With so many different coffees to choose from, how does one begin
to select the coffee or blend that is right for them? One way is
to try them all, until you find your “favorite.” However,
as fun as this is, it can be a time consuming process. Well, here
at Stockton Graham & Co., we have been teaching our customers
several different ways to condense this process.
First, find a blend or single origin that you like. Then, try
other blends containing the same types of beans with a similar
roast profile. Also try different single origin coffees from a
neighboring region or country. Generally, coffees from similar
regions or growing areas will have similar characteristics with
subtle, yet distinct differences.
Secondly, identify the characteristics
of the coffee that you like. Such as a heavy, smooth body, a bold,
strong taste, a mild, pleasant aroma or something strong, exciting
and different. From these types of characteristics, we can identify
similar coffees to try.
Certain types of coffees may be better suited for the time of
day or the foods they will be served with. For instance, many
early morning or breakfast coffees will be a lighter roast with
higher acidity for a brighter taste and pleasant mouth feel. For
coffees to be consumed with a heavy meal or with a dark, rich
dessert, you might want to select a deeper, strong-roasted coffee
with a more intense flavor.
The most important rule for selecting coffees is to try some
from all major regions and different roast levels, so you can
become familiar with the taste characteristics of each. Our associates
at Stockton Graham & Co. will be happy to assist you with
this or show you how to set up your coffee cupping
program.
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