What I would do for a good cup of coffee

BY: SIMONE JENNIFER SMITH 

Welcome back Toronto!

I write from a place of appreciation this week. I have received so much feedback in the last few weeks on my articles that I am overwhelmed, yet grateful. All critique is great critique when it is offered constructively. I thank you all for that.

So, what do I have for you this week? Today, I am going to share some information that was shared with me about a very important part of many of our mornings; our first cup of coffee.

So, the first thing that I am going to say to you right now is, forget about everything you have learned, or thought you knew about coffee because it is probably wrong. I will start with a fact; did you know that Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is consistently the highest priced coffee in the world? This is important because the information that I provide is based off a tour that I took at the Craighton Estate located on Newcastle Road in Irish Town.

Coffee arrived in Jamaica in the early 18^th century. When coffee arrived, it flourished because of the cool, misty climate of the Blue Mountain that rises up just behind Kingston. In the early 19^th century, coffee production was at about 20 million pounds. It has reduced significantly, but it does not take away from the fact that Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is seen as the world’s best coffee.

How did coffee get to Jamaica?

In 1723, King Louis XV sent three coffee plants to the French colony of Martinique, which is another lush and fertile island located just 1,900 kilometers south-west of Jamaica. In 1728, Sir Nicholas Lawes, Governor of Jamaica at the time received a gift of one coffee plant from the Governor of Martinique, and it was at that point, Jamaica became the home to the best coffee beans.

To actually be called Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, it must be grown at altitudes of up to 1,800 meters above sea level. The parishes of Portland, St. Andrew, St. Mary, and St. Thomas comprise an area of some 6,000 hectares of growing land. The only coffee that can be called Jamaican Blue Mountain is coffee grown within the eastern part of the island.

How do you know you have a good cup of coffee?

A good Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee exhibits certain characteristics when it is brewed:

• A clean taste with virtually no bitterness; you should be able to drink a cup without adding cream and sugar.
• Bold aroma with subtle floral notes and sweet herbal and nutty overtones.
• The coffee is so sweet it verges on creamy, and there are tones of chocolate that smooth out the taste.
• In actuality, a medium-dark roast or medium roast is recommended; it will free the bean’s flavors and fragrances without losing the best qualities. (Sorry dark roast lovers)

How to properly brew a pot of coffee

This part may have you get in your feelings a little bit. Unfortunately, you might have been screwing up your coffee for years, thinking you knew how to brew good coffee. Hush! Let me help you correct this, and then you can try it again. Third time is the charm.

• A cup of coffee is 98% water, so start with the very best. Purified or spring water is recommended.

• Water should be between 196 and 198 degrees fahrenheit. Any hotter and it will burn the beans; too cold and the flavor of the beans won’t be fully extracted. No thermometer? Just bring the water to a boil, turn it down, wait a minute to two, and it should be just right. (Stop serving scalding hot coffee)

• Grind the beans immediately before brewing. Grinding releases the flavors and aromas of the coffee, so the longer the gap between grinding and brewing.

• Grind according to the brewing method: coarser for a french press, for example, and finer for espresso.

• Use a kettle with a gooseneck-shaped spout, which will release the water in an even stream when you pour. The pour-over method is simply that: pouring water over the beans, which then percolates through a filter into a vessel below.

• Pour the water more slowly for an intensely flavored cup, or more quickly for a lighter sip. Enjoy immediately.

Quick coffee facts

• It has been claimed that coffee is second to oil in terms of world commodity trading and that it provides employment for around 20 million people!
• The name coffee is said to derive from the Arabic “qahwah.” There is also said to be a connection with the province Kaffa, in Ethiopia.
• The coffee tree is indigenous to Ethiopia, not Arabia as many tend to think.

If you are interested in more information on Coffee Tours in Jamaica visit www.visitjamaica.com

See you next time, and happy brewing!