Gone are the days when you primarily imagined only the classic old fashion preparation of coffee in Czech  called "Turk" under the term coffee. We have broadened our horizons not only with regards to the preparation of coffee itself, but also with regards to its cultivation and roasting. Thanks to that we can enjoy specialty coffee.

What is specialty coffee?

The main feature of specialty coffee is that its origin is clear and traceable. You can easily find out which plantation it comes from and who is its farmer Another attribute that distinguishes selected coffee from consumer coffee is the method of collection. Selected coffee is harvested by hand - thanks to this, unsuitable beans are immediately removed from the harvest. An important feature of selected coffee is also that it is of one type, not a mixture of different varieties.

The result is a taste-exclusive product which, when properly prepared, guarantees a completely different taste experience.

Gourmet coffee and its evaluation

Like wine, coffee is subject to a rating scale. Coffee scoring ranges from 0 points to 100 points. Gourmet coffee must reach at least 80 points. Gourmet coffee is then divided into three categories:

very good (80-84 points)

excellent (85-89 points)

exceptional quality (90-100 points)

For comparison, more expensive drinking coffee is usually around 50-79 points. This is considered average to below average. Coffee under 40 points is most often used to make instant coffee.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of specialty coffee?

One of the biggest advantages of selected coffee is its taste. The quality of the grain (of course, while maintaining the ideal roasting time and suitable preparation) is strongly reflected in the final taste. Thanks to this, you can enjoy different tasting tones - whether light, fruity, or heavier, chocolate and caramel.

What is great about specialty coffee is that you know what you are drinking. The origin of the coffee is clearly traceable, as is the date of harvest. Gourmet coffee is bought in smaller quantities - it is processed faster. This way you are sure that it is a fresh raw material. It is common for drinking coffee to be ordered from warehouses, where it can lie for years.

So what are the disadvantages of specialty coffee? Probably just that you have to know it. Specialty coffee is prone to brewing. However, if you carefully follow the recommended preparation procedure, you will definitely appreciate the difference in taste between specialty and commercial drinking coffee.

How to roast selected coffee?

What exactly is coffee roasting? It is a process where green coffee becomes coffee as we know it. At the same time, its properties character changes. However, each coffee has its ideal roasting point, when it gets the most taste and aroma. Roasting it  beyond for this point means that these flavors are left lagging behind. As a result, we feel the roasting flavor rather than the original taste of the grain.

Roasting is divided into:

light

moderate

medium dark roasted

the darkest roasted

As a rule, selected coffee is roasted lightly. Thanks to this, it retains its maximum aroma and the best possible taste.

How to prepare selected coffee?

Many other points need to be taken into account when preparing selected coffee. One of the main ones is the water you use to make coffee. It is ideal to use filtered water - this will prevent the taste of coffee from being accidentally affected.

When making coffee in the coffee machine, always check that the appliance is clean. This also applies to mocha teapots or, for example, French presses. These may seem like little things, but these little things can significantly degrade every cup of coffee.

When choosing the form of preparation, pay attention to the coarseness of the grind. Each method requires a different roughness. Here is a brief overview:

cold brew - very coarse

french press - coarse

V60 dripper - medium coarse

aeropress - medium

mocha teapot - medium fine

espresso - fine

ibrik, cezva - extra fine

If you are a coffee fan, you should definitely try a selection of coffee. You will see that the difference in taste will compensate you for the possible increased complexity in its preparation.