How to Choose Gourmet Coffee - Top-End Coffee

Is gourmet coffee the same as speciality coffee?

We can refer to top-end coffee as gourmet coffee. This means that when coffee is outstanding, it is reason enough the say to call it speciality coffee, and in very rare occasions, gourmet is used. Coffee consumers who appreciate great coffee embrace the whole experience, as asides the taste, sustainability, authenticity, and traceability are key elements to qualify coffee as outstanding. 

In our interactions with some customers, the Arabica variety is associated with premium coffees, while the Robusta variety is associated with low-quality coffees. This is a misconception, as not all Arabicas are great neither are all Robustas are of poor quality.

With more than 100 varieties of Arabica, each with their flavour features, premium coffee is a complex word in the universe of coffee. The soil, shade, altitude, method of harvesting and post-harvesting greatly determines the quality of coffee, independent of its variety. This is not even inclusive of the logistics involved in transporting green coffee from country coffee producers to Europe, where importers have to cope with unusual changes in temperature, or the roasting process where 30 seconds more of roasting could ruin an expensive Gesha coffee.

History of Coffee and Gourmet Coffee

This stems back to the 8th Century in Ethiopia, when a goat herder noticed that the goats gained alertness and more energy after eating unique red berries. He decided to try a few and immediately noticed increased energy. In the 13th- century, coffee was consumed in Arabia.

Top-end coffee was first introduced in the late 19th century in European countries. The first coffee shipment arrived in Europe from the Yemen port of Mocha, and it is presently consumed daily by close to 20% of adults aged 25- 29. An estimated 1 in 10 coffee shops have been closed since January 2008, including 900 Starbucks and about 2500 independent coffee shops, yet its consumption remains steady.

Countries famous for producing top-end coffee are Colombia, Ethiopia, Brazil, Indonesia, and Vietnam. 

Read our Wholesale Coffee Beans Buyer's Guide

How to tell Whether or not your Coffee is Gourmet 

The first step to knowing if your coffee is gourmet is legit is to check on the ingredients. Arabica coffee beans are the key component to making a coffee gourmet. The aroma should be fine, rich, and unique, and the taste is where you can decide on its authenticity. It shouldn't be overpowering like the regular Robusta beans, which are bitter. Gourmet This coffee is prepared from 100% Arabica beans which are milder and taste sweeter. This makes it gourmet coffee.Gourmet Coffee Characteristics 

1. The smell is one of the factors that define gourmet coffee. When fresh coffee beans are ground, the smell is impeccable. You should be able to identify a gourmet coffee by its rich aroma. Once you take the first sip, the aroma defines the uniqueness of the coffee. 
2. The gourmet coffee must have a body. This means that it gives an impression of tartness on the back of the tongue. 
3. It should have acidity. The coffee should give a sharp taste in the front tongue and dryness at the back of the mouth.
4. It should also have balance. The balance is often described as the aftertaste that remains in your tongue after taking a sip that may have hints of chocolate, spiciness, roasted, and so on. Just like fine wine, gourmet coffee should not leave a specific aftertaste or undernote; after you take a sip instead, it is well balanced without any powerful note. It should not be too spicy, roasted, or bitter, just well-balanced.
5. Flavours differ depending on the different parts of the world. Central American coffee has a nutty chocolate flavour, East African and Arabian coffee has a fruity flavour, Asian coffee has an earthy flavour, Indonesian coffee has a spicy flavour, and Colombian coffee has a floral taste.
6. You can select roasted coffee according to your taste in preference. Choose a lightly roasted coffee for a sour taste, medium roasted coffee preserves the flavours, and dark roasted coffee will have traces of the original flavour.

Gourmet Coffee Beans

Coffee beans that are well-prepared, freshly roasted, and adequately brewed are termed gourmet coffee beans. Gourmet coffee beans should be consumed within three days to get the most decadent flavour.

Gourmet Instant Coffee

Instant coffee is easy to prepare. The freeze-drying method is famous for storing gourmet coffee as it retains all the flavours. Instant coffee is sold in granules or powder form. It becomes easier to mix with water.

Gourmet Coffee at Home

You can prepare a gourmet coffee right at home. Here is a procedure to help you make the perfect hot gourmet coffee.

1. First off, ensure you are using 100% Arabica beans. Make sure you use coffee beans over ground coffee for a rich, authentic taste. Besides buying instant coffees, invest in a motor hand grinder to ground the coffee beans. The traditional method of hand grinding may be time-consuming, and the coffee beans may lose taste and flavour in this process. Due to that, the motor grinder is better.
2. Take note that Espresso isn't made from the traditional coffee brewing but is from an espresso or cappuccino machine.
3. If you are looking for foaming recipes like a hot cappuccino or an iced cappuccino, it would be a brilliant idea to get a cappuccino machine. This will help get the perfect Espresso to milk to foam ratio.
4. Make sure you use the correct proportions of water to prepare gourmet coffee. Ensure that for every 6 ounces of water, you need 2 tablespoons of coffee.
5. Also, the brewing time is essential for the perfect taste. Even though you can't control a filter or drip brewer, it is implied 3- 5 minutes should give you the best results.

Read: Ten Crazy Coffee Flavours You Need to Taste