Starting with the basics: fresh is best.
– If you don’t have a coffee bean grinder, opt for ground coffee (filter ground). It won’t hold its freshness as long as a bean, but it’s a good place to start.
– Another important point before running to the supermarket (or Amazon) – Types of roast:
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Espresso Roast – Designed for Espresso Machines
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Filter Roast: Designed for IE Caferiere, Aeropress, Drip feed over-methods of making coffee.
and this is where it gets cloudy or milky as you like – another guide for you
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If you prefer it black then go for a single origin coffee (from a single known geographic location, such as a farm or estate)
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If you like to drink it with milk/cream go for a Mix
First, taste your black coffee and add milk if you want… are you still with me?
Now let’s choose a region from which your coffee will have originated: the “Coffee Belt” of the world.
Coffee is grown in the warmer latitudes of the world between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn. Within this “coffee belt” there is a great variety of altitude, rain, sun and soil conditions that will alter the flavor of the coffee, just like viticulture.
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Clean and sweet chocolate flavored coffee from Central and South America Known for its hint of chocolate and nutty flavour. Brazil has a heavy bodied peanut character. Colombian coffee is mild with a caramel or toffee flavor.
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East African or Arabic coffee for a complex fruity flavor. East African and Arabic coffees have a slightly fruity flavor. They have nuances similar to a more fruity and sweet wine. They also have a lighter flavor than coffee from other regions. Ethiopian coffee has complex berry and wine aromas, while Kenya is known for its stone fruit influence.
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Asian coffee for an earthy and delicious flavor. If you prefer a more earthy and bitter taste, Asian coffee is a good option. Coffees made in Asian countries tend to have a richer, earthier flavor. They will be more bitter than sweet compared to coffee from other regions.
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Indonesian coffee for an earthy and spicy flavor. Indonesian coffee has a heavy-bodied, earthy flavor, along with a hint of spice. If you want something bitter but tasty, Indonesian coffee is a great option.
The roast and therefore the flavor
Light Roast: It’s likely to be a bit more bitter than other roasts. If you don’t like sweeter tasting coffees, a light roast is a good choice.
Medium Roast: tends to preserve flavors better during preparation. If you want to taste the distinctive caramel flavor of a Colombian, choose a medium roast.
Dark roast: It will lessen the flavor a bit. You’ll still get some of the original coffee flavor, but you may end up with a bittersweet aftertaste or undertones. Give it a try if you prefer your coffee less sweet.
And finally… a good coffee should provide:
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Details about its origin, where it was grown, roasted and ground.
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A “toast by” date, try to consume within a month of this date.
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Check Ethics: A large percentage now have the Fair Trade & Rain Forest Alliance, but just because it doesn’t have a badge doesn’t mean it’s unethical. Small farmers may be part of a cooperative that has established standards for fair wages, etc.
Be careful: Caffeine levels vary by coffee. Coffee generally has between 65 and 100 milligrams of caffeine per cup. The strongest coffee would be at the higher end of this spectrum, while the weaker coffee would be at the lower end.
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No Decaf coffee is 100% caffeine free, so if you are sensitive to caffeine, always check the contents… our decaf coffee is delicious.
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