I had been asked to investigate the possibility of operating a small scale coffee business at one of our projects. Knowing very little about coffee, I realized educating myself on the process would be the first step. Enter Burka Coffee Plantation.
I took the tour on Monday with a friend of mine. For all of you who may have the chance to head on over to Tanzania, this was hands down the best tour I have ever taken, anywhere. Over the course of several hours, I learned all about coffee. From planting and harvesting the beans, to wet and dry processing, to sorting and roasting, we saw it all. It was fascinating.
The good part was that the tour was excellent. The bad part is that I feel there is very low feasibility for this as a project. However, I did learn what it takes to make the perfect cup of joe. My question is this: have you considered the following when making your cuppa?
1. Water temperature. For the best cup of coffee, water should be about 95-97 C (or just a few degrees below boiling). Best bet: boil your water and wait no less but no more than 1 minute before you add your water to you beans.
2. Beans. For that ideal cup that will make your taste buds dance, be sure to use freshly ground beans. Beans are best stored in a cabinet at room temperature. Axe the fridge if you are keeping them there. They should be kept for no more than 1 month after grinding and it is best if you grind them and use them in 1 day.
3. Brewing. Ok, for those of you who do not have a machine like Dave and Sue's that does everything in the world for coffee, invest in a French Press. It's about $20 and makes a world of difference. Once the water hits the beans, let it sit for no more than 4 minutes before you press down the grinds. yum yum.
4. If you are using a paper filter, rinse it in water first. This will get rid of the paper taste in the coffee (didn't ever know you tasted paper did you?).
5. Drink your coffee within an hour after brewing. As good as microwave coffee tastes the next morning, try to break the habit. Re-heating the coffee only serves to make it more bitter tasting. Another thing, don't leave your coffee on a hot plate once it has been brewed...your coffee will take on a burnt flavor. Nice, right?
6. Find the bean you like the best. Sample different types. Bean size, roasting time, grind size, and processing all make a huge difference in the taste. We sampled about 12 cups of coffee and they all tasted different. The factors were all varied on each. I was so surprised to taste the difference.
7. Heads up on when you buy your coffee. Coffee beans take on the flavors of the atmosphere in which they were grown. Want to taste tarmac? Buy beans that were grown near a road. Or how about manure? Perhaps from a coffee farm that uses manure for fertilizer. I know that you are thinking: how the heck will I know? Just try different beans. You might be surprised at what you find.
Ok, those are some tips for now. I've posted a few shots of the beans.
I took the tour on Monday with a friend of mine. For all of you who may have the chance to head on over to Tanzania, this was hands down the best tour I have ever taken, anywhere. Over the course of several hours, I learned all about coffee. From planting and harvesting the beans, to wet and dry processing, to sorting and roasting, we saw it all. It was fascinating.
The good part was that the tour was excellent. The bad part is that I feel there is very low feasibility for this as a project. However, I did learn what it takes to make the perfect cup of joe. My question is this: have you considered the following when making your cuppa?
1. Water temperature. For the best cup of coffee, water should be about 95-97 C (or just a few degrees below boiling). Best bet: boil your water and wait no less but no more than 1 minute before you add your water to you beans.
2. Beans. For that ideal cup that will make your taste buds dance, be sure to use freshly ground beans. Beans are best stored in a cabinet at room temperature. Axe the fridge if you are keeping them there. They should be kept for no more than 1 month after grinding and it is best if you grind them and use them in 1 day.
3. Brewing. Ok, for those of you who do not have a machine like Dave and Sue's that does everything in the world for coffee, invest in a French Press. It's about $20 and makes a world of difference. Once the water hits the beans, let it sit for no more than 4 minutes before you press down the grinds. yum yum.
4. If you are using a paper filter, rinse it in water first. This will get rid of the paper taste in the coffee (didn't ever know you tasted paper did you?).
5. Drink your coffee within an hour after brewing. As good as microwave coffee tastes the next morning, try to break the habit. Re-heating the coffee only serves to make it more bitter tasting. Another thing, don't leave your coffee on a hot plate once it has been brewed...your coffee will take on a burnt flavor. Nice, right?
6. Find the bean you like the best. Sample different types. Bean size, roasting time, grind size, and processing all make a huge difference in the taste. We sampled about 12 cups of coffee and they all tasted different. The factors were all varied on each. I was so surprised to taste the difference.
7. Heads up on when you buy your coffee. Coffee beans take on the flavors of the atmosphere in which they were grown. Want to taste tarmac? Buy beans that were grown near a road. Or how about manure? Perhaps from a coffee farm that uses manure for fertilizer. I know that you are thinking: how the heck will I know? Just try different beans. You might be surprised at what you find.
Ok, those are some tips for now. I've posted a few shots of the beans.
1 comment:
Hey ESW! Forgive me if you have already stated this, and I over read it, but are any of these wonderful craft items for sale to us?? They are gorgeous!!!
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