Many of us find motivation in getting out of bed in the morning just based on coffee alone. It’s the promise of a fresh cup of coffee that gives me the push I need to start my day. This ‘simple pleasure’ of life is one that I try to remind myself never to take for granted. Yet, at the same time, the world of coffee can be confusing — and sometimes even overwhelming.
From selecting a coffee grind to choosing a roast, understanding a few basic coffee concepts can make you appreciate coffee even more, honing in on your flavor preferences, while also making shopping for coffee easier. If you’re a coffee drinker, these basic core concepts of coffee are worth keeping in mind to help you elevate your brew.
Water quality matters
The importance of water quality when making coffee is often overlooked, according to Heather Perry of Klatch Coffee. “Water is one of the key ‘ingredients’ in your cup of coffee and contributes to flavor and aroma. If you’re investing money in specialty coffee and your time learning preparation methods, don’t overlook the impact of water quality on the outcome.
“Depending on your local municipal water quality, you may need to use a filter or treatment to get the best results,” says Perry.
While most coffee advice focuses on beans and brewing, it’s important not to overlook the quality of your water — which makes up 98% of your cup. Getting quality water for your coffee could mean using a filtered water system, like the LARQ or a Brita, or even using a reverse osmosis water system.
Methods of brewing
When you say “cup of coffee” in the U.S., the average coffee drinker thinks of a cup brewed with a standard drip coffee maker. If you (and your grandparents) have used this type of coffee maker your entire life, it’s understandable why you might think this is the only way to brew coffee.
However, the world of coffee brewing methods is complex. There are dozens of ways to make a cup of coffee, which change quite a bit based on user preference and geographical locations. Beyond the drip coffee maker, a few other popular brewing methods include:
- French press
- Pour over
- AeroPress
- Espresso machine
- Chemex
- Mokapot
While there’s nothing wrong with sticking with the tried-and-true drip method, coffee lovers wanting to branch out and try new methods may find more control and precision over other brewing methods. Methods such as pour-over allow you to customize your brew in a way an automatic drip cannot, allowing you to control the flow of water through coffee grounds.
Storing unused coffee
How you store unused coffee beans also matters a great deal in preserving freshness for a better-tasting brew. Perry recommends keeping coffee in a sealed, airtight container away from windows or the oven (i.e., sources of light and heat) until you’re ready to use it.
“A dark, cool pantry could be ideal. When possible, purchase whole bean coffee and grind only what you need for maximum freshness. Like water quality, freshness also contributes to the flavor and aroma of the finished cup,” she says.
Caffeine content in coffee
Ever drank a shot of espresso thinking it was the best type of coffee for a major caffeine boost? While espresso does have more caffeine per ounce than a standard cup of coffee, one shot has less caffeine than a standard cup of coffee. If you’re looking to pull an all-nighter, one shot of espresso (about 64 mg of caffeine, on average), probably isn’t going to do the trick. Comparatively, a standard cup of coffee has about 90 to 95 mg of caffeine, on average.
Coffee beans vs. espresso
In talking with coffee drinkers over the years, I’ve found there’s a big confusion between the concept of espresso vs. coffee beans. Let’s clear one thing up: Coffee and espresso beans are the same thing. There’s no such thing as an ‘espresso bean’. Rather, espresso beans refer to a dark-roasted coffee bean that is meant to be used to brew espresso. Espresso itself requires a specialized, pressurized brewing method, producing a concentrated ‘shot’ of coffee. Many people also associate espresso with lots of caffeine, but a decaf coffee bean can also be brewed to produce espresso (yes, decaf espresso exists).
Coffee roast levels
Before roasting, coffee beans have a pale green color (hence why they’re called green coffee beans). However, many coffee drinkers find the different coffee roasts confusing, making it tough to shop for coffee. All coffee beans start in an unroasted form, but darker coffee beans are roasted longer and at a higher temperature.
Different coffee roasts produce a slightly different-tasting cup of coffee. Light roast coffee tends to have a brighter, more acidic taste, whereas dark roast coffee has a stronger, bolder taste. Medium-roast coffee lies somewhere in between, with a well-rounded, balanced flavor.
