| Who doesn't love solving a good mystery? Is the | | | | unmatchable aroma. Starting with premium beans |
| Loch Ness monster real? Who built Stonehenge? | | | | such as Arabica, you'll want to smell for the type |
| Does Big Foot really exist? What is the world's | | | | of roast that fills your fancy. Popular roasts such |
| best coffee? While you may need to be an | | | | as French, Italian, or American will give you a |
| expert to solve the first three, no advanced | | | | variety of coffees from mellow to bold. When |
| degree or special knowledge is required to unravel | | | | you've sampled coffees that use premium beans |
| one of the greatest mysteries of the 21st | | | | and a variety of roasting techniques, you'll begin |
| century: What is the world's best coffee?All you | | | | to start zeroing in on the world's best coffee and |
| need to solve this caffeinated mystery is equip | | | | discovering what type of roast is your personal |
| yourself with the right information. And, thanks to | | | | favorite, too.What To Look ForAs with any great |
| the Internet, finding the information for your | | | | mystery, it's important to know what you're |
| coffee trekking adventure is as easy as the click | | | | looking for. If you were tracking Big Foot, you'd |
| of a button. If you're ready, grab your favorite | | | | look for footprints. But, what do you look for |
| coffee mug and join me as we head out to | | | | when you're trying to find the world's greatest |
| discover how you can find the world's best | | | | coffee? That's a great question. Here are some |
| coffee.Learn How To Speak The LanguageBefore | | | | key things to look for when choosing the ultimate |
| you embark on your journey to find the world's | | | | cup.Ask expertsFind a gourmet coffee shop |
| best coffee, you'll want to brush up on your | | | | where the baristas really know their coffee. Ask |
| coffee lingo. If you head out into the great | | | | about roasting styles, types of beans, flavors of |
| unknown of Coffeeland and don't have a good | | | | coffee. Be sure to taste test any coffees before |
| grasp on the language, all of your searching will be | | | | buying! Go freshThe quality of coffee deteriorates |
| for nothing. Learn the language and you'll | | | | rapidly after being roasted. In addition, the flavor |
| understand what to look for in your coffee. A | | | | weakens considerably as time passes after |
| few important terms include:AcidityThe acidity of | | | | grinding. Look for freshly roasted coffee. Don't be |
| a coffee determines how "sharp" it'll taste. More | | | | afraid to ask your coffee shop experts when, |
| acidity tends toward a bold coffee. Less acidity | | | | how, and where the beans have been roasted. If |
| tends toward a milder cup.BodyLike a wine, when | | | | they don't know, it's not a good sign that the |
| talking about a coffee's body, you'll be referring to | | | | beans are fresh-so shop elsewhere. If you're |
| its "texture." You're likely to find terms such as | | | | shopping in your market, check to see if the |
| heavy, light, and syrupy to describe a coffee's | | | | coffee has a "roasted on" date printed on the |
| body.FlavorMuch like a wine's bouquet, flavor | | | | bag. Whatever you do, you're always looking for |
| refers to your overall sensory experience of the | | | | the freshest you can find. Fresh is best!Make It |
| coffee. Terms you might hear a coffee | | | | Au NaturalLook for all-natural ingredients in your |
| connoisseur use include floral, nutty, smoky, spicy, | | | | coffees. Finding organically-grown, sustainable |
| and winy.X Marks The SpotWhether you're finding | | | | coffee crops are a great place to start. In |
| buried treasure or the location of the world's | | | | addition, when choosing flavored coffees, be sure |
| greatest coffees, you'll need to discover where | | | | the flavoring is natural and not a chemical. Not |
| the x marks the spot. Coffee is grown in various | | | | only do the natural flavors taste better (like nuts, |
| regions around the world, including such differing | | | | cinnamon, and chocolate), they're sure to make |
| locales as South America, Africa, and Indonesia.To | | | | you feel better about your choice, too.Know |
| unravel the mystery of the world's greatest | | | | ThyselfThe most important thing to know when |
| coffee, you'll need to learn the about the | | | | searching for the world's greatest coffee is |
| distinctive characteristics based on where and | | | | yourself. That's right; the answer to the mystery |
| how it is grown. For example, coffee from | | | | of the world's greatest coffee doesn't come from |
| Colombia is typically rich while coffees from | | | | some connoisseur or from some ancient book of |
| Kenya often have a mildly sweet-tart flavor and | | | | coffee lore. No, the solution to the timeless |
| coffees from Sumatra coffee are full-bodied and | | | | mystery of great coffee comes simply down to |
| contain low acidity. Learning which regions produce | | | | what you prefer. If you arm yourself and your |
| the best coffees suited to your tastes is an | | | | taste buds with the right information and know |
| important first step on solving the mystery. How | | | | the correct questions to ask, and sample, sample, |
| do you learn which regions produce the best | | | | sample, you'll soon find your favorite cup of |
| coffees for you? It's really quite simple: start | | | | coffee.Your choice might not be your neighbor's |
| sampling coffees!Follow Your NoseIf you truly | | | | favorite, but who cares? You're the one doing the |
| want to find the best coffee, simply follow your | | | | drinking, so knowing yourself is the only thing that |
| nose. Good coffees and beans not only look good, | | | | matters!Jon Butt is the publisher of The Coffee |
| but they smell wonderful, too. Fresh beans that | | | | Guide, an innovative website dedicated to all things |
| have been well-roasted will fill your senses with an | | | | coffee. |