How to Taste Different Flavors in a Cup of Coffee

What do you look for in your cup?

Relax, we know how confusing talking about coffee can be. When people start talking about specialty coffee and how bold its body is or how acidic it tastes, all we can think about is: isn’t coffee just bitter and sometimes sweet if you add sugar? At first, we might be skeptical about how different coffee can actually be depending on its properties and origins, but once you learn to tell its nuances and qualities, a new world of flavors and contrasts will open up right in front of you.

So where do we begin? Is there a right way to drink coffee to better understand its characteristics? On today’s article, we’ll explore how we can train our senses to enjoy all that coffee truly has to offer.

The first thing you’ll need to do: forget about sugar and cream. We tend to add different ingredients to our coffee to make it sweeter, but they mask the best properties hidden behind coffee when it’s brewed pure. You’ll be able to sense more if you drink it simple and black. That’s how professionals do coffee cupping, which is the practice of tasting different brews to identify their different notes.

Exactly what will you be able to distinguish when you try it this way? Among others, you get to discover a new fragrance, aroma, sweetness, acidity, body and the aftertaste. Here’s how to find them in your cup of joe.

Fragrance perception

This part of the process is done with your dry coffee grounds, because it’s believed to be the most aromatic coffee form. Try to clear your mind and let your memories take over when smelling your grounds. This way, you’ll be able to tell if your coffee has fruity, floral or herbal notes. Once you’ve identified the predominant fragrance, you can even go further and try to specify its qualities. If it’s fruity, what kind of fruit do you smell? Is it citric like oranges or sweet peaches?

Aroma perception

This is the first time you’ll be mixing coffee with hot water, which will provoke the coffee aromas to arise. This part of the process depends heavily on how the coffee was roasted; you’ll be able to differentiate these three main categories: nutty-like notes, caramel-like notes and cocoa-like notes. The last two are typical of darker roasts and they’re perfect to take along with chocolate desserts. If, on the other hand, you sense a nutty-like aroma, then you can try to find descriptors such as almonds, peanuts or hazelnuts.

Sweetness

It’s time to taste coffee! Yes, you finally get to drink it. The first sips will let you know how sweet your coffee really is. It can actually come in different notes, such as candy-like, malty-like and fruity-like sweetness. Try to concentrate on how sweet your coffee tastes, so you can actually tell these notes apart from other coffee qualities.

Acidity

Acidity is one of the most popular qualities of coffee. Highly acidic coffees are usually light roasted and they’re perfect to accompany with fruity desserts like pies. You can tell the acidic grade of your coffee if your tongue starts to salivate once you start tasting it thoroughly. Possible descriptors include acid comparable to oranges or lemons and acid similar to green apples.

Body

We’ve reached the famous body. What are people talking about when they say coffee has a full body? It doesn’t describe too much about the taste as it does about the texture. Think about water and the way it feels inside your mouth. Now think about maple syrup, one is fuller than the other and feels heavier in your mouth, right? That’s the body of the drink! To identify this quality, take a sip and fake chew the coffee on your tongue. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Does it feel heavy like syrup or honey?
• Does it feel rugged because of small coffee ground particles?
• Is there no real feeling and it’s actually more watery?

Aftertaste

You’ve sipped your coffee all the way through, what’s left? This part of the cupping process simply refers to how much aftertaste comes with the brew? Help yourself by inhaling a little bit of air and allowing yourself to feel if there’s a strong taste left behind or if it’s gone almost completely.

Once you learn to distinguish the tones and nuances of every cup, you’ll also be able to enjoy coffee like never before. At That Coffee Roasters, part of our daily routine involves cupping and identifying our roasts qualities. It’s complex but a wonderful process, and we’re always amazed at how much some processing and farming methods can change a single drink.

What are your favorite flavors?

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Coffee Industry Trends for 2018

Experts expect the coffee industry to keep growing.

As January hits us with its chilly weather, here at That Coffee Roasters, we are doing everything we can to keep our cups of coffee warm and cozy. Let temperatures drop and join us instead at exploring what this 2018 might bring for the coffee industry. What trends will we see? What changes are coming to the market? We might get some clues about it thanks to the coffee festivals that were celebrated last year.

We’re specifically speaking about World of Coffee 2017, which was celebrated in Budapest last year. At the coffee-specialty website The Perfect Daily Grind, they interviewed owners, roasters, manufacturers, competitors and coffee associations to find out more about where they believe our beloved drink is headed this 2018. Here’s what we can learn from what they had to say.

Coffee industry will keep on growing

Even though the last few years, we’ve seen how successful third wave coffee has become, experts were expecting the trend to slow down and the market’s growth to eventually flatten. However, that never happened. More and more consumers are getting into the world of specialty coffee and this allows the industry to keep on growing and specializing itself. Micro-roasteries, and cafes will continue to open in diverse places. Soon enough, Middle Eastern and Eastern Europe countries will be joining the wagon in full force.

Diversified coffee shop offerings

It seems like our beloved coffee shops’ menus will be expanding on this 2018. Some experts predict an increase in coffee shop diversification that will go beyond their regular desserts. Products like beer, wine and cheese are proving to be an interesting alternative to accompany our favorite coffee. This can result in the possibility of reaching new and wider audiences, which means a new opportunity for commercial growth.

New year, new preferences, new coffee

As coffee starts to reach new audiences, baristas will start getting more creative in what they offer. Cold brews, for example, are getting increasingly popular, especially among people who are not regular coffee drinkers. Since cold brew is sweeter in taste and allows a wide variety of recipes, it’s perfect for non-coffee-lovers demographics. Younger drinkers will be especially attracted by the new combinations we might taste this year.

