Difference between revisions of "Test:Techniques"

From Whole Latte Love Support Library

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Roasting changes the flavor of the beans by heating the beans. This causes some of the chemical compounds to denature, some of them to burn off or be removed by steam, and increases the carbon content of the bean. How much of the original flavor of the coffee is left depends on how much the bean is roasted. Because of how much the heating can change the flavor of the coffee it is an important factor to consider.
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Very lightly roasted coffee can taste grassy, like sweet hay. Finding these flavors in the brewed coffee may indicate that the bean was under-roasted. Going up from there is light roasted coffee. This is coffee that has been roasted to around the point of the first crack. The first crack is when the beans start to pop in the roaster. Light roasts range generally from just before, during, or slightly after the first crack. When trying to emphasize the natural flavors of a coffee a light roast use typically picked. The flavor compounds in the bean have not been greatly affected at this point.
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Moving on from there are medium and medium dark roasts. These roasts fall in between the first and second crack.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq_dZ4P8BcU
  
 
=Blends=
 
=Blends=
  
 
=Caffeine Content=
 
=Caffeine Content=
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq_dZ4P8BcU
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB1fXM5Ozd4
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB1fXM5Ozd4
  
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stronger flavor for cutting through milk

Revision as of 10:13, 8 February 2017

Overview

When considering how to select a bean there are two really important factors to consider: quality, and personal flavor preference. The main focus of article is to understand the main components of coffee that makes it what it is. Armed with this knowledge you'll be able to make an informed decision to get coffee that suits your palette and make sure you are getting a quality product.

Flavor Terminology

When selecting a coffee you will want to see what kind of flavor notes the coffee is supposed to have. You may find that lower quality coffees do not list a flavor profile on their container. This may be a sign that the coffee is poor quality and should be avoided. Many mass produced coffees do not have the quality control or product consistency to be able to provide this information with certainty. Once you understand what these flavor terms mean you will understand what flavors you like/don't like, so that you know what to avoid when purchasing. Many of the flavor descriptions you'll find on coffee bags are self explanatory, such as chocolaty or smoky, but others are more specific. Listed below is a glossary of common flavor descriptors and what they mean in regards to coffee.

  • Acidity - This is not a measurement of acidic a coffee is, but is instead more of a measure of how much of a fruity tang or wine-like flavor a coffee has. It can be compared to the pleasant tartness and crispness of a good dry wine.
  • Aftertaste - The lingering flavor after the the coffee is swallowed. Sometimes the aftertaste of the coffee will be quite different from the initial flavor. A coffee can taste good initially, but then leave an undesirable flavor on the palette.
  • Aroma - How the coffee smells. Smell has a large effect on the perceived flavor of food. How the ground and brewed coffee smells will affect the taste. You may notice a distinct difference in the aroma of the ground coffee vs. the brewed coffee. Changing the brew process will cause different compounds in the coffee to extract at different rates, which will result in a different aroma profile.
  • Balance - This is the ratio of different basic flavors such as bitterness, sweetness, acidity, etc. A balances coffee will have a relatively equal ratio of these flavors, with no one flavor being particularly strong/overpowering.
  • Bitterness - This is a strong unpleasant taste that usually leave a lingering aftertaste. It can be described as a medicinal flavor. This is typically a sign over over-extraction.
  • Body - This is how the coffee feels in the mouth - the density/viscosity on the tongue. A thin bodied coffee will typically have less dissolved solids in it, and feel watery. A full bodied coffee will be creamy and have a thick texture to it. At an extreme, some coffee are described as syrupy, resembling a very thick body like maple syrup.
  • Brightness - This is sometimes used interchangeably with acidity. More specifically though this refers to a tangy flavor, such as what is found in citrus fruit.
  • Complexity - This an encompassing term that describes how the different flavors of a coffee or blend work together. Complexity is not inherently a good or bad attribute - it really depends on how well the flavors work together. A coffee can be complex, but have bad flavor, because the different flavor profiles don't work well together. A common reason for coffee blends is the pair different flavor profiles together to build complexity. When done right the coffee will have a fuller/varied flavor experience that is clean tasting.
  • Cleanliness - This is a measure of how free the coffee is of defects and unpleasantly overpowering flavors. Also a measure of how clearly defined the flavors are - a clean coffee will have flavor notes that can be distinctly picked out when tasted.
  • Crema - A frothy foam that is a result of the carbon dioxide within an espresso bean being trapped in bubbles as a result of the espresso extraction process. Crema is not a sign of good or bad flavor - bad beans can produce a lot of crema. Crema is a good measure of how fresh a bean is though, because older beans will have outgassed all of their trapped carbon dioxide already.
  • Earthy/Natural - Coffees described as earthy or natural will tend to have a flavor like soil or dirt. This can be perceived as a negative - especially if it is strong, such as mold/mildew/potato flavors. But like good earthy cheese, an this flavor can provide balance to the overall taste of the bean. This flavor is particularly subjective to the taster, but generally a disproportionately strong earthy aroma is not desirable.
  • Finish - This refers to specifically the flavors that are perceived in the aftertaste of the coffee.
  • Floral - Flavor notes that are perceived as being flowery/plant-like, and a perfume-like aroma.
  • Fruity - A fairly non-descript term that just denotes sweetness/tartness of fruit. Typically a specific fruit or fruits are listed which are more specific.
  • Smoothness - How easily the flavors of the coffee flow together as it is drank. A smooth coffee will not have sharply pronounced flavors or surprises.
  • Sourness - A very sharp flavor that causes the palette to clench - leaves a biting sensation like vinegar does.
  • Sweetness - How sugary a coffee tastes, such as caramel and honey notes.


