You’d be hard-pressed to find another drink that is as comforting, energising, and whole-heartedly satisfying as coffee. It’s little wonder that’s been at the heart of every modern culture and city for the last hundred years or so. But while many of us often pick up a cup of coffee without much thought, it turns out there is a delicate, and fine art behind these humble beans. We dig a little deeper, with a help of an expert.
“As with everything in life, our personalities, taste choices and lifestyles are likely to determine which types and tastes of coffees we prefer drinking,” explains Matthew Dees, senior brand manager for Jacobs Coffee, and an expert coffee aficionado. “Different elements can make one type of coffee taste different from another, including the type and roast of the coffee bean used, the amount of milk added, the addition of sugar or syrups, and even the amount of water. All these elements play a role in determining how your coffee tastes.”
When it comes to coffee beans, the way the bean is roasted will provide different tastes, Matthew explains.
Light roasted coffee beans: These have a soft and subtle taste with a light, slight acidic after taste. These can be enjoyed as a light espresso, or as a coffee that uses a lot of milk such as a latte.
Medium roasted coffee beans: These have a more intense flavour than light roasted beans and offer a light acidic taste with a subtle bitter after taste.
Dark roasted coffee beans: These have a powerful and intense flavour which gives way to different aromas. This type of bean will allow you to enjoy a rich and bitter coffee – perfect for an espresso. The darker the roast the more likely it will have a chocolatey taste.
Another element that determines the result of your coffee is how these beans are used. There are different coffee choices that can be made at home.
Coffee choices to try at home
An espresso is a strong and concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee beans. It has a rich, full-bodied flavour, a slightly bitter taste and is typically served in a small 50ml cup. Espresso is perfect for those who enjoy a strong and intense coffee flavour.
Americano is a single or double shot of espresso that is diluted with hot water. It has a milder taste than espresso and higher volume. Americano is best suited for those who enjoy coffee with a slightly bitter taste, but with less intensity than espresso.
A latte is a coffee that is made with espresso and steamed milk, topped with a small amount of foam. Lattes are creamy and have a smooth, mellow flavour. They are perfect for people who enjoy a mild coffee flavour and a creamy texture.
A cappuccino is made with equal parts of espresso, steamed with milk and foam resulting in a strong espresso flavour and a creamy texture. They are perfect for people who enjoy a strong coffee flavour but also appreciate the creaminess of milk.
A mocha is made with espresso, steamed milk, chocolate syrup or powder and can be topped with whipped cream. It has a sweet and chocolatey flavour making it perfect for people who enjoy a sweet and creamy coffee.
French press is made by steeping coffee grounds in hot water and pressing the plunger down to separate the grounds from the coffee. French press has a rich and full-bodied flavour making it perfect for people who enjoy a bold and flavourful coffee.
