May 20 2010
Coffee Brew
Knowing how to make a good cup of coffee, one that rivals the coffee shop, in part is in knowing the different ways of making coffee brew. Coffee shops don’t have just one process that they use to brew coffee and some of the best cups of coffee in the world have never been near a drip coffee maker.
A true barista knows that creating an enticing cup of coffee is more of an art than it is a science. They know that it takes dedication to insuring that the necessary elements all come together at just the right time to arrive at the perfect cup of coffee. There are many methods to brew a cup of coffee, not of all of which are commonly used in the coffee shop but are still popular methods among those who happen to like the coffee they produce.
One type of brewing is percolating. This method is often used by campers who don’t have access to electricity. However, there are some people who still today prefer to use a percolator instead of an automatic coffeemaker. Percolator heat the water to boiling which then forces the water up a tube and onto the coffee grounds where it slowly drips through and into the bottom of the pot. Some people love this type of coffee while others say the end result is more thin and tarry than rich and mellow.
Turkish brewing is used in shops for people who specifically request this; it is not usually a menu item. The Turkish method is the process of heating very finely ground coffee in water. It is often prepared with sugar but can be done without it. As the water heats the coffee it will form foam, which is, then stirred and reheated to foam again. This is repeated three to form times before the foam is spooned off and into the sink. The coffee is then gently poured into cups slowly so that the remaining coffee grinds in the bottom are not poured into the cup as well.
Espresso brews are the most common coffee shop brews. This is where finely ground coffee is placed in a filter basket. Hot water, at just the right temperature, is forced through the filter basket with intense pressure. The pressure forces the water through the coffee grinds and produces a very strong shot of coffee known as an espresso shots. Espresso is the backbone for the majority of coffee shops drinks and is popular simple drank straight up typically with no cream or sugar but possible with a lemon zest.
The perfect coffee brew varies from person to person. Some brewing methods are only available in coffee shops while others are best brewed at home. Experimenting with the many different ways of brewing coffee will introduce coffee drinkers to a variety of tastes.
-Sharon Chapman