If you are a coffee lover, you most likely spend a lot of time drinking the brew, but how often do you spend learning about the history of coffee, the different brewing methods, or the different types of beans?
If you want to improve your coffee knowledge and become an aficionado, you need to learn everything you can about coffee beans – which are actually fruits! This is what separates the novice from the professional.
Although it may take some time to learn about coffee and all its details, it is worth it. Don’t be discouraged, though.
This article provides an overview of the key areas you need to understand to become an expert. We can help you get started on your journey and provide guidance on how to continue learning on your own.
Becoming a coffee aficionado: The basics
If you are actively trying to learn more about coffee, you are likely already familiar with the basics. This means that there may be some aspects of the basics that you have not thought about.
Details below show areas where additional skills may be needed.
1. Buying coffee
You have probably purchased a lot of coffee at different times. In order to be a professional, you need to know what you’re buying. First and foremost, when buying beans, be sure to purchase them from a trustworthy farmer.
Those that focus on climate change, soil composition, and altitude are important for a good cup of coffee, and also for the environment.
Take a look at some other points to consider when picking out your coffee:
Whole beans
Whole beans are much fresher than ground beans. If you want the freshest taste and full flavor, you should use whole beans.
The peak
Coffee beans are best two to three weeks after roasting. Reputable roasters will have this information available to you.
Avoid sales
This runs hand and hand with the tip above. The beans that are typically on sale are the ones that have just been replaced. This means the sale beans are likely not as fresh as they once were.
Try different flavors
You want to try something different from your normal beer. You should try different things to expand your knowledge and experience. This includes trying different flavors, brands, and levels of boldness, as well as different countries of origin.
How you purchase coffee can greatly influence coffee farmers globally – many of whom are currently facing difficult times financially.
Many coffee farmers are finding that growing other crops is more profitable than coffee and are thus leaving their coffee farms. In Bolivia, people are leaving to grow coca, which is a stimulant for cocaine. The Ethiopian government doesn’t have the resources to help its citizens adapt to climate change. Across the globe farmers are barely making ends meet.
You can play a role in improving the lives of millions by buying your coffee from roasters that prioritize economic and environmental sustainability.
If you want to support great roasters who are doing good work, buy your coffee from roasters who are transparent about the coffee’s origins and who give credit to the farmers.
Look for coffee roasters who are open about where they source their beans and have a history of supporting sustainable local initiatives. I would suggest you try Onyx Coffee Lab, Intelligentsia, Equator, or Amavida coffee shops.
2. Don’t buy anything other than whole bean coffee
Say it with me: nothing beats whole bean coffee.
Peak freshness for coffee beans is 2-3 weeks after roasting. This is the ideal stage for coffee beans. They are full of flavor, have a strong aroma, and brew coffee that is very enjoyable.
This coffee is invigorating and gives you the energy you need to face tough mornings. The coffee tastes amazing and is very enjoyable.
And it’s so easy to get.
The only way to have fresh coffee is to grind it at home. You can’t do it any other way. Coffee beans that have been ground peak in freshness after only 30 minutes. It’s stale before you even buy the bag. You don’t want that coffee.
If you ask a coffee lover what the most important coffee gear is, they will all say the same thing: their coffee grinder. Really. It’s the most important part.
To get the best tasting coffee, only buy whole beans and grind them each time you brew. A small, simple change that will have a big impact on the taste of your coffee.
3. Learn how to use manual brewers
Nothing compares to old-school manual brewers. If you have only ever used a drip coffee maker, you will be amazed at the difference in taste, flavor, and even texture.
manual coffee presses will help you on your quest for coffee knowledge. There are several different coffee brewing models available, such as a French press, pour-over, or coffee cone.
You will get the best results if you grind your own beans. A good coffee grinder doesn’t have to be expensive, and it can open up many new coffee-drinking experiences.
Schooling yourself yields benefits other than just knowledge. Take a look at the different aspects of brewing your java:
- Allows you to personalize your coffee and try different beverages like espresso, macchiato, cappuccino, and much more.
- Experiment with different coffee grind textures that affect taste, texture, and overall flavor.
- You can try different kinds of milk and sweeteners along with the order in which the ingredients are used. Try soy milk, frothed milk, and adding milk over an espresso.
- Experiment with what brews are better for what particular cup of coffee.
There are many things that coffee aficionados know that come into play when making your perfect cup. All of the following elements play a role in the taste of food: flavor, aroma, texture, and added ingredients. Even the look of the brew is important.
The typical auto drip coffee pot is the starting point for many of us, but it is not where we should remain. If you want to improve your coffee-making skills, you’ll need to start using a better coffee maker than the one you currently have.
There is a greater depth of flavor to coffee that is brewed by hand instead of using a drip coffee maker. They get you close and personal with your coffee.
You are forced to embrace a moment of focus and calm while you carefully brew. They provide an opportunity for you to appreciate the small details in life – like making coffee.
While it is easy to use grounds in a drip brewer, this is not the most important thing for coffee lovers. We strive to offer an incredible coffee experience from beginning to end.
