How to Choose the Right Blend of Coffee for you?
In today’s world, beverage consumption is on the rise and coffee sales are hitting new highs every day. Average consumers are constantly looking for new and exciting flavors and taste profiles, while connoisseurs are diving deeper into the source and blends of their coffee.For many of us, coffee is a part of our daily lives- it wakes us up in the morning, gives us a boost of energy during the late afternoon slump, and can be used to celebrate shared moments with friends. But how do we know what type of coffee to buy? In this blog post you will learn everything about blends and beans.
Blends are combinations of two or more different coffees. A coffee that is made up of coffee beans originating from different regions is called a coffee blend. Typical blends are mixtures of arabica and robusta coffees, but include any combination of beans desired by the coffee roaster. These locations can be a micro level division of varying altitudes, or different places from the same country or the same producing area. Care is taken to ensure that each blend has a good balance of flavor. The major factors for selection of a particular blend of coffee include price, flavor, body, acidity or brightness, aftertaste and brewing method.
What are the different coffee blends?
Coffees are produced either as light, medium, or dark roasts.
How to choose the right blend for you?
The best way to find the right roast is to experiment. Get a range of different roasts and try them out, paying close attention to the flavor, aroma, acidity and body.
Roasts are not all created equal. Your coffee can change based on any region, elevation, altitude, day of the week or time of day you drink it. You can experience a cup that is richest in aroma with deep flavors one day and sweetly delicate the next. That is why understanding your personal taste at times can be difficult.
Here’s how you can create your own coffee blend:
The flavor of the beans is determined by the following factors which will make it easier for you to choose your coffee:
1. Growing Conditions
As mentioned above coffee taste differs from one region to another. Factors of climate such as temperature, altitude, soil, rain and wind play an important role in determining the health of a coffee plant and its ability to produce flavours.
2. Age and Type of Bean
There are various types of coffee beans and each type of bean is grown in different regions and hence, has a unique taste of its own.
3. Roast Type
There’s more difference between light, medium and dark roast than just its color. The process of roasting plays a vital role in bringing out the aroma and flavours of the bean. The longer a bean is roasted, the more flavourful it is. A light roast coffee has delicate flavours whereas dark roast has smokey undertone and more flavours.
4. Freshness of Bean
Coffee beans start to lose their freshness almost immediately after roasting. Therefore, storage and packaging is very important to retain the freshness of the beans.
5. Type of Brewing Equipment used
Whether it's a French Press, Filter Coffee or an Espresso Machine, all brewing equipment requires some specific techniques and brewing variables. The coffee to water ratio and infusion duration will affect the taste of the coffee.
6. Size of Grind
Grind size depends on the type of the brewing equipment used. Finer grounds have a larger surface area of the beans which is infused in water, whereas water flows in between coarser grounds.
7. Type of Milk used
Milk influences the texture and taste of coffee with it’s fat content. Milk with higher fat content gives a creamy foam. Whereas, plant based milks have zero to no fat content. Regardless, there are pros and cons to both the alternatives.
8. Usage of Water
Water is an important ingredient for making coffee and also acts as a solvent during the process of brewing. Minerals in water extract flavours from the coffee grounds. Temperature of the water you use also strongly influences the flavour of your coffee.
To know more about what coffee and if you want to experience the finest handcrafted coffee in Bangalore, check us out at @mannheimcoffee
Blends are combinations of two or more different coffees. A coffee that is made up of coffee beans originating from different regions is called a coffee blend. Typical blends are mixtures of arabica and robusta coffees, but include any combination of beans desired by the coffee roaster. These locations can be a micro level division of varying altitudes, or different places from the same country or the same producing area. Care is taken to ensure that each blend has a good balance of flavor. The major factors for selection of a particular blend of coffee include price, flavor, body, acidity or brightness, aftertaste and brewing method.
What are the different coffee blends?
Coffees are produced either as light, medium, or dark roasts.
How to choose the right blend for you?
The best way to find the right roast is to experiment. Get a range of different roasts and try them out, paying close attention to the flavor, aroma, acidity and body.
Roasts are not all created equal. Your coffee can change based on any region, elevation, altitude, day of the week or time of day you drink it. You can experience a cup that is richest in aroma with deep flavors one day and sweetly delicate the next. That is why understanding your personal taste at times can be difficult.
Here’s how you can create your own coffee blend:
- Get different types of coffee beans you love
- Then grind them well together
- Now brew them all in one cup
The flavor of the beans is determined by the following factors which will make it easier for you to choose your coffee:
1. Growing Conditions
As mentioned above coffee taste differs from one region to another. Factors of climate such as temperature, altitude, soil, rain and wind play an important role in determining the health of a coffee plant and its ability to produce flavours.
2. Age and Type of Bean
There are various types of coffee beans and each type of bean is grown in different regions and hence, has a unique taste of its own.
3. Roast Type
There’s more difference between light, medium and dark roast than just its color. The process of roasting plays a vital role in bringing out the aroma and flavours of the bean. The longer a bean is roasted, the more flavourful it is. A light roast coffee has delicate flavours whereas dark roast has smokey undertone and more flavours.
4. Freshness of Bean
Coffee beans start to lose their freshness almost immediately after roasting. Therefore, storage and packaging is very important to retain the freshness of the beans.
5. Type of Brewing Equipment used
Whether it's a French Press, Filter Coffee or an Espresso Machine, all brewing equipment requires some specific techniques and brewing variables. The coffee to water ratio and infusion duration will affect the taste of the coffee.
6. Size of Grind
Grind size depends on the type of the brewing equipment used. Finer grounds have a larger surface area of the beans which is infused in water, whereas water flows in between coarser grounds.
7. Type of Milk used
Milk influences the texture and taste of coffee with it’s fat content. Milk with higher fat content gives a creamy foam. Whereas, plant based milks have zero to no fat content. Regardless, there are pros and cons to both the alternatives.
8. Usage of Water
Water is an important ingredient for making coffee and also acts as a solvent during the process of brewing. Minerals in water extract flavours from the coffee grounds. Temperature of the water you use also strongly influences the flavour of your coffee.
To know more about what coffee and if you want to experience the finest handcrafted coffee in Bangalore, check us out at @mannheimcoffee
