Gourmet Coffee

Who doesn't enjoy a fresh cup of gourmet coffee? But did you ever wonder what makes this coffee so special? It's all in the growing and the processing. Coffee, when grown at different altitudes and under different conditions, will result in subtle flavorings that eventually become the gourmet coffee you know and love. Just like fine wine, gourmet coffee has certain characteristics that coffee connoisseurs can identify.

One attribute that any coffee certainly has is an aroma or smell. Even the unroasted beans have a certain smell. The aroma can be nutty, citrusy, smoky, and even chocolaty. Of course, the smell gives away what the coffee is going to taste like.

The acidity is another thing to concider with gourmet coffee. This comprises the tartness in coffee. Some people like it, some people don't, and there is wide range of acidity in coffees depending on how they are grown. Brazilian coffee is not usually very acidic because it is grown at lower altitudes. While East African, Kenya coffee is highly acidic.

The body of the coffee refers to the "mouth feel" of the drink. When drinking coffee does it coat your mouth? How does it feel on your tongue? Coffees can have a light body or full body.

The flavor is, of course, the most important part, and coffee can have a wide range of flavors. It can be bitter which means it is rather acidic, or it can be bland. It can have a fruity taste or nutty taste. If the coffee is rather astringent it is referred to as sharp. If it is acrid then it is called sour. Coffee can be spicy, sweet and even winey tasting!

Gourmet coffee can be brewed in a variety of ways. You can make it in a regular drip brewer, use a fancy French press, or go all out and put it through an espresso machine. Any way you make it, you're sure to get a great cup of coffee from gourmet beans.

Next Page: History of Coffee

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