This coffee lover’s dream begins with freshly ground coffee and continues until the last sip is gone. This is a time period that makes you pay attention to the smells, sights, and tastes. It’s an experience of mindful brewing and rich reward.
Different manual coffee brewers introduce you to your coffee in different ways. Every manual brewing teaches you different things about coffee. Every coffee brewer produces a slightly different result.
French press coffee is heavy and robust. Pour over coffee is lighter and brighter. It’s up to you what AeroPress coffee tastes like.
Many people are enjoying the process of manual brewing, and it is not difficult to see why this is happening. Their coffee produces a deep satisfaction in multiple ways.
4. Brewing a good cup of coffee
There are some key tips for making a great cup of coffee, which are often overlooked by people who just make drip coffee. To make a traditional cup of joe, take a look at these steps below:
Step 1
Check the freshness of your beans. This means that they should be neither too old nor too young. You should use beans that are at their peak, which means they should be neither too old nor too young. If the beans are brittle and dry, the resulting cup of coffee will be bitter. Too moist, and the brew has a “green” flavor.
Step 2
You also want to choose high-quality beans. If you want to find a quality coffee, you should research the brand or farmer, including their location, roasting methods, and harvesting methods.
Step 3
You should grind your beans. The freshness alone is well worth the effort.
Step 4
One often overlooked step is using the right water in the brewer. If you can, use fresh spring water, but any other kind of bottled water will work too. The minerals and other additives in tap water can change the taste of your coffee.
Step 5
Brew manually — for the reasons already discussed.
Step 6
To get the full taste of your coffee beans, you should use two tablespoons of coffee per cup. This will make an average-ish single espresso shot.
Step 7
You should not reheat your coffee. It takes away the natural flavors and aromas largely because of the way the microwave heats food. You will get a better cup of coffee if you make a fresh one rather than reheating it on the stove.
5. Tasting coffee is a skill you should learn
Coffees from Ethiopia and Indonesia taste widely different. Let’s get even closer. Coffees from Guatemala and Honduras can taste very different. Even closer.
Coffees grown in different regions of Panama can have very different flavors. Coffee is an agricultural product. Its flavor is heavily dependent on the plant’s environment.
There are many factors that contribute to the diverse range of flavors that coffee can feature, such as the soil, climate, health and variety of the plant, and the harvesting and processing methods.
Did you ever try coffee that had rich aromas of blueberry or rose? Have you tried coffee that tastes like sweet pepper, honey, or cardamom? There are many hidden flavors in the world that you will miss if you are not paying attention.
I would highly recommend that you learn to taste coffee. This is a skill that will take time to develop, but it will provide benefits that last a lifetime.
If you want to appreciate coffee more, learn how to taste it better. This will also show more appreciation for the farmers who worked hard to produce it. Being grateful for the little things in life will make you happier overall. It will also make you appear to be a coffee expert.
Sweetness
Fruity tastes and other sweet notes. More or less self-explanatory.
Acid/Brightness
This refers to flavors that are more citrus in taste. Notes of orange, lemon, blueberry, and tomato can all be found in this dish.
Bitterness
Bitterness is another taste that is easily understandable; it is the level of acidity in the flavor. The true bitter feel.
Body/mouthfeel
When drinking this beer, you are not focusing on the flavor as much as the sensation of the liquid in your mouth. Different types of coffee beans can produce different textures, weights, and body composition when brewed.
Cleanliness
The last flavor factor is the coffee’s aftertaste. Does it leave an aftertaste? Does the bitterness linger? Are the notes pleasant? There are many factors that affect the overall experience.
6. Terrible coffee products abound
As coffee’s popularity has grown worldwide, a variety of gimmicky products have been created over the last 100 years. They’re everywhere. Avoid them. See past the lies, deception, and cheap quality.
The original espresso machine, which was created over 100 years ago, was the inspiration for the design of steam espresso machines. lll Today, inflatable furniture is sold at big box stores, but when it was first created, nobody even liked it.
The first espresso machine was a failure, but now you can find them for a cheap price.
Weight loss coffee is becoming popular, even though it doesn’t make sense. It’s all marketing. All coffee that is caffeinated and not drank with sugar or cream, encourages calorie burning, especially before a workout.
Coffee that is labeled as “weight loss coffee” is not unique or special.
Drip brewers with “customizable settings” let you choose how your coffee is made, giving you more control over the process. Most of the settings on electronic devices, even more expensive models, are not accurate.
The author is saying that automated coffee machines do not give users the same level of control over the final product as manual brewing methods.
Single serve coffee machines like Keurig, Nespresso, and Verissimo are becoming increasingly popular. They’re convenient, but they lack any other respectable quality. The coffee is not as fresh as it could be and does not have much flavor.
The amount of used k-cups that were wasted in 2015 would be enough to wrap around the earth 7 times. Coffee from these machines is just as good as coffee from a gas station.
Conclusion
You can easily become the one everyone in your group goes to for all things coffee. It takes dedication, education, and fun experimentation to do anything.
This article was written to help coffee aficionados, and it provides the building blocks needed to continue becoming great coffee connoisseurs.