In addition to these items there are some defects to be aware of as well. Please review the terms here that describe frequently encountered undesired traits and how to identify them.

Robusta vs. Arabica

Robusta and Arabica are two species of the Coffea genus, and comprise most of the modern coffee market. Robustas are usually characterized as lower quality, frequently having defects, and undesirable or harsh flavors. Robustas do produce a lot of crema, so high quality robustas are frequently used in espresso blends. Robustas do not have a lot of varietals.

Arabica on the other hand comes in a large variety of subspecies, commonly referred to as varietals or cultivars. Arabica has such a wide range of cultivars because it has two additional chromosomes. Because of this wide range of subspecies there will be a broad range in quality and flavor. Arabica itself does not indicate higher quality or better flavor than robusta, but are definitely cultivars of arabica that offer desirable traits and excellent flavor.

There is also a third species of coffee called liberica. This is not a very commonly or widely used coffee bean, and is limited in variety like robusta.

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Common Varietals/Cultivars

There are tons of varietals out there. A quick internet search will give you a plethora of information on each varietal. Listed below are a few of the more commonly found varietals.

  • Bourbon - This varietal is a common standard of good coffee. This varietal is liked by many because of its sweet flavor, well rounded taste and feel, and good complexity.
  • Catimor - This varietal is typically something to be avoided. These beans commonly have poor flavor, are bitter/medicinal, and low in sweetness and acidity. This is due to a robusta influence in this particular strain. High quality catimors however have a more balanced flavor, and a more herbal flavor in place of the bitter/medicinal flavor.
  • Caturra/Catuai - These are derivatives of the Bourbon strain. These varietals have high acidity, and a low or medium body.
  • Ethiopian - These varietals pertain to both a region and cultivars. These varietals are often good quality and feature strong berry flavor notes. Blueberry is often used to describe the flavor notes of this coffee.
  • Peaberry - This is not a variety, but rather a description given to a coffee bean that is smaller, round, and the two halves of the bean are fused together. They can also formed when one half of the coffee bean seed doesn't grow. These are undesirable when mixed with other beans, but can make good coffee when used in pure peaberry blends. This is because the beans are smaller, so are roasted more quickly and have a tendency to burn.
  • Typica - The most common and very oldest varietal of coffee. Many other cultivars descend from this one. This bean has had centuries to be refined. Modern varietals of it are known for their clean balanced flavor, which is a direct result of the long time that this varietal has had to be tweaked.