We’ll probably be seeing a greater demand on sweet coffees over acidic ones. Sweet notes are the new trend and we’ll have to see if the industry is up to meet the market’s new demands.

Producers are getting the hang on alternative processing methods

Producing countries are expanding their array of processing methods like never before. Some of these include raised beds, honey processing, natural processing and lactic fermentation. Embracing diversity means that we might see a larger variety and options in the market. Buyers and consumers are asking for it, so farmers are providing it! However, many of these new processing trends are expensive and they might leave poorer farmers behind, as producers with resources will exploit them.

Brewers are focusing on water

Although technology is also taking center-stage with new and more precise machinery that expands options for baristas, coffee professionals are also inspecting the benefits and uses that water can add to the brew. Water components can have a very strong effect on our coffee’s taste, more than people would expect. Aspects like temperature and purity matter on all beverages. Water can affect performance, and the lifespan of coffee makers as well. It even seems that products like “third-wave water” are making their way into the community, so expect to hear more from it.

What would you like the coffee industry to put an eye on this 2018? What else would you like to see in your favorite cafés and roasters? Tell us all about it on our social media and stay updated to see where is coffee taking us for the next 12 months!

What do you want to see in the coffee industry?

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Which Are the Most Popular Types of Coffee?

Let's identify the most popular types of coffee.

Since its origins in Ethiopia during the 10th century, coffee culture has spread worldwide, gathering millions and millions of coffee lovers around the world who enjoy its bitter and unique taste. More than 400 millions cups of coffee are consumed by Americans every day, and this demand is only growing each year. What began as a religious tool in ancient rituals, has turned into one of the beverages with most varieties on Earth.

Now, with great variety comes the hard part of choosing which is your favorite preparation method. What differentiates one type of coffee from the other? And how to know which one is perfect for your taste and personality? Maybe you’re the adventurous type who will not rest until you’ve tried them all out. Whatever the case, check out our list to find out which are the most popular types of coffee and why they are so loved!

1. Espresso

No list can start without the famous espresso. We will prepare many of the other types of coffee with this one as the base, so pay attention. Its name comes from the Italian, and it literally means “express.” To brew this strong black coffee, you’ll need to force the steam through dark-roasted aromatic coffee beans with hot water at high pressure. That way, its consistency will be thicker than other coffee types which are brewed differently.

How do you know how good your espresso really is? The secret is its foam. Its color should be a mix of golden and brown, and it must be thick. Even though for many espressos are a kind of coffee way too simple, it is classic and pure. Try it and explore different flavors and nuances, with different coffee beans, of this timeless mix of high pressure and coffee. 

2. Americano

It’s considered fairly easy to prepare an Americano. Some people believe this type of coffee was originated in Italy during the World War II, as Americans in the military force customized Italian coffee by adding water to it. And that’s exactly how it’s prepared nowadays. To drink an Americano, just add two-thirds of hot water to one-third of espresso (or regular brewed coffee). It won’t taste as strong as a regular espresso. Also, in hot weather, it’s sometimes served with ice to add a refreshing tone.

3. Latte, Au Lait, and Flat White

These three are some of the most popular types of coffee! All around the world, every day, many people ask for them at cafés. Today we’ve presented them altogether due to their similarities. If you prefer your coffee a little bit more on the sweet side, then these might be the ones for you! Now, let’s start first with the latte: it's a mix of an espresso with three parts of steam milk. The final result will have a thin foam that is often decorated by baristas.

The café au lait is simply the French version of the latte. The only difference between them is that you won’t have it prepared with espresso but with traditional brewed coffee. You might find its taste is a little bit weaker than the latte, but we’re sure you’ll enjoy it all the same.

Finally, with a flat white you’ll notice the flavor of the espresso will be stronger than the milk’s one. This Australian latte version is usually mixed with milk from the bottom of a jug because of its silkiness. That way, even though it has the same proportions as the latte, it definitely won’t feel as foamy.

4. Mocha or Mochaccino

Alright, chocolate lovers. We’ve made it to the famous mocha. Although there are some variations to it, the most common way to prepare this exquisite mix is mixing: 1 measure of espresso + 0.5 of chocolate syrup + 1 of steamed milk + 0.5 of whipped cream. This espresso-based coffee is usually served with cocoa powder or cinnamon on the top. If you’re not used to drinking coffee but would like to start exploring this amazing culture, a mochaccino is a perfect way to do it. Sweet, soft and delicious!

5. Cappuccino

The cappuccino is insanely popular in all cafés because of its flavor and uniqueness, so it’s only fair to assume that every coffee house has its own version. However, to have a traditional cappuccino, you usually need an equal combination of espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. You can also add a little bit of cocoa powder to give an extra flavor to it. And here’s a little fact: if you ask for a cappuccino scuro (dark) or chiaro (light), you can customize the amount of milk poured into it.

6. Macchiato

Very similar to the espresso, this one is also known as espresso macchiato. This Italian beverage literally translates to “stain, ” and it’s basically a traditional espresso with a drop of foamed milk. If you want to give it a twist, you can also add caramel and vanilla and serve it either cold or hot!

7. Cold Brew

To end our list, we’ve chosen a cold beverage for the ones who prefer the most refreshing side of coffee drinks. The Cold Brew is prepared by soaking coffee grounds in water at cold temperatures for at least 12 hours. Then, the coffee is filtered giving it a more concentrated flavor. The mix will have less caffeine and a less acid flavor. Then it will be diluted with milk and water to be finally served with ice.  

There are many other types of coffee, and every country has its styles and recipes. Do you feel we missed one? Which one should have made it to this list? If you already know which one is your favorite, let us know in the comments! We hope you keep enjoying That Coffee Roasters’ content, as well as our products and services.

Now that you know different types of coffee, which one do you prefer?

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters