What is Gourmet Flavored Coffee?

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Gourmet coffees of the world come from a species called Coffea Arabica, more commonly known as Arabica coffee.  Arabica coffee has a richer, superior taste to Robusta coffee and is served in coffee houses and cafes.  Robusta coffee is easier to produce, therefore cheaper and more widely consumed, however true coffee connoisseurs would never drink a cup of Robusta coffee.

The Arabica coffee plants come from many parts of the world, and 75% of all the coffee grown worldwide is Arabica. The best tasting coffee is grown at high altitudes, in volcanic soil.  The coffee “cherry” matures more slowly at higher altitudes and this allows the coffee bean to mature more slowly.  The beans are hand-picked only when perfectly ripe and then processed and roasted to produce a variety of distinctive flavors.  Coffees from different countries have different acidities, tastes and qualities.  Try different blends and brands to find personal favorites.

Gourmet flavored coffee beans are usually shipped from their country of origin while still green and roasted when they arrive at a roastery or the retailer.  Roasted beans taste best right after roasting, but keeping the coffee in a cool place and using bags that close snugly will help prolong the taste of the coffee.  For the best flavor don’t buy more than can be drunk in short amount of time.  It is possible to roast coffee beans at home for an even fresher blend, but this is a tricky venture with a variety of outcomes, not all of which are pleasing.  For gourmet coffee blends, each variety of bean is roasted separately, then mixed at the time of packaging or, if purchased separately, by the consumer at the time of blending.

Some gourmet coffees are considered gourmet simply because of their natural taste, while others have had flavors added to them.  There are hundreds of flavors that have been added to Arabica coffees to give them a little twist, among them:  Almond, Café Parisian and Praline Royale.  Coffee houses around the world have unique specialty flavors that come from the region.  Gourmet coffees come in regular and decaffeinated, although the Arabica bean contains only half the caffeine of the Robusta bean.

The many varieties, roasts and blends of Arabica coffee mean that there is something to please everyone.  Whether enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee in the evening, or your morning pick-me-up, Arabica coffee will satisfy even the most discerning of coffee drinkers.