5 Important Factors Affecting the Taste of Coffee
What is the best way to describe a cup of coffee? Is it sweet, bitter, or chocolatey? But why does coffee taste the way it does, and what distinguishes a good cup of coffee from a great one?
Continue reading to learn about 9 of the most essential aspects that determine the flavor and quality of coffee.
1. Growing Environment
What makes some of us prefer Colombian coffee to others who prefer Kenyan coffee? This is due to the fact that the flavor of coffee varies depending on its origin. The health and capacity to create flavors of the coffee plant is influenced by certain climatic elements such as soil, height, wind, and rainfall.
Caffeine is produced by coffee plants and functions as a natural insecticide. This implies that the beans generate less caffeine at higher elevations. Furthermore, because of the milder environment, the bean matures more slowly, resulting in a greater density. The brew that results is sweeter, more nuanced in flavor, and has a greater acidity.
2. The Bean Variety
Just as how various kinds of grapes can effect the flavor of wine, different varieties of coffee bean will alter the taste of brewed coffee.
There are more than 100 coffee species, but two varieties, Arabica and Robusta, account for more than 98 percent of global coffee production. Liberica, often known as the rarest form of coffee, is the third variety, accounting for less than 2% of world coffee output.
Because each kind is cultivated under various circumstances, it has its own distinct flavor character. Learn more about the three varieties of beans, including their caffeine concentration, fragrance, and price differences.
3. Roasting Method
The color difference between dark, medium, and light roasts isn’t the only thing that distinguishes them. When it comes to bringing out the fragrances and flavors of a bean, roasting is crucial.
Chemical processes take place within the bean during the roasting process. The longer you roast a bean, the more flavors and fragrances it releases. As a result, lighter roasts have more delicate flavors, while darker roasts have smokey overtones and powerful flavors.
4. The Bean’s Freshness
When coffee beans are roasted, they lose their freshness nearly instantly. Coffee that has been kept in a warehouse or on a shelf for months will not pass muster. Whole bean coffee has a 4- to 5-week shelf life when properly packaged.
The freshness of beans will be affected if they are not stored in a vacuum-sealed or airtight container, since they will lose their flavor and fragrance characteristics. A good rule of thumb is to grind the bean just before brewing to keep it fresh.
5. The Brewing Equipment That Is Used
New coffee drinkers have the misperception that any brewing equipment will bring out the finest in every cup of coffee. Each brewing device, from the French Press to the Filter Coffee and Espresso Machine, need distinct procedures and brewing variables.
The extraction of caffeine and the flavor of coffee are affected by factors such as the coffee-to-water ratio and infusion length.
Discover a wide selection of coffee equipment on the De’Longhi eShop, from pump espresso to bean to cup coffee makers.
6. Coffee Beans in a Coffee Grinder a close-up image of coffee beans in a coffee grinder
The coffee you brew will be substantially influenced by the grind size. Dan Smedley took the photo.
The best grind size depends on the brewing equipment you’re using. Water will flow between coarser grounds, but water will flow between finer grounds, indicating that a greater surface area of the bean is infused with water.
If the wrong grind size is employed, the resultant brew will be either overly bitter or too watery. Here’s a chart to help you figure out the grind size to use for your brewing equipment.
7. The Milk That Was Used
The fat level of milk has the greatest impact on the flavor and texture of coffee. Due of its high fat content, baristas choose whole milk, which produces a creamy froth and delicious coffee.
Dairy-free alternatives, such as plant-based milk, on the other hand, have little to no fat. However, these options have advantages and disadvantages, since the final brew will take on distinct flavor notes from the primary component, such as almonds or soybeans.
8. A guy pouring water over a coffee filter drips
The optimal water temperature for brewing is slightly below boiling point, neither too hot or too cold. Jakub Kapusnak took the photo.
Water is not only a key component of coffee, but it also serves as a solvent throughout the brewing process. First and foremost, it is the mineral content of water that extracts flavors from coffee grinds. Never make coffee using distilled water since the lack of minerals will result in a harsh and bitter cup of coffee.
Second, water temperature has a significant impact on solubility and extraction rate. The optimal temperature is 90-96 degrees Fahrenheit, which is just below the boiling point. If it’s too cold, the flavors won’t be properly extracted. If you make it too hot, the drink will be bitter.
9. Brewing Equipment Cleanliness
Water, as important as it is in coffee brewing, is a threat to brewing equipment. Mineral deposits obstruct the complete extraction of flavors from coffee grounds and reduce the capacity of coffee machines’ boiler heating systems.
It’s critical to descale your brewing equipment at least once every 3-4 months to keep it clean. Here’s a step-by-step method to descale yours if you can’t recall when you last did it.