A Coffee Tutorial

By Daniel Miessler on March 2nd, 2009: Tagged as Coffee | Geek

coffee_primer

[ This resource is still available, but is now located at its permanent home at:

>> danielmiessler.com/study/coffee/

You will be redirected shortly; please update any references. Thank you.]

  • Maxo

    http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/2…
    You should listen to the above show on Science Friday about shade grown coffee. It is very interesting. i haven't listened to the following ones, but they are also Science Friday shows where coffee is discussed:
    http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/2…
    http://www.sciencefriday.com/pages/1996/Feb/hou…

  • CarlM

    Daniel, you should go to the roaster in Americus (http://www.cafecampesino.com/).

    I went to an open house there where they talked about their process and I was particularly intrigued by the way they do the decaffeination of their de-caf products. It's a cool process and is partially described here: http://www.cafecampesino.com/decaf_and_half_caf…

  • http://www.goodkarmainn.com Rick

    Ummm, good… I think I'll have a cup right now. Great article.

  • Brian

    This is awesome! I love coffee (americano style, with lots of ice) and have grown to appreciate (if one can use that term) stronger brews over the past few years. I used to drink it with lots of cream and sugar and now I couldn't dream of adding anything to a cup of dark roast. You should recommend some gear at Amazon (create a List or whatever using your affiliate code) so us n00bs can get the right stuff. I use a percolator now for regular coffee and I like that method of brewing over the standard 'glass carraffe' style.

  • dylan

    I have to mention my favorite, which is the “black-eyed susie”. It involves two shots of espresso poured in a regular cup of coffee. The effects are similar to crystal meth.

  • http://brooksgarrett.com brooksgarrett

    So when can I expect a beer primer?

  • http://dmiessler.com/ Daniel Miessler

    It might be a while, but I'll get there.

  • icepyro

    The Discovery channel has a show called How Stuff Works (based on the website) which did an episode about coffee. Most of what you just explained was mentioned.
    As for the other article asking about brands, my uncle swears by Eight O'clock which he grinds himself and even stores the package in the freezer to help preserve freshness. I must say it's better than most nationally distributed brands, but I personally try to stick to local roasters for even fresher coffee. (The rest of my family somehow manages to get maxwell house black down their throats so they don't count imho). If I get if resh enough and ground it soon enough, it means I can enjoy espresso, altho usually I prefer a cafe breve (cappuccino made with half-n-half instead of milk).

  • Dustin

    Great article Dan. The statement about burr vs. blade grinders was incorrect. The difference between burr grinders and blade grinders in simple terms is that burr grinders are just better than blade grinders; “conical” burr grinders being the best of the bunch with a price tag to match.

    Blade grinders are just a spinning blade that creates randomly misshapen bean fragments which can result in a bitter brew. On the other hand burr grinders actually pass the bean through a burr of a thickness you set before grinding according to the desired grind size. I have a $60 burr grinder and my results are close to perfection every time.

    Regarding roast types: When something has a distinct flavor or aroma based on origin, it is a “varietal”. We know that we cannot brew un-roasted coffee beans but the more you roast the been the less you are tasting its flavor of origin and the more you are simply tasting the roast. Just like bread, the line between a fine slice of sourdough and Wonder bread begins to dim the more you toast them.

    Certain coffee applications (like the aforementioned espresso and espresso based drinks) pretty much require the extra sweetness of a dark roast but many people seem to think dark = better for any coffee application. This in my experience is wrong. So the next time you find yourself at your local coffee shop, buy a half pound of a good light roast like the Ethiopian. You might be pleasantly surprised.

  • http://dmiessler.com/ Daniel Miessler

    Thanks, Dustin. I'll update the piece about the grinders.

  • Hugh G. Rection

    >> Brazil is the world’s leading producer of coffee, not Columbia.

    I think you mean Colombia.

  • http://www.alanbrookland.com Alan Brookland

    Interesting article, but I am having to resist the temptation to add [citation needed] against your claim that the widely accepted best way to brew coffee is a french press! Espresso all the way!

    Coffee is also better if it's roasted fairly soon before brewing – say about a day before for espresso. Green beans can be kept for much longer than roasted ones too.

  • jbenson2

    I prefer my coffee from the Aerobie Coffee Press.

