What is the one thing every coffee lover has in common? We all have a particular way of preparing our favorite caffeine drink. The irony here is that I only learned about this taking up a job recently at a publishing house. In the past, it was just a teaspoon of just any coffee grounds and a little splice of sugar to mask the strong taste. Pour in a few centiliters of water, and voila, my drink was ready for action.
But working in a group has given an outlook into how others choose to enjoy their coffee, and I can say for sure that Cuban coffee does have a different twist to caffeine refreshment.
It Starts from the Farms
As I stated earlier, it wasn’t until recently that the specialized care taken to make the best cuban coffee drink starts from the farm. And that is when the farmers harvest the brown beans. The Cuban farmers pay enough attention to ensure that the beans are correctly selected and check for any slight deformities that can affect the quality of the drink.
It will interest you to know that the slightest defect could go a long way to alter the taste when the bean is eventually processed for packaging. They are also careful not to allow any foreign bodies (contaminants) to make it down to the factories where the beans are grounded. Hence you get a considerable assurance about the purity of the beans when you opt for the Cuban variety.
Experts Know what’s in the Package
Remember how I stated that it wasn’t until recently I knew I was missing out on a lot of vital information about my coffee drinks. So you will understand my shock when a colleague at work asked me what my favorite coffee was. I made the mistake of mentioning Nescafe because it was what I had been used to since I was young. And now that I think of it, I didn’t have time to process the question before throwing out an answer.
“No, what I mean is Arabica or Robusta, which do you prefer?” And then I was startled because I wasn’t sure how to answer this time around. “Arabica,” I replied as it seemed like something exotic that would put me high up in the professional light I so wanted to illuminate at the time.
But it wasn’t until I headed back to my desk that I quickly went online to get abreast with the different caffeine drinks. This was after four years of whipping through every other coffee ground I could find at the store. So if you were like me, who wasn’t sure of the different options available; you want to get that sorted immediately.
And possibly try out the varieties to compare their taste, smell, and strength in the caffeine department.
The Details is in the Preparation
Another thing you should probably be aware of is the fact that there is a unique way to prepare the best cup of coffee. And the truth is that you don’t need to be a world-class barista to be able to get it done; hands down. All you need is to practice preparation to find out how best you like to enjoy yours.
And if you have any special brew you want to enjoy at your local café; it may be a good idea to learn how to prepare it yourself. You can do this by watching the expert prepare it and be polite enough to ask for guidance if you need a helping hand.
While you may choose to go entirely dark with just beans and water; many people choose to add in milk and sugar to spice things up. And while plain coffee and water would indeed taste bitter; especially if there are no added artificial sweeteners, you can expect it to pack a lot of strength.
While I like to get that strong caffeine kick with my brew; I found that adding in much sugar has a way of spiking up energy levels, even if it’s for a short while.
How you Drink It Matters Also
Okay, you may already know this, but if you aren’t sure how best to drink your cafecito; I’d like you to know that there is a Cuban style of enjoying coffee. One mistake people make is to chug on the drink like they do their glass of beer. And that is by far the worst way to go about enjoying any caffeine drink.
Experts suggest that you sip it slowly while it is hot to enjoy the health benefits associated with drinking coffee. By so doing, you get to improve your blood circulation and relax the nerves; which helps provide that brain kick that is often associated with productivity.
Rushing the drink may result in a hasty supply of caffeine that may break you down instead of firing you up. You can get help here from a french press coffee maker to make your coffee quick and also tasty too.
Shopping for Cuban Coffee
While you obviously will find many different brands of coffee in the market; the best options are usually from the North American region. And for Cuba, with over 200 years in the trade, you can be sure they have mastered the art of providing you with the best varieties. When in the market for a good supply of coffee, some of the things you want to take note of include
- Note the supply region of the beans. This could be the farm where the original product originated from before being transported to the factory.
- You also want to take note of the processing techniques.
- It is a good idea to note the strength of the caffeine level so you know how well to prepare.
- Take note of the roasting date to be sure you are not buying one that was prepared ages ago.
Final Note
When it comes to enjoying coffee, you must research the best brands available in the market. And you want to avoid the mistake of not knowing the different varieties in the market. It is also vital that you make it a must to note the properties to look out for when shopping for safe and healthy options.
