What Determines The Overall Flavor Of Coffee Blends?

Where coffee beans are grown as well as the roasting process determine the distinct flavor and aroma of a cup of coffee. Coffee blends are found most often in restaurants and in your local grocery markets, but can greatly vary with types of coffee beans used.

What makes one cup of java different from another? Is it the beans, coarseness of the grounds, or roasting process or a combination of these? It is a combination as well as single origin coffee and coffee blends.

If you like a robust cup of coffee in the morning to get your energy level at its peak level, you’re more than likely sipping a blend of coffee beans in your mug. Coffee blends are a combination of two or three types coffee that are blended together to enhance the flavor. Most commercial and store bought coffee is a blend of two types of coffee beans to make it more cost effective for the consumer. Although some small roasters prefer not to blend coffee, it does offer many variances of flavor for the coffee drinker if coffee beans are combined.

What Types Of Coffee Are Combined To Create A Popular Or Unique Blend?

Really, any type of coffee can be combined with another, even espresso. However, blends usually contain one full bodied coffee and one contrasting roast. One example is Mocha Java, which combines the popular Yemen Mocha with a Java or Sumatra bean. This coffee blend relates to the combination of beans only, rather than adding chocolate flavoring or syrup to a cup of coffee.
Other coffee combination names include the time of day it is consumed such as Breakfast blend which combines two medium bodied coffee roasts, geographical places including Costa Rican blend, and specialty blends derived from coffee roaster owners.

Does Roasting Or Origin Of The Coffee Bean Determine The Coffee Blend’s Flavor?

Where coffee beans are grown as well as the roasting process determine the distinct flavor and aroma of a cup of coffee. The roasting process allows the fats, starches and sugars to be released which ultimately create the coffee’s fine oil. The oil distinguishes one coffee from being light or medium bodied to a dark, full bodied aromatic taste. However, the location of the bean is also an important factor regarding taste and aroma. Beans from Africa, Indonesia, India, Ethiopia or even Costa Rica will determine quality as well as taste whether it is used alone or within a blend.

Coffee blend flavors also vary with the type of roast. For example, a dark roast has a more potent flavor than a lighter roast. The acidity level is also a factor in coffee blends that are found in lighter roasts. Thus a light roast can be mixed with a dark roast to offset the hearty flavor that dark roasts embody.

Different roasters have varying opinions on blending coffee before or after roasting depending on the roasting process and desired flavor. However, it is best to do some experimenting and tasting to determine the desired flavor whether it’s for new blend or a house blend.

What Is A House Blend?

House blends are usually a blend of coffee that is particular to a roaster, restaurant or coffee house. It is dependent on the owner or barista, what coffee types are mixed to create a unique blend of coffee. These types of blends vary from one place to another, but roasters and coffee houses will usually sell these blends for you to take home. If you’re curious, ask your barista or server what type of coffee combination is in their blend.

Common Types Of Coffee Beans:

There are more than 6,000 coffee variations and 25 types of coffee beans. The 3 primary types of beans are Arabica, Kona and Robusta, but according to CoffeeResearch.org, Arabica and Robusta are the most well known coffee beans grown worldwide. Kona is grown mainly in Hawaii, and only accounts for less than 10 percent of the coffee produced worldwide. Arabica is the most desired type of bean, but is also the most expensive coffee as a single-origin bean. Arabica is most often blended with Kona and Robusta coffee for a flavorful and rich coffee experience.

So, now that you have a working knowledge of coffee, you are ready to do your own experimenting with coffee blends. Look for coffee that does contain Arabica coffee combined with other coffee from around the world as well as the level of roasting. Use good coffee maker such as DeLonghi EC155 to make a perfect cup.  Sip coffee before you add sugar or cream to differentiate the taste between types of blends.