Did you know that coffee was discovered as early as the 15th century? According to legend, a goat herder noticed that his goats were acting a bit more energetic than usual. He eventually discovered that his goats had been munching on the berries of the coffee plant.
Soon after that, people started to take advantage of the coffee plant for themselves. Today, a cup of coffee is a morning staple in many countries around the world. But a lot of people are drinking coffee that is only subpar.
If you are tired of your dull old coffee, you might be wondering how you can make the perfect cup of joe. There are a few things you need to consider when going about this process, but once you figure it out, you'll never go back to your bland old cup of coffee.
Keep reading and learn more about where you should start when creating the perfect cup of coffee.
Choose the Right Coffee Beans
The first step in making a good cup of coffee is choosing the right coffee beans. Many people don't realize that there are different sorts of coffee beans, and they all have different characteristics to offer. Many people also don't realize that some coffee beans are very low-quality while others are much better.
You should seriously consider quality if you want to try making the perfect cup of coffee. This is because the quality of the beans correlates with the taste. If you've ever scrunched up your nose after taking a sip of coffee because it tasted bitter or burnt, you likely chose some low-quality coffee beans without realizing it.
Keep in mind that there are two main types of coffee beans: arabica and robusta. Of course, there are many more coffee varieties to consider, but all the coffee types in the world are grouped into one of these two families. Arabica beans are typically the beans that are the most prized.
Arabica vs. Robusta
This is because they are known for having a much better flavor compared to robusta beans. Generally, arabica beans are much smoother and have a more delicate flavor. This is because these beans don't contain a lot of acids and, therefore, won't taste too bitter or burnt on their own.
You will find that most cafes and coffee shops mostly use arabica beans because they have the taste that most people prefer. Robusta beans, on the other hand, are indeed more robust. This is due to the fact that these beans have far more acid in them, which makes the flavor a lot more bitter.
The reason why these beans are so different is because of where the beans are grown. Usually, they have to grow in climates that might not have a lot of water. Generally, the growing conditions for these beans are quite hard and unpleasant, and that harshness comes through in the taste of these coffee beans.
So, to start your cup of coffee the right way, you'll want to steer clear of robusta beans and instead opt for arabica beans.
Whole Beans vs. Ground Beans
There is then the question of buying whole coffee beans or beans that have already been ground for you. A lot of people opt for pre-ground beans because they are more convenient.
All you have to do is get a spoon and pour some of the ground coffee beans into your coffee maker, and call it a day.
The coffee maker will strain some hot water through the ground beans and make you a nice cup of coffee. But how nice will that cup of coffee really be? As it turns out, buying ground coffee may not always be the right option.
This is not to say that you should never buy ground coffee. On the contrary, some brands are very good about sealing their coffee beans as soon as they are ground so they stay as fresh as possible. However, other brands may leave their ground coffee beans sitting around for a certain period before packaging them, or they may package them incorrectly, which can lead to changes in taste.
If you can, you should experiment with whole coffee beans. This is because, in general, whole coffee beans tend to provide a fresher flavor. This is because whole beans have not yet been broken, so all of their aromas, nutrients, and flavors are still deep inside the beans.
The Big Difference
When you grind them up, all of those aromas and flavors will flood out into the air (or at least into the coffee bag that they're packaged in). More than that, ground coffee beans will start to oxidize once exposed to air in that way, and they will slowly begin to develop a bitter and unfresh flavor. This is why it is essential to use up a bag of ground coffee within a week, or it will start to taste and smell a bit stale.
With whole beans, you won't have to worry about this problem because they can protect themselves from oxidation when they are left whole. The main downside of whole beans is that you have to grind them yourself. You can either do this with a manual hand grinder or a special electric grinder.
Whatever the case, when you freshly grind some beans yourself, you'll immediately see the difference compared to pre-ground beans. Freshly ground beans will naturally smell much fresher and richer and provide a richer flavor.
Of course, you don't have to opt for whole beans all the time if you don't want to or if you find it to be a lot of work to grind the beans.
However, you should give whole beans a chance at least once so you can see what a difference they can make to your cup of coffee.
