A few things about coffee beans

Big coffee tip #3.

Many coffee drinkers are completely unaware of how their caffeine fix comes into being. Most know that coffee originates from berries, that are defruited and roasted. But what the hell are all the names about? What do they tell me? For a good summary of coffee, look here.

But there's a few things you should know for your own preparation. First, coffee beans should have a strong aroma. The roasting process brings out the aroma of a bean. If your beans don't have a strong smell, they won't have a good flavor. It will taste like water dressed in brown.

The second is color. The best beans are dark colored. A lot of people feel that the darker the bean, the stronger the coffee, but strength is only partly about roasting. Mostly strength is a result of preparation. So stick with the darkest bean. The darker the bean, the better.

Finally, beans should be oily. Roasting brings out the oil of a bean. A well roasted bean will be oily and the oils will add body and flavor to your coffee. When making espresso, the oil results in the crema which is the light colored foam on top. A sign of good espresso is the creamy consistency of the crema.

So what does all this mean to you? You buy your beans in a bag, you can't tell what they look like until you get home, right? Well, you should take a closer look. Bad coffee beans can result in a bad coffee trip. Shaking and headaches are the result of bad beans.

For the best cup of coffee, buy your beans whole and grind them right before brewing. I'm not going to get into the different grinds here, but for regular drip, I'd grind it about ten to fifteen seconds. Then brew with cold water. The amount you use will determine the strength of your coffee. Some recommend two tablespoons for every 6 oz. cup. That's a bit too strong for me. I usually use about 1.5 tablespoons for every cup.

Achieving coffee perfection takes a lot of dedication, and time. Frankly, if you came to my house, you'd see I buy my coffee already ground. I drink Peet's coffee. This company dedicates itself to the greatness of coffee, so I leave my coffee well-being in their hands. I haven't been let down yet.

Finally, for all you flavored coffee drinkers, a little piece of important trivia. Flavored coffees are made from the weakest (as in quality) beans. Now, I'm not getting snobby here. I drink flavored coffee myself, but you should know what you're getting into when you drink that hot java. If you want to stick with a better brew, but still want flavor, add a shot of flavored syrup.

Enjoy!