Coffee Mixes - How to Choose Your Coffee
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Defined Tag: Coffee Mixes.

Coffee Mixes: When choosing your coffee, you first decide whether you want to use instant or real coffee beans. Instant coffee usually refers to the dried soluble powder or freeze-dried granules. It is normally chosen for convenience sake and price considerations. The raw materials used for instant coffee are the cheaper Robusta coffee beans.  Hence, instant coffee often has a hint of the "burnt rubber" taste distinct to this bean variety. Most brands, however, employ treatment processes that greatly reduce the undesirable taste. Sometimes, the manufacturers include Arabica beans which normally are of less quality or old harvest. After all, instant coffees are marketed in the lower price range.

Instant coffee is also available in liquid form.  Some of these coffee concentrates come with flavours (one example is the old favorite chicory essence).  Usually, these coffee extracts are meant to be used as coffee flavouring or for large institutional requirements. Lately, pre-mixed flavour variations have been introduced and they readily meet the need for a quick and easy way to prepare coffee, just like the real thing -- you can even have a cappuccino complete with the froth. The latest innovation is the coffee bag which you infuse in a cup the same way you would with a tea bag.

Choosing the real coffee over instant is taking the gourmet route.  In this case, you still have to decide if you will buy the beans whole or would prefer them ground already.

Green coffee beans "as is" taste bland. It is only upon the application of heat (e.g., roasting) that the flavours are developed.  Home roasting of coffee beans has regained popularity as the serious coffee lovers wanted better control over the quality and character of their coffee. Those who do not own home roasting machines use a popcorn maker or roast in the oven or cast iron pans.  However, if you do not wish to go to the trouble or if you find the smell overpowering, you could always buy the beans already roasted.  Opt for the freshly roasted beans to gain a head start against staling. But then, wait between 12 and 24 hours after roasting as coffee is at its best only after the rest period. Coffee begins to lose its flavor after roasting making it necessary to store the roasted beans in airtight containers (glass jar is best) to keep them fresh for about a week or two. Beyond this period, they might develop off-flavors and bitterness.

Selecting the grind size for your coffee will depend on the brewing method you use. Paper filter systems require finer grounds while coarser grounds are best for the French press or Bodum coffee maker. Ground coffee maintains its freshness only for a few days so the better option would be to buy freshly roasted beans and grind them yourself.  Be sure to grind only the amount that you need when you need it.  Again you have your choice of buying your supply every week or two, or for more convenience, you can buy in bulk and store the beans in airtight containers in the freezer. 

Roasted coffee beans emit carbon dioxide which helps keep them fresh in the bag. However, the outgassing inflates the bag and there is always the risk that it could burst.  To prevent this from happening, one way valves are included in the coffee packaging to allow the carbon dioxide to escape while keeping out oxygen which is the primary cause for coffee degradation.

When buying your coffee beans, ask for the Arabica variety as it has better flavor.  Note, however, that espresso blends usually contain some Robusta beans as these help form the much sought-after "crema" on top of the coffee.  With so many different coffee blends available, you might have to experiment until you find the blend that meets your liking. Part of the journey to discover your favorite coffee is trying out the beans produced from different regions and testing the various roasts ranging from light to dark.  Coffee shops or specialist coffee retailers offer their own house blends which you may find interesting.  Still, you can request to create your own blend.  It is advisable to buy in small quantities so you need not keep too much supply of a blend that you might not be fond of.

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