Choose the Right Roast
Everyone knows that there are different roasts of coffee, but you might not know the right roast for you and your unique taste buds. This is because different roasts have different flavors and aromas. For that reason, it is important to know the difference between them so that you can choose a roast that caters most to your personal preferences.
The first thing you should know is that it is necessary to roast coffee beans to a certain extent. This is because by roasting the beans, the beans will have the opportunity to express their flavors and aromas. The more you roast them, the more those characteristics will change.
Roasting coffee also has to do with the caffeine content. Lighter roasts tend to have much more caffeine than darker roasts. This is because the roasting process destroys some of the coffee's caffeine.
So, heavy and dark roasts won't have all that much caffeine in them, although they will taste stronger. Let's first consider what makes light roasts unique. This kind of roast is the result of exposing coffee beans to high heat for only a short period of time.
You can easily identify light roast beans because they will be an unusual, light brown color instead of a typical medium or dark brown. Usually, it is necessary to roast these beans at 205°F or below, which is quite low for roasting coffee beans. This low temperature will preserve a lot of the coffee's naturalness.
Keep in mind that light roasts have the most acid out of any other type of roast. However, that doesn't mean that all light roasts will taste bitter or sour. On the contrary, light roasts are famous for being quite smooth and light.
The Details
Keep in mind that if your coffee tastes sour at any point, this is a bad sign that something has gone wrong with coffee. It may be expired, oxidated, or otherwise compromised, so you should throw it out.
Back to the concept of light roasts having a lot of acid, acidity can actually be a good thing in coffee. This is because a high acid level will give the coffee a brightness that other types of coffee tend not to have. Coffee with no acidity will taste a bit bland or even flat because it doesn't have this special spark of acidity.
When you try a light roast, you will also notice a few unique flavors. In particular, you may pick out hints of berries, chocolate, and even citrus. Medium roasts are a bit different.
This kind of bean needs to be roasted for a longer period of time and at a higher temperature. The more intense heat will cause the beans to lose some of their acidity, but certainly not all of it, and this roast will still have plenty of vibrance. The additional roasting, however, will transform the coffee beans' natural lightness into something that is a bit warmer and toasty.
Keep in mind that as you roast coffee beans more and more, the regional flavors of the beans will become less distinct. Fortunately, you should still be able to pick out these regional aspects, even with medium roast beans. The flavor of medium roast beans tends to consist of hazelnuts, orange, cinnamon, chocolate, and other nutty notes.
But what about dark roasts?
Dark Roasts
A dark roast is usually not what you want for your perfect cup of coffee. This is because dark roasts tend to taste quite bitter or even burnt.
You can't really detect any regional flavors with this type of roast, and there is little to no acidity, so this roast will not have the same vibrance as the others. This roast also doesn't have a lot of caffeine since most of it gets destroyed in the long roasting process.
However, some people might still enjoy the very dark and rich flavors of this roast. In particular, you will pick out flavors of dark chocolate, caramel, dried fruits, and nuts. Just keep in mind that the natural bitterness of this kind of roast may be difficult to create the perfect cup of coffee unless you know that you really enjoy this type of roast.
Light and medium roasts, in general, will produce smoother and more intriguing flavors.
Think About Your Brewing Method
Not many people know that their brewing method can seriously impact how a cup of coffee will turn out. There are many different brewing methods to consider. The methods mainly differ based on how hot water is pushed through the ground coffee beans.
Doing this in different ways can produce surprisingly different results. Let's first consider the French press method, which is one of the oldest coffee brewing methods around since it was first invented in 1929. Besides being one of the oldest, it is also known for being one of the easiest.
A French press is really nothing more than a plunger system that you use to put manual pressure on your coffee beans. Besides that, many people prefer this method because it leaches out more flavors and aromas than other brewing methods so that you can experience your coffee to the fullest. In addition to the flavors and aromas, the French press keeps the nutrients of the coffee intact as well, so you can consume the coffee's oils, antioxidants, and other nutrients.
French presses are also quite affordable, and they come with very few downsides since they are so simple to operate. The main downside is that you will need to make sure that your coffee beans are relatively coarse rather than finely ground. This is because if the beans are ground too finely, the press won't have the ability to press all of the grounds without some of the grounds getting loose and floating around.
