If you are a coffee lover, you will know that making that perfect cup of coffee can be an elusive quest. In fact, we do not think it is ever possible to get that “perfect cup”. However it is possible to make a cup of very good coffee if you take a bit more care when preparing your brew.
Most connoisseurs will tell you that you need to look out for the type of coffee bean and the style of roast. You should also not neglect to choose your coffee-making equipment. Our preference is the automatic drip coffeemaker.
The most desirable variety of coffee bean is the Arabica variety, which has a richer flavour and aroma. Different coffee regions yield different bean characteristics. Generally most people prefer South American and African beans.
The beans need to be roasted in order to bring out the taste. Proper roasting will bring out the flavour of the bean and determine the richness and smoothness of the coffee. By adding flavourings during the roasting process, the coffee will acquire a different taste. Most specialty coffees are roasted with added flavourings. These flavorings can include vanilla, hazelnut and cocoa.
Some of the more common roasts you will find are the Italian Roast, Vienna Roast, American Roast and Cinnamon Roast. Italian Roast can be too strong for some, as it can be quite bitter (very dark roast). American Roast is lighter with very little trace of dark roast. Vienna Roast is less strong than Italian Roast but still belong to the dark roast category. To know which suits you best you will need to sample them.
If you have been to a specialty coffee shop or a well-stocked supermarket before, you would have noticed that they will grind your chosen coffee beans to your specifications. How finely you like your beans to be will depend on what equipment you have. If you are using a percolator or Bodum plunger to make coffee, you should ask for your beans to be ground coarse. Go for fine grind if you use an expresso machine. If you have an automatic drip coffeemaker, ask for medium grind.
Remember to store your ground coffee in airtight containers as air moisture can take away the coffee’s natural flavour. Some coffee-lovers also recommend putting the airtight containers into the refrigerator as the tropical heat may also damage the coffee taste.