    It is similar to a French Press, but does not use a metal filter which can easily clog.
    http://www.aerobie.com/Products/aeropress_story…

  • Barista-Norvigia

    Great article! I'm a student in Norway and loooooooooove my coffee (very mutual relationship)! Being able to know a little more about it makes me feel much more “capable” of drinking and brewing my coffee. Cheers mate!

  • Cat

    Is COLOMBIA not COLUMBIA!!

  • http://dmiessler.com/ Daniel Miessler

    Fixed.

  • http://dmiessler.com/ Daniel Miessler

    Fixed.

  • brad

    In case you didn't know, I am a big coffee fan. We have a coffee roaster just up the street from my office. I always enjoy walking up there and grabbing some fresh roasted coffee and a cup for the road.

    I have recently turned away from Starbucks because of the attitude. I was actually told that I could not have a latte macchiato as they do not exist. I could have a macchiato or a latte, however. Anyway, next time I know that I will see you, I'll grab you a pound of coffee from the roaster here.

  • http://www.saxongifts.com German Coffee

    That is a great primer. I enjoy my French press. It a more green way to brew coffee – no paper filters.

    My next step is a micro roaster. I bet my house would smell like coffee for day. I can hear my wife complaining now.

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  • max191

    It seems that you are maintaining a steady blogging pace. Well done! Looking for more updates from your end. Thanks a lot!
    regards
    charcoal grill

  • Name

    Should you ever get the chance, you should try the Oaxacan sugar roasted coffee. Roasted with extra sugar on it and it has “legs” like wine. Its very messy to make so most roasters won't do it but in Oaxaca they do.

  • http://www.burr-coffee-grinder.com/ Burr coffee grinders

    A regular coffee grinder is fine if you are using it to grind coffee for your regular drip style coffee maker, but that's about as far as it goes. If you want espresso or Turkish coffee, a regular grinder can't grind finely or evenly enough to get the results you need.

  • http://www.burr-grinder.net/ Burr grinder

    The first step in making that coffee house style is brew found in the perfect coffee bean.

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  • http://www.boutiquehairbows.net/ Boutique Hair Bows

    I like to drink coffee, i drink coffee everyone when im work at the office

  • http://www.bestpressurecookerreviews.com/ Ann of Pressure Cooker Reviews

    Nothing smells better than a freshly ground coffee beans….

  • http://www.flowerhairaccessories.net/ Flower Hair Accessories

    I am the one whom everyone whom known me call that Coffe holic. ” I m the Coffee Lover”

  • http://thermalcupcoffeemaker.com/ mosuskkel

    In very little time and with very little money, you can turn green, raw, unroasted coffee beans into the best-tasting cup of gourmet coffee or espresso

  • http://www.dominicanhairproducts.net/ Dominican Hair Products

    There is great similarity between the concept of roasting coffee beans and cooking fine steaks.

  • http://coffeeofthemonthclub.net/ Coffee Clubs

    I suggest that you should add coffee that is made from the waste of civet. That type of coffee is the most expensive coffee nowadays.

  • http://bestcoffeeclubs.com/blog/ Coffee of the Month Clubs

    I agree. Fresh ground coffee beans has a very good aroma making you feel better when you smell it.

  • http://www.hevlacoffeeco.com/ Low Acid Coffee

    But that will be depend if you are professional on roasting coffee beans.

  • Coffee lover

    Don't forget about the Aeropress!! Delicious!

  • Hector

    Great info, just to clarify; Colombian coffee comes from Colombia which is a South American country and not from Columbia.

  • Hector

    Great info, just to clarify; Colombian coffee comes from Colombia which is a South American country and not from Columbia.

  • http://www.nutrigro.co.uk/ Natural Hair Loss Products

    Nice information. Its usefulness and significance is overwhelming the way you covered all the basic necessary information is really impressive, good work keep it up.
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  • http://www.aboutcoffees.com/ K Cups

    Nicely summarized.

  • http://www.koffietmolentje.be Laurent

    Thanks for all the valuable coffee information! Always nice to learn some new things..

  • http://twitter.com/yours_Phaedrus Phaedrus

    Really nice, densely packed crash course. Thanks!

  • http://cheapkcupscoffee.net/ K Cup Coffee

    Great information excellent share. thank you so much

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  • Yasmina

    Love this article but could you please correct the spelling for my dear country of Colombia?


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