A Question About Good Coffee?!
A Question About Good Coffee?
Last year I went to Guatemala and since returning I have been haunted by the coffee I had in one particular cafe. It was an average cafe by any standards but the coffee served was excellent. Since returning I have tried many different beans whether from a supermarket or Starbucks etc, none of them come even close to how good it was. So the other day I ordered some gourmet Guatemalan coffee from here: http://www.hasbean.co.uk/ (I live in the UK)
the bean I ordered was in the top 10 coffees of Guatemala and is freshly roasted the day before sending. Although it was the closet yet, it still wasn't in the same ball park. I use a French press to brew the coffee, so you experts out there...is it the way I make the coffee or the bean I use, what am I doing wrong?
Answers:
It's probably the beans. There are many different farms/co-ops in Guatemala. But I'm sure if you keep trying different coffees you'll find one you like. I also think that it's very important to have freshly roasted coffee. The taste differences in a coffee roasted yesterday and one roasted 2 days ago is actually really big, so that could also have something to do with it.
Source(s):
coffee roaster
I don't know, but when you find out, let me know. The coffee sounds fascinating.
It could be the bean, while in Guatamala you probably had a locally grown variety that's not exported, you might find something similar but if your taste buds are that fine, you will notice the difference, same thing happened to me in Costa Rica. Also, coffee from a French Press does taste different, I don't prefer it, try a drip instead. If it's important you find that particular bean, I'd find every online retailer who sells Guatamalan coffee, order a pound at a time and keep a log until you find the closest thing, or who knows you might even get lucky and find the exact variety, but keep in mind the taste can change from year to year. Isn't coffee wonderful?
Good question.
The fact that you are using a Bodum means you are getting the best out of your coffee.
Maybe the difference is in the water that is used.
Try purcahsing green beans and roasting them yourself, I have been very happy with my results.
That being said, many things taste better when on vacation in another country, even if its the exact same product.. I think its related to our mindset when travelling.
You are not doing anything wrong. There is something about market that works like that. If you go to Brazil or Colombia and drink coffee there, it will taste different. Although Brazil and Colombia export coffee to almost the whole world, the beans must be roasted according to the country's to be exported standards. I know what I am talking about. Example, you must know how Brazilians bikinis are, but friend of mine that has a bikini factory in Brazil, needs to make the bikinis way bigger when exporting to North America. Coffee is no different. Also, in South America, we do not use creamer, or powder creamer, only milk, and boiled. That alone, change the flavor of the coffee. If you go to a Guatemalan store, you might find the coffee that is grinded for Guatemalans to drink. And that is what you want. If you buy Colombian coffee at the grocery store, you will buy coffee for North Americans to drink. And so on. Food is processed differently when are exported. The same with Olive Oil. I only find THE olive oil that I like in Portuguese, Greek, Italian stores. Cause those in the grocery stores are processed for the north American public.
Hope it helps.