COFFEE: OBSESSION OR NECESSITY?

I’m way too interested in coffee. For me, one of the great pleasures in life is that first taste of that first cup of coffee in the morning. In fact, I’ve been thinking about getting a coffeemaker that’s hooked up to a water pipe and uses coffee packets, so I don’t even have to prepare the pot.

I’m on a search for the world’s best coffee.

In doing research, I found out that there are only two types of coffee, Arabica and Robusta. Every other difference in coffees is where it’s grown, how it’s roasted, how (or if) it’s sold ground and how it’s brewed.

Robusta has more caffeine, it’s more bitter and less flavorful than Arabica with a sort of musty aftertaste. And, from personal experience, when you put cream in brewed coffee that has more Robusta, the coffee turns a rather sickly gray color instead of the beautiful golden brown of a cup of Arabica coffee. So why is Robusta even an issue? Well, it’s not for me, but information I’ve found says it’s easier to grow, matures more quickly and beans can be harvested a couple of years earlier than Arabica beans. And, perhaps most importantly, it’s cheaper.

Arabica grows more slowly than Robusta, and the higher elevation at which it’s grown, the more slowly it grows, creating a smoother, tastier coffee. Notice all those coffees that claim they’re mountain grown.

So, my number one criteria for coffee, it must be 100% Arabica.
2nd, the roast has to be right. I don’t like French Roast or Dark Roast anything. To me, at best they taste too bitter, at worst, they taste burnt. I love a medium or a light roast.
3rd, I find that espresso grind gives me the best taste for my taste. Espresso is the finest grind. It’s almost like powder.

According to experts, coffee should be ground just prior to brewing for better flavor. And for best flavor beans should be roasted just prior to brewing.

Until I get to the point where I’m roasting my own beans (I’m not sure even I need coffee that spectacular) my current

favorite ground packaged coffees are, in no particular order, Melita, Chock Full o’Nuts, Yuban, Medaglio d’Oro and (surprise)Sam’s Choice Fair Trade coffee.

I suppose if I’m going to be obsessed about something, coffee is relatively innocuous, as compared to, say, booze, or gambling or stalking a movie star. Besides, drinking a cup of hot, fresh, darkly-delicious cup of coffee is not only one of my favorite things, it’s also one of my muse’s favorite things. And anything my muse loves, I love. Keeping that little sprite happy so she’ll help me write is another of my obsessions. Oh AND writing, of course, which I’ve discussed in other posts.

On sale now at Amazon. Click image

 

Happy writing, reading, obsessing and coffee-drinking.
Mallory

 

p.s. I’ve been reading about different, special new types of coffee. I’ve got to find out more about them. New coffee! Wow! ttyl.  🙂