Roaster’s Blog: The Coffee Experience

Often in my writing I talk about experiencing coffee, or making coffee an experience, but I haven’t really explained what I mean by this. I think what I am trying to convey is the idea of sitting down and spending a bit of time on a sensory level of experience with coffee. Here is a little something you can do to get to know the coffee you are drinking: Find a time when you have 20 minutes or so to spend on it, have someone to share the time with, or perhaps a good book to read. First, set up your equipment (preferably a grinder and French press) and get it all ready so you can properly begin the journey. Grind your coffee to the desired level and breath it in deeply after doing so. Immerse yourself in the aroma, try to see if you can find the distinct aromas that each coffee has (and remember no observation is wrong). Ninety percent of the flavor from coffee is actually aroma and is detected with your olfactory senses. Now brew the coffee, and even if you don’t like black coffee pour yourself a small amount of it into your cup (honestly some coffees taste better black than others) smell it, then sip it and try to capture the essential flavor of the coffee itself. Try to distinguish between flowery, fruity, spicy, and nutty descriptors. Or get really specific and articulate the subtle differences you detect. For instance you might notice it tastes more like apple than apricot. Next prepare the coffee as you normally would; I often find that sugar (I prefer the raw demerara sugar) and some cream heightens the subtle flavors of the coffee while others believe it blasphemous to add anything to their coffee. When it is prepared as you like it, sit down in a comfortable spot, if you are with a friend compare tasting notes, or just sit and relax. The experience in all of this is really beyond just the coffee itself; it’s about taking the time to slow down and really savor life, taste the flavor, and smell the aroma. Make some time to talk with a friend or read that book you’ve been putting off. Coffee enjoyed in this way can not only be an amazing drink, but a chance to enjoy the good side of life.

Good day and good coffee

Woodrow DeCasere

Featured Coffee

Cafe Blend (1lb) / $8.95

This blend is our version of a mélange roast – one single origin roasted to two different levels and blended together afterwards. This type of blend allows you to experience one kind of coffee in a more unique way. Lemony, sweet, and a hint of grapefruit best describe the flavor in the cup. The medium body gives a lighter feel on the palette, but we found it to be contrasted nicely with a great depth and complexity due to the blending method.

Roast Level: Medium