What Makes Gourmet Coffee Gourmet?

Look at that cup of gourmet coffee you're holding. What makes it gourmet? Is the term gourmet coffee truly meaningful, or is it just a marketing technique to make us coffee drinkers think we should pay $4 for a cup of coffee. (Don't worry, ours is still $1!)

In previous blogs, I talked about some of the coffee lingo and coffee terminology that is commonly used, but is frequently confusing and misleading. I also mentioned that the country, the region, and the altitude at which the coffee beans are grown are much better predictors of taste that some of the superfluous labels we often see. So today, I want to share two of the most meaningful factors in what makes a gourmet coffee a gourmet coffee.

Arabica Coffee Beans versus Robusta Coffee Beans

The first is incredibly basic. Gourmet coffees only use Arabica coffee beans. All the positive characteristics you look for in a great cup of coffee come from these higher quality beans that are best grown at higher altitudes. This does not mean that every Arabica bean is good, but generally speaking they are of a far higher quality than the economical Robusta beans which are usually grown at sea level.

Washed versus Natural Processing

Whether coffee beans are washed or dry processed prior to shipping is another factor that actually has a big impact on the final flavor in your coffee cup. While natural sure sounds better from an eco-friendly and organic viewpoint, this is not the case for coffee beans. Proper washing of the green coffee bean before it is shipped and roasted is more expensive, takes more time, and results in more body, brightness, livelieracidity, and that mouth-filling feeling that defines a great tasting cup of coffee.

So, you want coffee beans grown at high altitudes that have been carefully washed, and are from a desirable region. Any specialty coffee roaster like Brown and Jenkins will only sell Arabica beans, so that's a pretty simple starting point for most folks. If you are a member of our coffee club you can start by sample single origin coffee to get an idea of the regions you most enjoy, and then by trying the blends of each.

I like to think of the coffee tasting experience as a joyride for all the senses. So hop on and enjoy the ride!

Local Event Reminder- The Cambridge Annual Bike and Boat Swap and Pie for Breakfast event is tomorrow morning, Saturday, May 1st and it starts at 9am! I'll meet you there for freshly roasted coffee and homemade pie for breakfast!

Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen