Tasting kit of coffees from around the world

The tasting kit includes:
Kenya Marumi 100g
Ethiopia Sidamo 100g
Brazil santos
SWD Colombia Excelso decaf 100g
Colombia Supremo 100g
Nicaragua Maragogype 100g
Guatemala Antigua 100g
El Salvador 100g
Dominica Republic Barahona 100g
India Plantation Bababudangiri 100g

Coffee beans are allergen free and suitable for vegans.
The best coffee comes from freshly roasted and ground coffee beans.
Best before: 1 year.
*Packaging may vary from the picture.

Grinding tip

Do not grind more beans at one time than it takes to make coffee immediately. Ground coffee allows air to escape to the oils that give the aroma. As they evaporate, so does the coffee aroma. As a result, the coffee starts to lose its flavour almost immediately after grinding. Different coffee-making methods require different grinding. Coffee that is brewed by steeping must be ground to a granulated sugar-like consistency. The entire steeping process should take between four and six minutes. If the coffee has percolated faster than four minutes, the beans should be ground a little finer. If the drainage takes longer than six minutes, the grind should be left a little grainier. Espresso requires a particularly fine grind; the coffee should be almost like a powder and gently sieved. The secret of a good espresso grind is the time it takes to mature. About 30g of espresso should be ready in about 25 to 30 seconds. As with drip coffee, the beans must be ground finer if the espresso is to be ready in less than 25 seconds. If it takes longer than 30 seconds to brew, the beans should be left coarser when grinding.

Advice on storage

It is not advisable to store coffee in the fridge, as it will pick up the aroma and flavour of other foods in the fridge. If the coffee beans are packed in a refillable container specially designed for storage, with a one-way valve to vent accumulated gas and avoid contact with oxygen, this container can be used successfully at home without having to decant the coffee. However, if the coffee beans are without reclosable packaging, the packaging should be sealed with a staple and stored in a dry and cool place, away from the sun and strong aromas. Such packaging can be placed in an airtight container, or the beans can be decanted into an opaque container. In summary, coffee should be stored in a clean, dry, airtight container in a cool, dark place.

Advice on using a press pot

When using a press pot to make coffee, the beans should be left coarse when grinding. If the coffee grounds are too fine, the bitter and astringent flavours will come out too quickly. The brew should be allowed to cool to around 94-95 degrees before pouring into the pot, at which point it will not spoil the flavour by scorching the grounds. In one mug of about 300 ml, 7-8 g of coffee grounds could be added. Keeping the coffee grounds in the water for a longer period of time will make the coffee more bitter and astringent and the higher the caffeine content of the drink. Depending on the desired flavour strength, the ‘infusion’ time of the coffee could be 3-5 minutes.

The press pot can also be used successfully for making coffee drinks with milk. The desired amount of milk should be heated until it is hot enough that you can’t stick your finger in. Make sure that the milk does not boil. Next, pour the milk into a clean and empty squeezing jug and move the squeezing jug up and down for a few minutes. This will produce a froth of milk that can be used to make cappuccino and latte coffee.

Tips for making moka coffee

Use a filter specifically designed for your coffee filter basket. Bleached white paper filters are the most common, but brown paper filters are also available. Washable, environmentally friendly wire mesh filters are also suitable.

Making espresso

If you’re planning to buy a coffee machine for your home, opt for one with a pump that pumps water through the coffee. Avoid steam-driven machines. A decent machine with a pump will cost from several hundred to several thousand euros, but if you want to enjoy a delicious espresso, it’s well worth the investment. For the coffee lover on a budget, we recommend a moka pot.