Origin/Growing Altitude

Where and how the coffee is grown will also have an effect on the flavor. Factors such as mineral content of the soil, ambient temperature and humidity, growing altitude, etc. all effect how the coffee plant grows and how the resulting beans taste. This is why single origin coffees can be desirable. Since the plants are grown and sourced in a similar area under similar conditions there will be less deviation in their flavor, resulting in higher quality and better consistency.

One of the more important factors that you will see specifically listed on coffee containers is the growing altitude. The higher growing altitude typically imparts more desireable flavor traits onto the coffee. Because of the better flavor and more difficult growing process, higher altitude coffees will be more expensive.

Processing

Processing refers to what is done between picking the coffee off of the plant before hulling the cherry of the coffee bean. There are three commonly used processes, which each have their own variations, in addition to a plethora of other less commonly used processes. How the coffee is processed again has a large effect on how the resulting bean will taste. An improperly processed bean can have an unpleasant earthy flavor, mould/mildew flavors from improper fermentation, or have poor flavor consistency.

Dry/Natural Processing

This is a simple process of letting the coffee cherry simply dry out from the ambient air. Once the bean has reached the appropriate moisture content the flesh of the bean is removed. This process is more common in arid climates, or where equipment is available that can strictly control the ambient humidity. Some beans are left on the tree for drying. Dry processed beans have a larger tendency towards bean defects because it is not as easy to sort out unripe beans.

Wet Processing

This process involves using water to remove the outer layer of the coffee cherry to access the bean. The coffee cherry is composed of the bean in the center, a thin layer surrounding the bean called the silverskin, which is surrounded by a shell called the parchment. This is suspended in a sugary layer call the mucilage. Lastly there is the outer skin. During wet process this outer layer is removed, and then the beans are soaked in water for a period of time, which can last up to a week. Since the outer layer has been removed the mucilage is directly exposed to the water, which begins to dissolve the sugars of the mucilage. This portion of the process is referred to as fermentation. The longer a bean is fermented the more sour it will taste. This can help bring out fruitier and more acidic flavor notes in a bean. If the fermentation is allowed to go too long though the bean can become overly sour, or take on mold/mildew flavor notes. After the coffee is finished fermenting the bean is thoroughly washed to remove the remaining mucilage. This process has an advantage over the dry process because unripe beans can be more easily separated out.

Pulped/Honey Processing

This process is similar to the wet process, except that the beans are not fermented at all. After the outer layer is hulled the beans are immediately washed and then dried. Depending on how much of the mucilage is remaining after the washing will effect how sweet and acidic the bean is. Again, this type of process requires a dry climate or equipment that controls the ambient humidity. Because the mucilage is left in place the beans have to be dried fairly rapidly; the sugars from the mucilage promote rotting/bacteria growth if the bean is not dried quickly enough. This process is desirable because it strikes a balance between the flavors produced by dry and wet processing.

Roast

Roasting changes the flavor of the beans by heating the beans. This causes some of the chemical compounds to denature, some of them to burn off or be removed by steam, and increases the carbon content of the bean. How much of the original flavor of the coffee is left depends on how much the bean is roasted. Because of how much the heating can change the flavor of the coffee it is an important factor to consider.

Very lightly roasted coffee can taste grassy, like sweet hay. Finding these flavors in the brewed coffee may indicate that the bean was under-roasted. Going up from there is light roasted coffee. This is coffee that has been roasted to around the point of the first crack. The first crack is when the beans start to pop in the roaster. Light roasts range generally from just before, during, or slightly after the first crack. When trying to emphasize the natural flavors of a coffee a light roast use typically picked. The flavor compounds in the bean have not been greatly affected at this point.

Moving on from there are medium and medium dark roasts. These roasts fall in between the first and second crack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq_dZ4P8BcU

Blends

Caffeine Content

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB1fXM5Ozd4

decaf

Flavors

Preground Vs. Whole Bean

"Espresso" Beans

Milk Drinks

stronger flavor for cutting through milk