I didn’t start drinking coffee until I was in my 20s. It just tasted awful to me, and I didn’t understand the passion some people seemed to have about this beverage. Then I realized it was because I was drinking awful coffee. When I started talking to my friends about it, they said it was because I was drinking coffee that was (1) pre ground (2) probably very stale and (3) made with inferior beans. Hmm.
So I did some checking and found that there are a LOT of opinions about what makes a good cup of coffee. Mild? Robust? Cream? Sugar? French Roast? Kona Blend? And the big question: Was Jamaica Blue Mountain worth $40 a pound?
I figured out the answer to those questions – for me. But I also found out that it’s completely a matter of personal taste. Coffee purists say that if you add anything to your coffee – cream, sugar, flavorings – that you’re a heathen and don’t deserve to live. The rest of us would really just like to enjoy a nice cuppa Joe.
So, in this little book I’ve tried to stick to the basics. Hopefully by the end of it you will know whether or not you’re drinking a good cup of coffee.
Here are a few of the chapter titles for you:
About The Beans
The Art of Grading Beans
Judging Beans The Barista Way
Roasting at Home (Crazy?)
Freshness Tips
Picking The Perfect Grinder
Different Brewing methods
Coffee Makers / Single Cup Coffee Makers
Regular or Decaf?
Flavored Coffees / Specialty Coffees
Recipes
For Fun - Cupping
