The Art of Brewing
"The perfect cup of coffee starts with high quality, specialty coffee beans freshly roasted by Honey's Coffee Company."
The Art of Brewing
The perfect cup of coffee is that which gives you the taste, aroma and flavor that you prefer. If you are looking at some level of perfection in the drink that you are so fond of, it is imperative that you acquaint yourself with the art of brewing coffee to achieve the desired taste and aroma.
Coffee brewing is an art and a science in its own right. The six basic methods of brewing coffee are basically a mode of arriving at the desired permutation and combination of variables, such as, temperature, water addition, saturation and the separation of the brewed liquor from the coffee sediments that settle at the bottom.
The perfect cup of coffee always begins with freshly roasted coffee beans. The quality of the beans, where they come from and how they are roasted in addition to the type of grinder used are all important to the perfect brew. Freshly roasted beans produce a richer flavor and aroma.
The importance of the grind should not be underestimated. Coffee can be grinded manually, or by the more sophisticated burr grinders, to give a coarse, medium or fine coffee powder. A coarse grind is suitable for slow brewing methods, the medium grind can be used for several brewing methods and the fine grind is recommended for faster brewing methods, such as espresso. The six brewing methods are:
Percolating
Once the most popular method of brewing, percolating was considered to be the most practical. It is, however, almost like disgracing the wonderful drink that coffee is. Boiling water that continuously passes through coffee often ends up boiling the coffee brew to an extent that it gives a thin, bitter, and a tarry cup of coffee.
Auto-drip
Auto-drip coffee makers became virtually synonymous with coffee making. There are two factors in this technique that you need to be aware of. The paper filter, especially the bleached one, can sometimes pass on a distinct smell and/or taste to the brew and the hot plate underneath the carafe can overheat the drink: both have the potential of ruining the brewed coffee.
French Press
The French Press, one of the more popular brewing methods, allows control over time and temperature. The French Press produces a superb flavor as it allows perfect extraction time and releases the essential aromatic oils that often remain trapped in filters. For a perfect French Press cup of coffee, use a coarse even grind. Place freshly ground beans at the base of the glass. Pour hot water and swirl. After four to five minutes press the plunger to separate the grounds from the extracted coffee.
Concentrate Brewing
Concentrate brewing is a Latin American favorite that is making inroads into the commercial dispensation of coffee in the US. This method involves brewing large quantities of coffee with very little water to produce a concentrate. This concentrate form of coffee is stored and used to make coffee by mixing water. Letting it sit for a day gives it a better taste which is perfect for iced or cold coffee. However, this brew will give you a slightly subdued flavor.
Pour-Over Coffee Method
This pour-over method is preferred by coffee enthusiasts as it allows control of the taste, texture, temperature and strength of the brew. It is similar to the drip method, in that freshly ground coffee beans are saturated with water and the liquid collects as it passes through a filter. However, unlike the drip method, the pour-over method allows you to control the temperature of the water, the speed at which it goes into the grounds, the amount of time it brews and how much it makes.
Whichever brew method you prefer and are most comfortable with, make sure that you begin the brew process with specialty grade beans freshly roasted by Honey’s Coffee Company.
This method is preferred by coffee enthusiasts as it allows total control of the taste, texture, temperature and strength of the brew. It is similar to the
at freshly ground coffee beans are saturated with water and the liquid collects as it passes through a filter. However, unlike the drip method, the pour-over method allows you to control the temperature of the water, the speed at which it goes into the grounds, the amount of time it brews and how much it makes.
Whichever brew method you prefer and are most comfortable with, make sure that you begin the brew process with specialty grade beans freshly roasted by Honey’s Coffee Company.