For All the Coffee Lovers Out There: Here's Coffee at its Best!

For all the coffee enthusiasts out there, there was a cup of coffee, which you had sometime back, which will always remain in memory. That cup tasted heavenly, with delicate balance of flavor and aroma. It really put life back into a regular morning. This article attempts to teach you the art of brewing coffee, so that you may recreate that lovely cup you had, day after day.

There are two choices when you are out to buy coffee beans. You can either buy the green beans that are not roasted and fresh out of the farm or you can buy the roasted ones out of a coffee shop. Buying green beans lets you try your hand at roasting your own beans.

Although there are many shops that sell good quality roasted beans, coffee enthusiasts insist that freshly roasted beans make the best brew. It is also recommended that you buy whole beans, raw or roasted. Ground beans, even if raw, start to lose their flavor within 15 minutes.

This is because after grinding, the coffee is exposed to more oxygen, than when it's not ground. Whole beans retain their flavors, oils and aromas much longer than ground coffee. It is best if you could store your beans in an air tight glass, ceramic or plastic containers after purchasing them.

Never store beans or ground coffee in the refrigerator or freezer. Both the Specialty Coffee Association of America and the National Coffee Association of USA recommend storing whole coffee beans in an airtight container in a cool, dry location (in a cabinet). Never freeze or refrigerate the beans. Roasted coffee beans contain volatile flavor oils and essences that can crystallize in cold temperatures. Once crystallized, they can no longer contribute to coffee flavor or taste.

Coffee beans can be roasted on ordinary kitchen utensils like the frying pan. They can be roasted in a convection oven too, although care must be taken that they are spread in an even layered manner to get a consistent roast. The main advantage of roasting the beans yourself is that the coffee tastes best when it is freshly roasted.

You also can control the degree to which they are roasted. Some coffee drinkers prefer lightly roasted coffee, and some prefer dark roasted coffee which is strong in the roast flavor. Lightly roasted coffee are yellowish-brown in color and have almost no roast flavor. Medium roasted are sweeter, and have the aroma of the roast.

Most of the coffee outlets in America use this type of roast in their coffee. Full roasted beans are darkest and have a shiny texture because of the oils secreted during the roasting.

Dark roasted coffee usually lack the acidic taste and have a very distinct smoky flavor. Home-roasting the beans lets you experiment with the coffee you are making, and helps you zero in on the flavor you like the most. Roasted beans retain their flavor for 15-21 days, depending on the storage conditions.

Most enthusiasts grind their own coffee for the reason that the type of grind has an effect on the flavor of the coffee. A coarse grind can score low in flavor. A medium grind is the best, as it releases the best flavor and oils into the brew, essential for the best taste. A fine grind is preferred by people who like some bitterness in the taste.

Beans can be ground by using a Burr mill, A home blender or by simply pounding it using a mortar and pestle. A burr mill is the best choice since it gives an even grind to the beans. For the people who prefer a fine grind, pulverizing the beans using a mortar and pestle is the best choice.

Boiling
This remains the oldest method of brewing coffee. It is still the primary method of brewing coffee in the middle east. This method releases the bitter taste in the coffee and also adds the acidic flavor. This is because the natural acids are released when the ground coffee is brought into contact with boiling water. After the coffee is brewed, filter paper, a hot coffee bag or a fine cloth can be used to filter the beans from the brew.

This is probably the most popular method of brewing. This method produces a clear, crisp cup of coffee with little or no particulates. Depending on preferences, you can use either a permanent gold filter or disposable paper filters. If you use paper, always use natural unbleached or pre-washed filters. If you use regular filters, rinse with water prior to using. Never reuse a paper filter. Always brew at least 80% of the coffee maker's capacity unless it has a short brew cycle.

The French press has a loyal following. It produces a very rich, full bodied cup of coffee with a small amount of coffee particulate that many find desirable. To brew, take coarsely (standard perk) ground coffee and add it to the bottom of the container. Add hot water (about 190 degrees), put the cover in place and push the plunger down about 1/4 of the way and let steep for about 3-5 minutes, depending on taste. Push the plunger down to trap the grounds and stop the brewing and serve immediately.

Vacuum brewing was popular in the 1930s and 40s. It is now making a comeback. This method produces full bodied coffee with very little particulate. Most brewers use a nylon filter that filters out most of the particulate but allows body and flavor through. The water is heated to near boiling, forced into the top and steeps. As the lower part cools it forms a vacuum and draws the brewed coffee back down. The coffee should be served immediately.

These machines use pressure and heat to make a coffee that has a frothy top when poured in a cup. The coffee has a thick flavor and is preferred by people who like the strong taste.

Despite the way you make your cup of coffee in the morning, always note that the more coffee you consume, the more addictive it gets, morning after morning. So it is best if you can avoid it at times, besides it takes 24 hours for one cup of coffee to pass through the kidneys and urinary tract. (For those who drink 7 or 8 or more cups a day, you might want to invest in your own dialysis machine ... or at least invest in the company which makes them!) Cheers!