How to Choose Coffee
Coffee is a beloved drink for many. If you’re a coffee lover, it’s understandable you’ll want to pick the highest quality beans or grounds possible. Luckily, assessing a few factors can help you pick the right coffee for you. Check the label to make sure the coffee is fresh and high quality. Choose a coffee made in a region that provides the taste you want. You should also pick a roast that will give you the flavor you want, or try something like lightly flavored coffee.
- Choose a coffee that provides details about its origin. Cheaper coffee will not provide a lot of specific information about where the coffee comes from. A label should let you know a specific farm, region, or country where the beans originated. This is a sign the coffee was crafted carefully and is not just a blend of random beans from various regions.
2. Check the “roasted on” date. Quality coffee will usually have a “roasted on” date so consumers can check the freshness. Coffee should be used within a month of the roast date, so buy coffee that’s been roasted within the past month. In general, the more recent the roast date, the better. Coffee tends to peak in flavor about seven to 10 days after the roast date.
3. Opt for coffee that provides bonus information. More information usually indicates more care was taken to craft the coffee. A high-quality coffee label will include information about how the coffee was roasted, the date the beans were harvested, recommended brewing temperatures, and the elevation the beans were grown at. You don’t necessarily have to dissect all this information, as it’s mostly meaningful to coffee experts. However, the presence of the information alone indicates quality.
4. Look for labels regarding ethics. If it’s important to you to buy coffee from an ethical manufacturer, check the label. Look for coffee that has a Fair Trade Certified label and a Rainforest Alliance certification. These labels indicate the coffee was farmed in an ethical, environmentally conscious fashion and was traded fairly. If it’s important for you to you to find coffee that was not exposed to pesticides, look for an organic label as well. This indicates coffee was grown without synthetic fertilizers and industrial pesticides.
5. Avoid meaningless or misleading labels. Some labels are attached to coffee deceitfully to make it appear higher quality than it is. The following labels have little meaning and you should avoid buying coffee that includes them:
- 100% coffee.
- Robusto.
- 100% Arabica.
- Vague phrasing about region (i.e., “roasted in the heart of Costa Rica”).
6. Check the label for the amount of caffeine. Caffeine levels vary by coffee. A coffee’s label should let you how many milligrams of caffeine it contains so you can choose a coffee with your preferred strength. You can also buy decaf coffee if you like the flavor, but do not want the caffeine content. Coffee usually has anywhere between 65 to 100 milligrams of caffeine per cup. Stronger coffee would be on the higher end of this spectrum, while weaker coffee would be on the lower end.
7. Go for Central American coffee for a chocolate flavor. Central American coffee has a traditional coffee taste. However, it also frequently has hints of a chocolatey, nutty flavor. It can be great for a slightly sweet option.
8. Pick East African or Arabian coffee for a fruity flavor. East African and Arabian coffees have a bit of a fruity flavor. While they’re not overtly sweet, they do have undertones similar to a fruitier, sweeter wine. They also have a lighter taste than coffee from other regions.
9. Opt for Asian coffee for an earthy flavor. If you prefer an earthier, more bitter flavor, Asian coffee is a good option. Coffees made in Asian countries tend to have an earthier, richer flavor. They will be more bitter than sweet in comparison to coffee from other regions.
10. Pick Indonesian coffee for an earthy, spicy flavor. Indonesian coffee has an earthy flavor, along with a hint of spice. If you want something bitter, but flavorful, Indonesian coffee is an excellent choice.
11. Choose Colombian coffee for floral undertones. Colombian coffee is one of the more popular brands on the market. While it’s not overtly sweet, it does have light, floral undertones. It’s a great option if you want something flavorful, but still bittersweet.
12. Try flavored coffee. Some coffees come flavored. There are a wide variety of flavored coffees to choose from, such as vanilla, hazelnut, chocolate, and so on. Flavored coffees can be good for an after-dinner coffee or for a special occasion.
13. Choose a light roast for a sour taste. Lighter roasted coffees tend to be a bit more sour than other roasts. If you dislike sweeter tasting coffees, a light roast is a good option.
14. Opt for a medium roast to preserve unique flavors. Medium roasted coffees tend to preserve flavors best during brewing. If you bought a Colombian coffee for the floral undertones, for example, you’ll be able to taste it best with a medium roast. If you’re trying to preserve a coffee’s unique flavor, opt for a medium roast.
15. Go for a dark roast for a bittersweet taste. Darker roasts tend to diminish flavor a little. You’ll still get some of the coffee’s original flavor, but you may end up with a bittersweet aftertaste or undertones. This is a good option if you prefer your coffee less sweet.
16. Opt for blended origins if you add milk or cream. Blended origin coffees come from more than one region. There may be a few regions listed on the label or one general region (i.e., “Central American coffee”). The flavor is less distinct in coffee with blended origins, so dulling down the flavor with milk, cream, or other additives does not matter as much.
17. Choose single origin if you drink coffee black. Single origin coffee comes from a very specific place, such as a single country or city. Single origin coffees have a very distinct taste and flavor. They are best enjoyed black, so you can enjoy the flavor fully. If you usually drink your coffee black, opt for a single origin blend.
Source Credit:
https://www.wikihow.com/Choose-Coffee
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