So, how do you choose your next coffee? The simple answer is with Limited Coffee if you ask me, but there are still five categories to pick from, so let’s talk about the process of narrowing down which is best for you!
If you’re specifically looking for a yeast-inoculated, fully washed and dry fermented coffee, you probably don’t really need my help! But when you're not sure what it is you like, it can be a minefield out there. Worry not though, we’re here to help.
This is kind of why we started Limited Coffee, we have a burning desire to make coffee discovery easier for everyone; there's so much great coffee out there, that it can feel a bit overwhelming! There are a few things to look out for though, that can make choosing that little bit easier.
Taste is subjective, but in general the way coffee is described should help you pick apart whether it's for you or not. Don’t worry if you can’t taste jasmine or golden kiwi, it doesn’t have to be that deep. That said, here are some of the descriptors that are used across the board, to give you a more general idea of what to expect.
Body
This is essentially how it feels in your mouth, or mouthfeel. Is it big and bold, does it coat the inside your mouth, is it lighter and more tea-like?
Acidity
Just to be clear, this is as flavour, as opposed to pH. How does the flavour present? Does it have a crisp acidity like a green apple? Is it a rounder, sweeter acidity like oranges? Coffees that have a brighter acidity, tend to be slightly lighter in body.
Aroma
Quite simply, how does it smell? It doesn't always smell the same as it tastes, but it can give you a good idea of what to expect. You'll often hear words like floral, sweet or nutty.
So what do you normally find where? Here is a very simplified cheat sheet, that should give you a starter for ten.
Natural:
More body, less acidity. Can be quite fruity, often makes for great espresso.
Washed:
Less body, more acidity. More tea like, brighter and crisp. Great for filter coffee.
Espresso:
This one’s straight forward right. If you make espresso, you’ll have a great time with this. Normally bigger bodied coffees, sometimes a blend.
Decaf:
If you’re not into caffeine, that’s cool. This can be washed, natural or anything in between. I’ll try to give you a heads up of exactly what to expect here.
Fancy:
This can also be any process method. It tends to be something more funky or juicy, we like to find interesting coffees for this spot.
Obviously that’s a pretty high level overview and not every coffee conforms like this, but I hope this gives you the confidence when making your next pick from home, be it from Limited Coffee or otherwise. Of course, if you want a more personal recommendation, we love to chat, just drop us a DM on Instagram and we’ll hook you up ✌🏼
