Coffee.si - Everything about coffee

Coffee might still be one of those simple creations that are usually consumed for simple pleasures that have created so much controversy. Since its recorded discovery in the ninth century, the consumption of coffee has been popular. Too popular perhaps that it was later banned. After a while and for various reasons the ban on coffee drinking was relaxed, on again off again a number of times. The main controversy in coffee consumption stems simply from its stimulating effect, and of course coffee also drives away sleep.

Then and now, coffee preparation involves the same process of turning these controversial little beans into a beverage. Methods and techniques may vary from region to region, from person to person, (and today) from flavor to flavor and from one coffee shop to another but basically, it still involves the same four basic steps. Raw coffee beans must be dried and then roasted, after being roasted the coffee beans must be ground and after that, the coffee must then be mixed with water and brewed. If you want to flavors added into it, you do that too. Finally before drinking, the grounds will be separated from the brew and then enjoyed.

Coffee drinking has turned out to be such a passion that people are willing to put up with so much trouble preparing a coffee so they could enjoy even one small cup.

As if these troubles are not enough, you drink coffee immediately after being brewed. Other drinks could be left to sit and will still taste just as well, not so with coffee. Coffee is excellent when you drink it scalding hot or super cold, never somewhere in the middle. Like its long history, you either love it or you ban it.

Coffee has been a so-in-your-face-drink that competitions for good preparation are up. This is why when you want a donut, go to a donut shop but if excellent coffee it is, you go to a coffee shop.

Grinding

A good cup of coffee starts with grinding. The coarseness or the fineness of the grind will determine the manner of brewing and the taste of the coffee. Very fine grinds results to more bitter tasting coffee that is a bit harsh to the taste. On the other hand, an overly coarse grind results to a weaker taste. For most people, a medium and uniform grind is ideal. Coffee grinds that are not used will deteriorate fast due to oxidation. It is always best to grind only the right amount of beans that is needed before brewing but in case there are grinds that are not used, the best way to preserve it is through a vacuum-sealed container.

Brewing

There are several different ways to brew coffee. The process depends largely on how water is introduced into the grounds.

* Boiling – while the method involves putting coffee grounds into boiling water, care actually should be observed that the coffee grinds is put to boil only for an instant. The longer the coffee is boiled, the bitter the taste becomes. Boiling will also depend much on the coarseness of the grinds.

* Steeping – is done through a kind of a press, a vacuum brewer or a bag where the coffee grind is either pressed (like in a French press or a vacuum brewer) or steeping the coffee through a bag or a cloth to extract its flavor.

* Gravity – this is letting hot water to drip into the grinds as a means of extracting the coffee flavor.

* Pressure – hot water is passed by pressure through a puck of lightly packed fine ground coffee

Whatever the method of coffee preparation, when the goal is to enjoy it, all the bother is worth it.