Peaberry
vs. Supermarket Coffee
It is important for us to begin by explaining
how Peaberry Coffee differs not only from supermarket coffee, but
also other "specialty" coffees.
First, there
are two species of beans: arabica and robusta. Both are grown commercially.
The supermarket coffee that can be bought (for instance, in a big
red can) is made up of robusta beans.
All Peaberry
Coffee, on the other hand, is a 100% arabica bean. And, what a wonderful
bean it is!
Grown and nutured
at elevations topping 3,000 feet, the arabica tree simply produces
the finest gourmet coffee bean. Each arabica tree produces only
about one pound of coffee a year, or about half the yield of the
robusta species.
Arabica trees
are more sensitive to disease, frost, heat and other harmful elements
than the robusta bean. The arabica bean must be loved! Because of
their special climatic needs and the fact that each tree produces
such a small yield, arabica beans are more costly than robusta beans.
That's why most commercial blends and instant coffees are made from
the robusta bean. And, that's why Peaberry only buys the finest
green arabica beans available.
So, now don't
you want to buy some great Peaberry beans to brew at home? Of course
you do. So, go do it!
Let's
brew! Believe
this: Brewing coffee at home is just as fine an art as the actual
growing and roasting process. It's true.
To begin,
start with clean brewing equipment. As you can imagine, unclean
brew baskets, reservoirs and carafes can add an unpleasant taste
to even the finest coffee. So, clean up using high-quality coffee
equipment cleaner.
Use cold,
filtered or bottled water. Coffee is 99% water, so the better
and cleaner the water, the better your coffee.
Grind your
whole bean Peaberry Coffee right before brewing.
Grinding
coffee matters. Always use the correct grind for the brewing method
you are choosing. For at home use, a medium grind is best.
Use the
right amount of coffee or about 2 tablespoons for each 6-ounce
cup. This will ensure proper taste of your fresh roasted and ground
coffee.
Give the
coffee in the pot a stir just before serving. Stirring will help
even out the coffee's flavor before serving.
Store coffee
in a thermal carafe if you're not going to drink it right
away. It is best to drink coffee within 20 minutes of brewing.
Coffee deteriorates and becomes bitter if left to "cook"
on a heat source, such as an electric drip coffee burner.
Savor your
accomplishment!
Keeping
it Fresh Wise
coffee guru say, "Great coffee not great if not fresh."
How true it
is! For maximum freshness, keep your Peaberry Coffee sealed tightly.
We recommend an airtight container stored in a cool, dark place.
Contrary to popular belief, beans should not be stored in your refrigerator
or freezer, since both will alter your coffee's distinct flavor.
Even the best
gourmet beans begin to deteriorate the minute they leave the roaster.
And, ground coffee has a shelf life of about one to ten days. The
point? Buy and drink. Don't let your coffee hang out. And,
that's why Peaberry Coffee suggests you buy whole bean coffee
and a small electric grinder. Then, buy your beans weekly and grind
right before brewing. This will provide you with the very best coffee
flavor. The flavor it was intended to have.
All
About the Right Grind Here's
a tip right off the bat: The faster the brewing method, the finer
the grind. So, as you can imagine, espresso (AKA "quick brew")
uses the finest grind and a french press (toddy style) takes the
coarsest grind.
Still confused?
Think of it this way, the finer the grind the more coffee surfaces
the water has to travel over, meaning a stronger, richer coffee
taste will be produced. Conversely, the coarser the grind, the fewer
coffee surfaces the water can travel over, thereby creating a more
watery flavor.
For home brewing,
a basic fast-touch electric grinder will work well for your automatic
drip coffee maker. Just watch the grind.
Let's
brew!