If you like great coffee you probably buy gourmet coffee. Gourmet coffee is that which has been grown under exacting conditions, picked at the peak of perfection. Gourmet coffee starts with the highest quality coffee beans such as arabica coffee from Colombia. Gourmet coffee is processed in small batches in order to preserve its excellence. All of this having been said, it is important to know how to make gourmet coffee when you make coffee at home. In other words, don’t spoil all of that effort that went into creating high quality coffee by messing up your storage, roasting, grinding, or brewing!
Taking Care of Your Gourmet Coffee
The flavor and aroma of great coffee does not last forever. Over time oxidation (exposure to air) degrades the chemicals that create the best aroma and flavor. If you buy green coffee beans they will retain their freshness for up to three years providing that it is stored properly. Green coffee beans need to be stored in a dark, cool, and dry location. That means no direct sunlight, on shelves and not on the ground, away from strong smells, and away from sources of humidity. It may be convenient to put your coffee in the cupboard right above your stove but that is a really bad idea!
If you buy roasted whole bean gourmet coffee the beans will retain their freshness for up to six months when properly stored. The same “rules” apply to storing roasted coffee beans as to green coffee beans.
Ideally you should store your coffee in a ceramic or dark glass canister and never freeze it. The problem with freezing is that when the coffee thaws it tends to absorb moisture. Each time you take coffee out of the freezer to brew you will degrade your gourmet coffee a bit more.
When to Grind Gourmet Coffee Beans
No matter whether you roast your own coffee at home or purchase roasted gourmet coffee beans, only grind enough coffee to use for one preparation or at least only enough for the day. Oxidation happens much faster when air is in contact with all of the interior of your coffee beans than when air has to penetrate the intact beans. Basically, you start to lose flavor and aroma as soon as you grind your coffee. You also start to lose the valuable antioxidants that confer so many health benefits as well!
Brewing Gourmet Coffee
After you have expended the effort to get, preserve, and grind your gourmet coffee don’t mess it up by using water that is impure, heavily chlorinated, or otherwise likely to impart unwelcome flavors to the final brew. Use filtered water and heat it to at least 195 degrees Fahrenheit but not more than 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally you should purchase a scale for accurate measurement of how much coffee to use with each brewing. As a starting point measure out 90 grams of coffee for a standard coffee maker and then adjust the amount for taste in subsequent efforts.
Choose Your Method For Brewing Gourmet Coffee
We have written about making coffee with a French press versus pour over coffee versus using a percolator. Assuming the same ingredients, a percolator will give you milder coffee while a French press results in a darker, stronger flavor. The pour over route tends to end up with something in between. No matter which method you choose, it is important to clean your equipment after each use. Oil collects in a coffee pot if it is not washed. Mold and bacteria can accumulate in a percolator that is not routinely cleaned. Do not go to the expense and trouble to make great gourmet coffee and then ruin it by neglecting to clean your equipment routinely!