Different ways of drinking coffee
It’s the one thing that kick starts the day for most people and you’ll find coffee grown all over the world, with the climate, the soil and the altitude giving the beans their own uniquely distinctive flavor. In Ethiopia you have the Yirgacheffe which is grown at the altitude which is highest in the world today. The Indonesian aged Sukawesi has no acidity and a heavy flavor due to its storage conditions of palm thatched barns in humid areas. It’s in Indonesia where you find the most expensive bean called the Kopi Luak and this flavor is nigh impossible to replicate. This flavor comes from the very unique fact that the Civet cat chews on the ripe cherries, the coffee bean exits the cat naturally, and the beans are then washed and roasted. The intense musk odor what you get is from the anal glands of the cat. It’s good coffee but maybe not quite the thing to start your day with!
Today you will get different types of coffee from different parts of the world each with a distinctive flavor of their own. You have cappuccinos, lattes, premium instants, different roasts to name a few. The recipes and variations are aplenty for the real coffee lover.
But drinking coffee is an experience and there are some things you must keep in mind when choosing your coffee. Real coffee will have an aroma and a flavor. So if your coffee is the instant variety it will not have any aroma or strong flavor. These are generally made from low grade Robusta. Beans that are of an inferior quality get a nice rounded flavor when blended. Blends taste best through the espresso machine which increases the acidity and distorts the flavor a little. If you have alpha beans then these work the best on their own. These single origin beans have the best flavor when brewed slowly in filters or cafetières.
Did you know that back in the 1980s vendors in the US invented the name ‘latte’? Contrary to its Italian name, Italy does not have lattes. A latte is hot milk to which some coffee has been added. Real coffee drinkers feel this is for people who essentially do not like coffee. The Turkish prepare their coffee by boiling the finely powdered roast beans with or without sugar, served in a cup. In Macedonia coffee plays a very important role in gender customs and betrothal ceremonies. Greek style coffee is made to order and you have to specify your choice of sweet, plain or medium sweet. When served do not stir as the thick powdered coffee settles to the bottom of the cup.
Arabica coffee beans give you a good flavor while roasted beans will get a superb flavor if they have been kept for 12-24 hours in an airtight jar post roasting.
So if coffee is your drink then shop around and experiment with various blends so that you know which the one you like the most is. Check out various options in light to heavy roasted varieties and enjoy the cup that kicks in the day.