Heavenly Brew: A User’s Guide to Coffee

By Helen Stephens

From the time I was a little girl, our family has maintained a weekend morning ritual centered around fresh brewed coffee.  The first person to wake up in the morning sets up the coffee maker with our favorite coffee and then wakes everyone else up.  We pile tons of pillows on my parents’ bed and spend the morning talking and laughing while we savor the flavor of the drink we love most.  We ‘tink’ our mugs together, offering thanks for each other and the day, all the while enjoying the one beverage that warms the heart as well as the body.  There is nothing like it in all the world, and there is no other drink that would be worthy of that morning ritual.

 

Coffee.  It is a beverage rich in history.  What began as an energy food for raiding parties in Ethiopia soon turned into the favorite beverage of Arabia.  So highly coveted was this hot drink that exportation of the coffee plant out of Arabia was banned by the government.  Thank heavens for the early black market that carried the coffee beans into other parts of the East.  In ancient Turkey, a man could not marry a woman without promising her family that she would never want for coffee.  When European travelers discovered the dark brew that was sold by coffee peddlers out of copper containers, they very quickly began exporting it back to their home countries.  Pope Clement VIII ‘Christianized’ the beverage, and coffee very quickly became a mainstay throughout Europe, eventually landing in the Americas, brought by the ever adventurous Captain John Smith.  What a delicious fate for such a delightful drink.

 

Today coffee is a mainstay throughout the entire world, offered in a dizzying array of flavors and varieties.  Here are just a few to tempt your taste buds:

 

Types

• Robusta:  This variety is aptly named for its hardy nature and robust flavor.  The plants of Robusta are grown at a lower altitude and contain higher levels of caffeine than other coffee species. 

 

• Arabica:  This variety traces its ancestry back to the original Ethiopian beans.  It is very aromatic and mildly flavored, offering a gentle introduction into the world of coffee for the newly initiated drinker.  Grown in the higher elevations, the beans of the Arabica coffee plant contain less caffeine than their harsher relatives.

 

Varieties

• Colombian:  Considered the richest and smoothest of all coffee varieties, Colombian coffee offers the most decadent, dark cup of heaven for the coffee connoisseur. 

 

• Brazilian:  Known for its sweet, almost nutty flavor, Brazilian coffee is often used as the base for a good Espresso.  It is a dark, rich brew that can rival even the best Columbian coffee.  If given the chance to taste this beverage, accept it willingly, sit back, and enjoy the experience.

 

• Jamaican:  The highland coffees of Jamaica are without peer.  The genuine Blue Mountain variety is one of the most celebrated coffees in the world, while at the same time claiming one of the highest selling values.  It has a bold, rich body without the high acidity levels found in other coffees.

 

• Sumatran:  Considered one of the finest rich-bodied coffees available, this variety is easily considered one of the finest coffees in the world.  With a higher acidity than other varieties, Sumatran coffee is worth trying.  The acidity is considered to be an essential part of the complex flavor that bursts forth from the first sip to the last.  Although it can be hard to find, it is not expensive.

 

• Ethiopian:  This list would not be complete without mentioning this distinctive variety of coffee.  Ethiopian coffees have the most diverse range of flavor experiences, with each one offering the same fruity acidity that makes this coffee unique.  The more recent droughts and wars within this country have made this coffee hard to come by, and thereby increasing its selling price, but if money is not an issue, spend a little on this worthy investment.  You will discover why such a little bean became so important to the world.

 

Flavors

 

• Crèmes:  With options like Irish Crème and coconut crème, one can see why these flavors would be incorporated into a coffee beverage.  The aroma of rich coffee and smooth cream flavors make these options a mild addition to an otherwise hectic day.  If you are feeling brave, try the combination of coffee and pina colada or even mint crème.  It is sure to get the day started off in the right direction.

 

• Nut:  Nothing beats the flavor of mild hazelnuts or rich pecans swimming in a warm cup of your favorite coffee variety.  Add a bit of macadamia mayhem, and you are fast on your way to a glorious morning.

 

• Chocolate:  Considered the food of the gods, chocolate has long been a part of luxurious libations.  The coffee experience would not be complete without blending the creamy richness of chocolate with the bold flavor of coffee. 

 

• Vanilla Bean:  With a hint of ice cream in every sip, vanilla based coffees have become a mainstay in today’s society.  From French vanilla to vanilla cream, there is a vanilla bean coffee out there for everyone.

 

• Fruit:  The sweetness of raspberries or strawberries add a little something special to a dark cup of Colombian coffee.  Don’t leave out a hint of peach or a touch of blueberry.  It will add a bit of Summer sunshine to the coldest winter day.

 

• Spiced:  Think of warm cinnamon or rich, creamy caramel dancing upon the deeper tones of a Brazilian coffee.  A hint of cloves will sweep you back to your childhood, or perhaps try a sprinkle of pumpkin spice to remind you of those wonderful holiday times with your family.

 

No matter what flavor or variety you choose to sample, a rich cup of coffee is sure to warm your heart and soul.  Be bold, be brave, try it all, or pick a favorite.  Whatever you decide, don’t live without a bit of coffee in your life.  It is worth the tasting, and see if it does not carry you back to a time when coffee decided the fate of mankind. 

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