Know Your Beans: An Introduction To The World Of Coffee
Leading UK barista Robert Henry recommends to VideoJug users the best beans that make the perfect cup of coffee. By knowing your beans, you can improve the taste and quality of your coffee immensely.
-
Step 1:
-
Origins
-
Coffee grows between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. There are 60-70 different types but the 2 most common are Arabica and Robusta.
-
Step 2:
-
Harvesting
-
Coffee grows on trees as 'cherries', where the flesh is removed to get to the bean within.
-
Step 3:
-
Arabica
-
Arabica beans grow at high altitude and are higher quality as they are hand-picked, so only the ripest cherries are harvested
-
Step 4:
-
Robusta
-
Robusta beans grow at a lower altitude and are harvested by machines. This is a faster method but results in a lower quality bean as the machines harvest all the beans at the same time, regardless of whether they are ripe or not.
-
Step 5:
-
Wet Processing
-
Arabica beans are processed by being soaked in water so the flesh can be easily removed. This is a gentle method of processing which preserves the quality of the bean.
-
Step 6:
-
Dry Processing
-
The cherries of Robusta beans are dried out, which is a cheaper but harsher process.
-
Step 7:
-
Blend
-
Coffee is usually available as a combination of Arabica and Robusta as well as a combination of coffee from different regions around the world.
-
Step 8:
-
Strength
-
The strength of coffee beans is affected by the amount of time and the temperature at which they are roasted. Coffee is available as light, medium or dark roasted. The darker the roast, the stronger your coffee will be.
-
Step 9:
-
Caffeine
-
Coffee contains caffeine which is a stimulant and should be drunk in moderation. Coffee can be de-caffeinated without losing any flavour.