Coffee beans and ground coffee: the change in taste
Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and its taste changes from the processing of coffee beans and coffee powder. From unroasted green beans to ground into a fine powder, each stage has a significant impact on the final taste.
1. Green beans: original flavor
Green beans refer to the fruits picked directly from the coffee tree without any processing or treatment. These fruits usually have a herbal, nutty or fruity aroma, but there is no special aroma that is obviously specific to "coffee".
At this stage, the green beans have not yet released most of the substances they contain, and they need to be processed to reach an edible state. Therefore, the way they are grown and picked in different regions will also affect the final taste.
2. Baking: releasing aroma and adjusting flavor
Roasting green beans is the key step to make them drinkable coffee. During the roasting process, the moisture inside the beans is evaporated and a series of chemical reactions occur.
Roasting time and temperature have an important impact on the taste of coffee beans. Lighter roasting will retain more original flavors, with obvious acidity and fruity aromas; while darker roasting will make the coffee more bitter, rich, and release a special smell called "burnt aroma".
3. Grinding: fine and uniform
Grinding the roasted coffee beans is the last step in making coffee powder. This process can adjust the size of the powder according to different needs, thereby affecting the taste of the extracted coffee.
Fineness and uniformity are very important factors in determining the final taste. If the powder is too fine or uneven, it may lead to long or insufficient extraction time, resulting in bitterness or blandness.
4. Extraction: The Ultimate Transformation of Flavor
The final step is to brew the ground coffee powder with water and extract the coffee liquid. In this process, factors such as water temperature, brewing time and pressure will affect the final taste.
If the water temperature is too high or the brewing time is too long, it may cause a bitter or burnt taste; if the water temperature is too low or the brewing time is insufficient, the coffee may taste bland.
in conclusion
From green beans to ground powder to extracted coffee liquid, each stage has an important impact on the final taste. Choosing the right type and quality beans, and mastering the roasting, grinding and extraction techniques are the key to making a delicious cup of coffee.
Whether you like a strong acidity, a strong fruity aroma, or a bitter and astringent taste, you can get a satisfactory taste by adjusting each step of the processing process. So, if you are a coffee lover, you might as well try different processing methods to discover your own unique taste.