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