Monthly Archives: April 2020
-
Posted: April 22, 2020Categories: Coffee 101
Read more »With the latest wave of coffee drinks popping up in your nearest coffee chain and on the internet (Dalgona coffee, anyone?), there are more than just a few ways to get creative at home. It seems that anyone can be their own barista with just a few ingredients and basic kitchen tools!
For those who crave a cafe-style brew but prefer to stay in, here are some easy and impressive coffee drinks to spice up your day at home.
Dirty Matcha Latte
-
Posted: April 08, 2020Categories: The Bean
Read more »We’ve all been there at some point - staring at a selection of coffee beans, reading about its origin and flavour profiles, but still feeling disappointed upon taking the first sip of that brew. Who would have known that the process of choosing the right beans for ourselves is similar, if not, more mind-boggling than buying a dream car? There are a few key factors to take into consideration when you are next making that important choice of choosing the right beans. After all, it is that perfect cup that gets our day off to a right start.
1. Knowing your beans
There are two main coffee beans sold commercially in the market today, Robusta and Arabica. On one hand, Robusta has a full-bodied and bitter taste. On the other, Arabica gravitates toward being slightly acidic with a fruity and delicate taste. These beans have varying growing conditions and so it’s no surprise that coffee harvested in one country will taste differently from the other. The altitude, rainfall, climate, and soil conditions each play a prominent role in the flavours and aroma of your resulting brew. Here’s a more comprehensive guide on knowing your coffee beans.2. Selecting the coffee roast
[caption id="attachment_6403" align="alignnone" width="2560"]
More than just the colour of the coffee beans, roasting time affects the flavour profile of a brew. Photo from Erick Zajac[/caption] When one takes in a whiff of a raw, green coffee bean that is freshly harvested, its aroma resembles a green pepper rather than the familiar aroma of your favou
-
Posted: April 01, 2020Categories: The Tools
Read more »For some coffee drinkers, all espresso machines are the same: they make espresso. But for the more discerning coffee lover, this isn't the case, particularly those who brew their own coffee at home. In fact, there are a few types of espresso makers, each producing varying qualities of espresso. One of the biggest differences between espresso machines is whether or not it is pump-driven, as espresso is made by pushing hot water through ground coffee. There are three main types of espresso machine: lever-driven, steam-driven and pump-driven. For the purposes of this article, we’ll focus on steam-driven and pump-driven machines, as they are the most common types found on the market today.
Firstly – what makes a good espresso?
[caption id="attachment_6414" align="alignnone" width="2560"]
Observe the frothy thickness of the crema. Photo from Blake Richard Verdoorn[/caption] How you make your espresso has a significant impact on the quality of your brew, especially the type of espresso machine you use. One of the ways to measure your espresso’s quality is through the crema produced – you should aim to get crema that is foamy and golden. But do note that some coffee beans contain less oil, which results in less crema. Taste-wise, a well-pulled espresso will have the perfect combination of bitterness, sweetness and acidity.
