Coffee has a universal language…drink me! But sometimes it can seem confusing on what coffee to choose from

The Coffee “bean” doesn’t start off as a bean, it derives from a coffee “tree” or shrub that grows a jasmine like flower before turning into a cherry, which then will “shed” to produce two seeds per cherry.

Let’s break down the two types of coffee plants that you might already know…

-Arabica: This type of coffee contains the least amount of caffeine. This type of coffee grows in mountainous regions such as Costa Rica and Jamaica.

-Robusta- This type of coffee tends to have more caffeine than Arabica beans, Unlike the Arabica bean, robusta comes with a more bitter taste. It is commonly used in instant and ground coffees to reduce price and increase self life. (Java dog doesn’t believe in this type of coffee)

Some Common Roasting Profiles that you might know are:

-Medium, City, Full City: You will find this roasting profile in most coffee houses. It has less acidity and has a full developed flavor.

-Vienna: You will have a hard time tasting the origin in this roasting profile due to it’s smokey, leathery taste.

Coffee Flavors are often described from the Aroma, the Acidity, the Body, and the Flavor (and you just thought you were just to drink it..)

-The Aroma: Before you even take your first sip what do you smell? Does it smell Earthy, Chocolatey, Nutty, and or Fruity.

-The Acidity: What is the heaviness or thickness that the coffee makes in your mouth? Is it Bright, Sharp, and or Vibrant.

-The Body: How does the coffee feel in your mouth? Does the coffee have a medium body, a heavy body, or a thin body.

-The Flavor: What is the richness, the range, the complexity, and the balance of the coffee?

Java’s Moral: With whatever type of coffee you like to drink, make sure you enjoy it with others. Remember to cuddle with your furry friend while drinking it!

We have had a lot of questions about Grinders…Which one do I choose? Here are the Cliff Notes version of some of the top sold Grinders.

First Question though…Do you want a Manual or an Electric Grinder?

A Manual Grinder (Hand Mill Grinder) is used to brew small batches of coffee, if you have limited counter space, and is used if you travel a lot. This small, compact machine makes it easy and convenient to have a perfect cup of coffee.

The Top 3 Manual Grinders that Java recommends would be:

1.  Hario Skerton Ceramic Coffee Mill (100g)    $35.00

Pros: Very Portable, Easy to Clean, a Wonderful Travel Companion, and very affordable

Cons: Takes time to change the grind settings, has a glass body…(easily breakable), and takes time to grind for coarse coffee.

**Good for French Press and Drip Coffee**

2. Handground Precision Coffee Grinder  $79.00

Pros: 15 different adjustments for grinding, a locking top so the beans don’t fly out while grinding, and the side mounted vertical handle makes it easier to grind and less strain on your arms and hands

Cons: Unsuitable for travel–a little bulky, it may be a little pricey for the causal coffee drinker, and it takes a little muscle at first to start grinding

**Good All Around Manual Grinder**

3. Zassenhaus Santiago Coffee Mill Grinder, Mahogany    $125.00

Pros: 25 year no break warranty, SOO PRETTY–made in different materials, and can grind for Turkish Coffee

Cons: Slightly Heavier than most mill grinders, Expensive, and you have to “Guess” at the grind size due to the small dial

**Great for Espresso**

Brew for thought…..When looking at a mill grinder make sure you have a comfortable grip as well as good leverage when grinding the beans. Nothing worse than hand and arm pain when you just NEED coffee.

Source Site: https://www.homegrounds.co/best-hand-coffee-grinders/

An Electric Grinder is a nice way to grind because all you have to do is plug it in and go…

The top 3 Electric Grinders are…

1. Cuisinart DBM- 8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill     $36.00-49.00 (Depending on retailer)

Pros: Very affordable, 18 different speeds to fit all specialities of coffee, and able to grind up to 18 cups of coffee

Cons: Sometimes motor seems strained during longer grind periods and tends to be a little noisier than a manual grinder

2.  Capresso Infinity Burr Grinder   $109.00-149.00 (Depends on the Retailer)

Pros: Quiet–No waking up the kiddos or dogs, Easy to use 16 different settings, and great for Drip, Espresso, Percolators, and French Press Coffee

Cons: Requires a lot of Cleaning, and Produces some static while grinding

3. Nuova Simonelli Grinta   $333.00-375.00 (Depending on Retailer)

Pros: Perfect for Dosing Espresso shots, can grind up to 8 lbs. of beans per hour, and good for commercial use

Cons: Very Pricey, Might take a little time to grind the beans, Louder than most commercial grinders

*Site Sources: http://espressogurus.com/index.php/nuova-simonelli-grinta-commercial-coffee-grinder-review/

Best Coffee Grinder: 7 Incredible Burr Grinders (2021 update)

**Java’s Tip: All Grinders, no matter which one you choose, comes with different grades. The best thing to do is figure out what is best for your family, depending on budget.**

Running Debate on which is better….A Blade Grinder or a Burr Grinder

**Java Says, “Your Grinder will be your most important purchase to a great cup of coffee”**

Here are a couple of basic differences between the two…

A Blade Grinder “chops” the beans similar to a blender. If not done correctly, could lead to an uneven grind and could create an unexpected bitter taste.

A Burr Grinder uses two abrasive surfaces called “Burrs” which revolve in opposite directions. This action creates a grind that will not fall through to the collector until it reaches your desired coffee grind.

*Java Prefers a Burr Grinder*

Stay Tuned…in our following post we will go over the Pros and Cons of Manual and Electric Grinders!

 

 

Oh Coffee, How I Love Thee.. Coffee has become a wonderful passion for Matt and I. But before the coffee passion, there was a lot of learning. My Dad, would teach us about how to perfect the perfect cup of coffee.

Here are 5 Myths that I thought was good for Coffee:

1. Grinding the full bag of coffee beforehand—My excuse was “It’s easier and more convenient”….I thought that X brand of coffee was fresh and convenient…win win….Wrong! By Grinding the coffee beforehand, it actually loses its flavor hence people get a bitter flavor.

Moral here: Fresh is Best! Grind what you need, when you need it

2. Light-Dark Roast: A Lighter Roast exudes more floral notes when drinking your coffee. It also has more Caffeine with each cup. A Darker Roast exudes less Caffeine because of the beans are less dense. Hence the bean loses about 90% of it’s water content.

Moral here: What kind of coffee do you prefer?

3. Hot Water+Coffee Grounds=Good Coffee

No Brainer Right!? Wrong, there is a science in order to make the perfect cup of coffee. Coffee should be between 195 degrees and 205 degrees, when it comes to water temperature. However, if you have gross water….your coffee is going to be gross!

Moral here: Java Dog Coffee beans+Good Water= Excellent Coffee

4. Coffee is Bitter!

Depending on freshness and the Roaster that you use. Coffee shouldn’t be bitter. Food for thought: You should be able to drink coffee at any temperature in order extract other flavors. When a Coffee cools down you should be able to taste more floral notes.

5.  Freezer Burned Coffee

Putting coffee into the freezer will help keep it fresh….

(The Coffee is Saying NOOOO!…Please don’t put me in the freezer)

That was a little dramatic…However, freezing coffee will change the structure of the coffee which cause the individual beans to crack. When you take your coffee out of the freezer and expose it to warmer air your beans will have condensation on them. Hence, will dry out the bean.

Moral here: Freezer burn coffee=Yucky Coffee

Java Believes in Fresh Coffee…made with Love!