Another popular option is to use an espresso machine. You will find espresso machines at just about every coffee shop around as well as inside houses.
What You Need to Know
The great thing about them is that they are fast, and they can produce very concentrated cups of delicious coffee in no time.
An espresso machine will also make your coffee taste as if you got it straight from a high-quality cafe. It doesn't matter if your beans are finely or coarsely ground when you use this method since there is a filter involved to catch all of the coffee grounds, even the smallest ones.
However, for the ideal cup of espresso, you should opt for dark roast beans. This is because dark roast beans have plenty of essential oils that have been expressed through the roasting process. These essential oils will form a delicious, natural espresso "cream" or silkiness when you run the coffee through an espresso machine.
You won't be able to do this with light or medium roasts since most of the oils have not been expressed. You also won't be able to do this with anything else but a good espresso machine. Just be sure to use high-quality coffee if you opt for an espresso machine.
The quality can make all the difference between a delicious, smooth, and creamy cup of espresso and a cup of espresso that tastes like smoke and burnt rubber. There are also other methods of making coffee you can try, but these are the main two that people tend to prefer since they both do a great job of expressing the natural flavors, textures, and aromas that different types of coffee have to offer.
Consider Adding Supplements to Your Coffee
A lot of people don't consider adding supplements to their coffee. They might think about adding milk, sugar, or creamer, but that's about it. But you'll be missing out if you don't at least think about adding a good supplement to your coffee.
What kind of supplement would be a good choice, you might ask? The Good Stuff is a good choice for a variety of reasons. First of all, it is very easy to add to your perfect cup of coffee, and it won't ruin the taste of the coffee either.
Some supplements taste awful and make whatever you add them to taste awful as well, but not The Good Stuff. Instead, it has a very delicate and pleasant flavor that you will be able to enjoy, along with the natural and complex flavors of your perfect cup of coffee. This product comes in the form of a fine powder.
All you need to do is use the small scoop it comes with to add a scoop or two to your coffee. The scoop is pre-measured, so you won't have to measure manually to get all the necessary nutrients from the supplement powder. As soon as you add the powder to your coffee, it will start to dissolve.
Once you give it a stir, it should completely disappear into your coffee, and you won't have to worry about any annoying or distasteful clumps floating around on the surface of your coffee. That way, you can drink your coffee in peace.
But the benefits of this product don't stop there. The real benefits have to do with the nutrients that this supplement powder has to offer.
Other Benefits
A lot of supplement powders try to advertise themselves as being the greatest thing ever when in reality, they are packed with sugar and artificial ingredients.
The Good Stuff is completely different. It has been uniquely formulated to be as healthy as possible and to help improve a person's health in a variety of ways. First, you should know that this product is free of any preservatives as well as any dairy, gluten, and GMOs.
There isn't even any added sugar either. The benefits all have to do with the unique ingredients blended together into this simple powder. One of the most important ingredients is collagen.
If you don't know what collagen is, it is only the material that holds together all of your skin cells, bones, ligaments, and tendons. Young people are full of collagen, but after the age of 25, you will start to lose around 1% of your collagen every year. This will cause your skin to get saggy, thin, and wrinkled.
Besides that, it will cause your muscles, bones, and tendons to get weaker and weaker. The Good Stuff is enriched with collagen to keep up with your body's natural collagen loss and ensure your body stays in good shape even as you age. Another important ingredient in this supplement powder is Ceylon cinnamon.
This unique type of cinnamon is filled with antioxidants which are very important for controlling and reducing inflammation. Inflammation is caused by free radicals, which are generated in the body in response to things like stress or pollution. Free radicals can do all sorts of things, like accelerate the aging process and cause some cancers.
Antioxidants, fortunately, can reduce the number of free radicals in the body so that the body can be healthier and less inflamed.
Creating the Perfect Cup of Coffee
Creating the perfect cup of coffee can be difficult, but it certainly isn't impossible as long as you know the right steps. For example, it's essential that you start with some high-quality coffee beans like arabica beans. It is also important to choose the right roast and the proper brewing method.
Besides that, you should also think about adding a good supplement like The Good Stuff to give a boost to your coffee. To learn more about it, check it out here.