The World of Craft Coffee
The word craft is becoming a more and more common description of a passion and finesse towards a hobby. Craft beer and craft cocktails have been accelerating in popularity every year, as consumers are willing to pay a premium for ingredients and innovation. While coffee has been internationally beloved by the masses for decades, it seems a growing number of coffee-shops and enthusiasts are dedicating time and effort to the idea of coffee as a craft, and an endeavor worth truly perfecting. While it can be easy to think of coffee as nothing more than a stimulant, a tool to wake you up in the morning or get you through a long day of work, there is the same potential for it to be explored as a nuanced Cabernet. To begin with, coffee has more nuance than you might imagine when you are willing to explore a variety of different preparation methods.
The typical cup of coffee you would get at a coffee shop like Starbucks doesn’t show the potential that exists with coffee. My main problem with Starbucks is the fact that their beans typically have a burnt flavor that adds a bitterness to the coffee. Additionally, drip coffee is not made to order, and is sometimes brewed with nearly boiling water, which is too hot to bring out the optimal flavors of coffee. One thing that is interesting about the potential to make truly great coffee is the fact that repeated experimentation is necessary for the perfect cup. There are so many variables at play that it can take a long time to figure out just how to make coffee that you love.
I personally have went through a number of phases, but find that I typically like to brew coffee at home using either a Chemex coffee-maker, or a French press. These two coffee-makers offer nice alternatives to drip coffee that allow you to have more control over the flavor of your coffee. The Chemex allows you to make coffee that is similar to drip, but with some clear differences. The thicker paper of the filters that go in a Chemex helps to strain away all of the residual oils, making for a cup of coffee that has a cleaner, brighter flavor. Additionally, the Chemex gives you control of the brewing process, as you can heat your water to your desired temperature, and control the amount of time you expose your beans to hot water as you pour the water over your grinds. Tinkering with these variables gives you more control in the coffee-making process and will alter the taste of your coffee.
Another nice option for home-brewing coffee is the French press, which yields an entirely different type of drink. The French press uses a plunger to separate the beans from the hot water, but in doing so it leaves in the natural oils of the coffee bean. This creates a flavorful drink that is entirely unlike any coffee that goes through a paper filter. When made right it is full flavored and has a heavier mouthfeel than other coffees. Just like with the Chemex, there are a number of factors in brewing French press coffee that can greatly affect the end flavors of the beverage. The main factor at play with a French press is the grind of the beans. You need to be careful to use a coarser grind, as too fine a grind will allow coffee particles through the larger mesh filter of the press, and lead to a chalky taste.
Whether you’re new to the world of craft coffee or you’ve been drinking it for years, there are always new avenues to explore. With new roasters popping up continuously and a wide variety of brewing methods in existence, there’s always new coffees to try, and new things to learn to help you towards the pursuit of a perfect cup.
