Coffee is both a personal and a mood thing and many are the right ways to brew it - as long as the finished brew is enjoyable. Being told that they had a great selection of delectable coffees, we went to Espresso Drive in MGF Metropolis Mall on MG Road, Gurgaon ( INDIA ) – easily accessed by all in Gurgaon – to check them out. Once there, it proved difficult to stop at one. After imbibing a few, we ended up asking obviously expert our hosts, for brewing tips. This is what they shared:
Ensure that your equipment — from bean grinders and filters to coffee makers — are thoroughly cleaned after each use. Rinse with clear, hot water and dry with an absorbent towel. Grounds should never be left to collect because build-ups of coffee oil (caffeol) make coffee taste rancid.
Great coffee starts with great beans. Regardless of country or region of origin, whether arabica, robusta - or a blend; it is bean quality that matters.
For longer life, Coffee Beans are stored in green state with none of the features s of roasted ones, being soft and spongy to the bite and smelling grassy. Roasting brings out the aroma and flavor that is locked inside through chemical changes. At the right temperature they release the smell of coffee, are crunchy to bite, ready to be ground and brewed. Once roasted, however, they should be used as quickly as possible otherwise the fresh roast flavor will be lost. It is best to buy coffee freshly roasted, so buy your coffee in small amounts.
This is why packaged (instant) coffee never seems to have the flavour of the roasted ground ones. Authentic coffee houses such as Espresso Drive always grind their beans as close to brew time as possible; using burr or mill grinders to ensure consistent size; they never use blade grinders. Coffee that is ground too fine is “over-extracted” and will taste bitter while coffee ground too coarse is “under-extracted” and will taste flat.
While Espresso Drive use filtered, bottled water; tap water is fine for homes as long as it’s devoid of odour or taste. Let it run a few seconds before filling coffee pots. It should be cold water and avoid distilled or softened water. Coffee-to-Water “Golden” Ratio: Use one to two tablespoons of ground coffee for every 200 ml of water. Adjust to suit taste.
Water temperature between 195 to 205°F s Fahrenheit gives optimal extraction. Cooler water will result in flat, under-extracted coffee; hotter water will destroy aroma and flavor.
To know more about the finer points of making the beverage - French Press; Flat or Cone Drip filters; Gold Mesh filters et al.; coffee-lovers in Gurgaon and Ludhiana can treat themselves to some of the best coffee, just by taking a trip to Espresso Drive;
Experience Center ( Coffee Shop) : 63, MGF Metropolis Mall, M G Road, Gurgaon – 122001
You can contact them at Gurgaon on (0124) 4144132; 99991 24978 and 92163 21775. Web id : www.espressodrive.com
