Archive for September 29th, 2009
Back in my younger days, I wasn’t exactly the most sophisticated coffee drinker on the planet. I would happily settle for some instant, freeze-dried coffee, thinking nothing of stirring it together with some cream and sugar. Sure, this mixture left a lot to be desired in the flavor department, but to me coffee was all about the energizing effect. I cared about the destination – a refreshed, energized state of mind – but not so much about the journey.
Then, when I got married a few years ago, my entire coffee-related frame of mind changed for the better. My wife is a true morning beverage aficionado, and she clued me in about the world of gourmet coffee blends. As it turns out, coffee makers can act as tickets to a whole new part of the globe. The coffee beans grown in Africa and Arabia are picked in their prime at a low altitude.
In Central and South America, coffee is cultivated high in the mountains under suitable rainforest conditions. The resulting product is as aromatic and complex a brew as you’ll find anywhere. And who could forget the Pacific – exotic blends from the islands of Sumatra, Java and New Guinea are among the most flavorful. I haven’t tried Hawaiian coffee yet, but I really can’t wait.