourmet coffee every time.

Quality comes first. One of the most important aspects of coffee drinking is the grade of the coffee that you start off with. If you have a favorite flavor, then purchase whole beans in that flavor. If you can do this, it will allow you to get the freshest coffee possible.

Grind your own. Purchase a quality coffee grinder. With all of the new technology of today the best coffee grinders are very easy to use and easy to clean up. By grinding your own coffee beans, you'll be able to only grind what you need, meaning that you will have complete freshness in your coffee.

Store It Right And Tight. This is often overlooked by many but it is very important to store your coffee tightly. Air oxidizes the coffee and can make it to get bitter quickly. Metal canisters can also enable a metal taste to get into the coffee, making it taste bad.

The best solution is to store your coffee and your coffee beans in a plastic or ceramic air tight container. Also, store it at room temperature because the moisture in the fridge or freezer can make it go bad quicker than you think.

Getting To The Coffee

The Maker. The coffee maker that you use is also critical. Choose any style of coffeemaker but no matter what style that you go with, you can get a good cup of coffee out of it if you take the essential steps to keeping it fresh.

For example, you should make sure that the coffee maker is kept clean after each use. In fact, it is a good practice to give it a thorough cleaning with vinegar, every so often as well. Your preferences will ultimately determine which style of coffee maker you will use. Make sure that it uses a permanent filter in it.

Even In The Water. Even the water that you use is important to the quality of the coffee you will get from it. It is essential that you use water that is free from chlorine and minerals.

Often, using bottled water rather than tap water will augment the quality of the coffee. Also, keep the water nice and hot. A good temperature for the water is about 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Supply The Right Amount. Use the right quantity of coffee beans and coffee grounds in the maker. Too many and you will have a very strong cup of coffee and too few will make it to be too weak. Follow the directions provided by the coffee producer for the best cup of coffee.

Lastly and probably the most vital aspect of getting a great cup of gourmet coffee is to make sure to enjoy your coffee when it is hot and fresh. Most restaurants are told to keep coffee for less than thirty minutes, but at home, the best coffee is the coffee that hasn't sat for more than twenty minutes.

Source: Jay Parish

Why The Gourmet Coffee Craze #CoffeeWorld

Why The Gourmet Coffee Craze #CoffeeWorld

Okay, coffee isn't what it used to be. Drinking coffee today is almost like sampling wine. Fine taste, smooth texture, good body... gourmet coffee has become the buzz word in coffee circles.

For a confessed caffeine addict like myself, the change in the way I look at coffee these days has been amazing. I put it down to the many varieties of gourmet coffee now available. Just walk into your favorite coffee shop and what used to be a simple procedure of asking for a coffee, two sugars and cream is now a few minutes of deep deliberation as you scan up and down the price board to decide whether you want a flat white, latte, cappuccino... and the list goes on.

Isn't all coffee created equal? Not if you talk to gourmet coffee experts. Terms like nitrogen flushed to retain freshness; hand picked beans; roasted to perfection and so and so on. Columbian blend, french roasted, Kenya blend... brewing at the right temperature; whether to freeze or not to freeze coffee beans: I swear, you nearly need to have a degree in coffee drinking just to decipher the maze of gourmet coffee and coffee language out there.

Make no mistake, gourmet coffee has become big business. Not just for drinkers but now giving gourmet coffee as a gift has become ritzy. I visited a friend recently who has bought himself a coffee maker. "Would you like a coffee," he asked. "Sure would," I replied.

"Great," he said. "One of the best cappuccinos you'll ever have coming right up."

Then I watched him go to work. It was sheer artistry. First he ground the beans; then he warmed the water; and then with pinpoint accuracy he heated the milk to the right temperature. "Here you are. Enjoy that," he said proudly as he offered me the coffee. Sarcastically I replied..."That's great. Just as well I wasn't in a hurry!"

Where did the term gourmet coffee originate? Well, as far as I can ascertain, a gourmet coffee blend probably includes coffee beans from a variety of origins. A gourmet coffee blend may include beans from Columbia and Kenya along with a touch of Costa Rica and Brazil. As opposed to single origin coffee which originate from one source. So a gourmet coffee blend is a little like a mixed marriage...or an even better analogy would be like a Deep Space Nine gathering of a variety of different universal characters. Now I'm getting deep.

Whatever your preference, one thing that is certain, that gourmet coffee is here to stay. An single origin coffee lovers will just have to get used to the idea.

Source: Dean Caporella