Can Italian coffee beans be hand brewed?

The ability of hand-poured Italian coffee beans

Italian coffee beans are specially roasted and ground coffee beans, usually used to make strong Italian coffee. However, many people may be curious whether this special coffee bean is suitable for hand pouring. This article will explore the performance of Italian coffee beans in hand pouring.

1. Raw materials and processes

First, we need to understand the raw materials and processes used in Italian coffee beans and hand brewing. Italian coffee usually uses deeply roasted Arabica or Robusta varieties. This can produce a rich, full-bodied taste with bitter and chocolate flavors.

Hand brewing relies on fine grinding, appropriate temperature and time control to extract different flavor characteristics such as rich taste layers, clearer and brighter, lighter and smoother, and even floral and fruity.

2. Grinding degree and water temperature

Hand-brewed coffee requires grinding coffee beans to a suitable coarseness so that water can fully soak and extract the flavor of coffee in a certain period of time. For Italian coffee beans, they are usually ground into a finer powder, which is suitable for making espresso in espresso machines.

However, using such a fine powder in a pour-over may result in over-extraction and a bitter taste. Therefore, when using espresso beans in a pour-over, we recommend using a slightly larger grind size to ensure better contact between the water and the beans and avoid over-extraction.

In addition, water temperature is also an important factor affecting the results of hand brewing. For Italian coffee, due to its special properties and deep roasting degree, the water temperature can be slightly lowered during hand brewing to reduce undesirable flavors such as bitterness and burnt aroma.

3. Extraction time and ratio

It is also very important to control the extraction time and ratio in hand brewing. Italian coffee usually uses a smaller amount of coffee powder and a shorter extraction time to make espresso. Hand brewing requires a longer extraction time and an appropriate ratio to achieve the ideal taste.

Therefore, when using espresso beans in hand brewing, we recommend increasing the grind size to extend the extraction time, and adjusting the appropriate water to bean ratio according to personal taste to obtain a better hand brewing experience.

4. Taste characteristics

Finally, let’s take a look at the flavor characteristics that Italian coffee beans can bring in hand brewing. Although Italian coffee beans are usually used to make strong, full-bodied espresso with a prominent bitter taste, they can also show different flavor levels in hand brewing.

By adjusting parameters such as grinding size, water temperature and extraction time, you can try to extract more floral, fruity or other fresh and bright flavors from espresso beans. This change and innovation of traditional styles is the unique and popular part of hand pouring.

in conclusion

Although espresso beans are mainly used to make espresso in espresso machines, they can also bring out different flavor characteristics in hand brewing. By adjusting parameters such as grind size, water temperature and extraction time, you can try to extract more rich and diverse tastes and flavors from espresso beans.

Therefore, if you like hand-brewed coffee and are interested in trying different flavors, you might as well try using Italian coffee beans for hand-brewed coffee. I believe you will find that this innovative combination can bring a surprising taste experience.