How to choose the ideal coffee for you – important tips to have in mind

From brewing methods, roasting to processing methods that are as diverse as the brands that you will find at your local store or supermarket; coffee is made up of all this and so much more. Detailed below is a helpful guide on how you can set about choosing the right mix of coffee that you will be proud to own and savour.

Coffee brewing and personal preferences

Primarily, coffee is brewed utilizing the filter and espresso methods and where under the former, the following steps are made use of. These include V60, Chemex, Aeropress and Cafetiere respectively. Following closely on the heels of the above would be the preferences and if you are a fan of milk and sugar in your cuppa, then it is recommended that you try filter blends and single origin coffees. On the flip side, coffee connoisseurs who are more prone towards enjoying heavy-bodied coffee without any milk and sugar, then do consider single-origin coffee. For all you espresso lovers who would opt for a citrusy take on their favourite beverage, single-origin coffee will yet again be the best route forward into a truly delightful experience.

Roasting

The stage of roasting coffee can be summarized under three important headings. These would be light roast, medium roast and dark roast. Overall, roasting deals with the very core features and elements of coffee and looks to successfully enhance flavour and texture long before it is prepared and served. Light roast which is best brewed as a filter brings to light the natural characteristics of the coffee with a high level of acidity coupled with a unique list of flavours being its main talking points. In the case of medium roast which can be brewed as a filter or espresso, this variant looks to balance the body and acidity of the coffee with coffee lovers presented with an ideal opportunity to taste the true flavour of the beverage together with the fuller body that is brought about from the roast. Bringing up the rear, dark roast firmly focuses on the rich and chocolaty elements of coffee which are often brewed as an espresso. For example, this element features among the coffee capsules Sri Lanka has to offer at Fits Retail which can be considered before making any sort of purchase.

Taste

Flavour plays a crucial role in defining your coffee drinking experience. However, the method of brewing, temperature as well as the addition of milk and sugar can alter the balance of flavour which must be factored in. First up is the fruity texture and this should come as no surprise as the coffee bean is the fruit of the coffee cherry. The processing of coffee ensures that sugars from the fruit are absorbed into the bean and thus, provide for its fruity taste. Next up is the citrus and floral flavours of coffee which result from washed coffees that are prevalent in Ethiopia. Fragrances ranging from jasmine, honeysuckle and dandelion are but a few of the value additions that one will have should this type be to your fancy. The fascinating combination of spices and nuts cannot go unnoticed for these flavours retain a special place in the fine art of coffee processing. Part and parcel of Bourbon brands and those found in Brazil, one can imagine sipping on a cuppa that exudes the pungent aromas of clove, cinnamon and almonds! Last but certainly not least, chocolate and caramel appear worthy of mention during such a journey of celebrating one of the world’s most cherished beverages. The caramelization occurs only upon the roasting process drawing to a close and in instances where the roast appears far darker than usual, such as the telltale sign that the coffee you have before you comprises a large concentration of caramel and chocolate flavour.