Order the coffee online at www.rocketfuelcoffee.com and let the festivities begin!
Things You'll Need:
Information on each of the coffees
Small glasses of water
Large spoons and several cups
Step 1. Decide what you are tasting for.
Comparing coffees is very much the same as comparing fine wines, brandies or cigars. Many factors are open for basis of comparison and the theme of the evening will decide the coffee source, the budget and catering of the affair. A range of Panamanian coffees will be a wonderful evening. A tasting of Kopi Luwak might be a dream come true for some if the mood is right!
Step 2. Make the best coffee and make it right.
Choose beans that are as fresh as possible and make sure they are genuine, not blends or labeled improperly. Grind properly for the process you are brewing: coarse for French Press or percolator, finer for filter dripped coffeemaker. There is no right way, just the kind you like.
Know that the four key elements to any good brewed coffee: water (filtered and hot, but not boiling), grind (matches the machine--for a coffee press grind course), proportion (usually 1 tablespoons for every 6 ounces of water), freshness (coffee beans have an expiration date--opened bags of coffee are only good for 7 days)
Step 3. Variety makes for a great tasting.
Have at least three but no more than four different types of coffees to try in one tasting. Two will not give you enough diversity to learn the differences, unless you are already an experienced coffee taster. Any more than four will muddle the tastes together, which will also make it difficult to taste the differences. However, if the idea is for everyone to go for a champagne and Kopi Luwak evening, invite me!
Step 4. Food Pairings
Choose the foods based on the types of coffee. Just like a good cup of wine, coffee pairs well with specific flavors. For example, a coffee can have citrus or berry accents to it. Pair this with a lemon tart or a blueberry muffin and the resulting flavor can amaze you. The same can occur with almonds, cinnamon or cheese depending on the specific coffee.
Display the food in bite-size pieces so it is easily available. Keep the different foods on separate plates so not to cross-contaminate flavors.
Step 5. Start the Coffee Tasting
The coffee should be brewed fresh and hot. A coffee press lasts only 20 minutes before it begins to cool and lose its potent flavor. We are using a spoon for this tasting.
Know how to properly taste coffee. Smell first; cup your hand around your nose and sample of coffee. Take a big whiff then slowly breathe out. Take a second to think about how you would describe the aroma. Words? Images?
Take a large and loud slurp of your sample of coffee. If you can't hear the slurp, you may be doing it wrong. Slurping coats the coffee across your entire tongue without burning it. Don't swallow the coffee yet. Take a second and let it sit on your tongue. Each part of the tongue picks up a different type of flavor. Note how it feels on the back, front, sides and tip of your tongue.
Swallow. Take note of the flavors that hit your senses. This includes the after flavor of the coffee. Some coffees hit your tongue with a sharp, strong flavor, but leave your mouth quickly as if you were just drinking water. Others coffees seem to linger in your mouth long after you swallow, pleasantly or bitterly.
Pair the coffee sample with food. Note the flavor of the food by itself. Swallow. Take a second bite of food. Before swallowing, slurp a sample of coffee like before and hold it in your mouth. If the pairing is complimentary, the flavor with literally come alive in your mouth and shock your senses.
Rinse your mouth with water and repeat the steps above with the different coffees. Your guests should have a great evening!
Posts
