Even in this bumpy economy, Americans are holding on tight to their coffee cups.
That’s the word from the National Coffee Association, whose latest study finds American coffee consumption holding steady in this recession. One change, though, is that we’re making and drinking more joe at home–in fact, 5 percent more than we did a year prior.
This may spell bad news for cafe owners who could see lighter traffic, but some of America’s top specialty coffee purveyors see this as an opportunity to deepen the public’s appreciation for good coffee as they teach them how to treat their home beans right.
In recent months, Caffe Pronto Coffee Roastery of Annapolis, Md., has been offering workshops that range from proper coffee brewing to the importance of coffee origin to, most recently, pairing coffee with cheese. A new Web site needcaffeine.com just launched allowing folks to order home machines as well as beans from an array of specialty roasters across the nation. And Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea’s Web site (intelligentsiacoffee.com) this month started selling home-brewing kits complete with a certificate for a brewing class.
For these purveyors of fine coffee, it’s not just about education but a point of professional pride. And it’s about ensuring that their lovingly procured and roasted beans find good homes.
“Unlike wine, our beans are not a finished product,” said Vincent Iatesta, owner of Caffe Pronto. “And so even if we do an amazing job of choosing the farmer and ensuring that it is harvested, milled, stored, transported and roasted right, we are still dependent on the consumer to prepare the coffee correctly at home. All of our hard work could go to waste if it is not brewed properly.” Iatesta and others shared their suggested steps for brewing a good cup of coffee:
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Tips for a perfect cup
1. Use fresh coffee beans. Minimize the coffee beans’ exposure to air by storing in an airtight container. Don’t store beans in the freezer; it can cause damaging condensation during the thawing process.
2. Use simple, non-electric brewing methods such as a French press or the manual makers such as Melitta and Chemex that allow you to stir the water and grounds while they are steeping for the most even extraction.
3. Splurge for a good burr grinder ($40- $600). Experts say propeller grinders produce uneven grinds. Grind the beans just before you brew.
4. Use a good scoop to measure the recommended 2 tablespoons of coffee per 6 to 8 ounces of water.
5. Don’t make coffee with water you wouldn’t drink plain. Experts often use filtered or bottled water. For manual makers, heat the water to a full boil; wait 30 seconds before pouring. Warm your coffeepot with a swish of very hot water. meng@tribune.com
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meng@tribune.com
