Premium Gourmet Coffee

Premium gourmet coffee may once have been the preserve of a select few, but it has since become more widely available and is within the reach of most people in this day and age. Coffee quality has long been classified into cheap, regular and gourmet categories. As coffee consumption around the world increases each year, so does the market for top quality, premium gourmet coffees.

Coffee is produced from the beans which grow within berries that develop and ripen on a variety of small evergreen bush plant species known as the Coffea plant. Once they are ripe, coffee berries are harvested and processed and dried to produce beans. The beans are roasted to varying degrees in a process which gives them their distinctive flavor and aroma.

The coffee beans may be ground and packaged for delivery through the retail distribution chain, or the beans may be packaged whole. True coffee connoisseurs prefer to grind their own beans as this produces the freshest coffee and freshness is very important when it comes to coffee quality.

The two species of coffea plant which are most cultivated commercially for yielding coffee beans are Arabica and Robusta. Gourmet coffee is produced from the top tier coffee beans of the Arabica plant. Top tier Arabica plants are typically grown at high altitude (more than 3000 feet) under ideal climatic and soil conditions. These premium coffee beans have a full flavor and aroma, and are the only ones considered for true gourmet coffee. Robusta plants and Arabica plants grown at lower altitudes can also make fine coffee, but they do not qualify for the exclusive gourmet club.

Of course, the coffee beans are just the starting point for creating a true gourmet coffee experience for many coffee lovers. Many people are happy to drink their coffee black and enjoy the pure, unadorned flavor of their brew. Others like to add milk, cream, sweeteners, or flavors such as cinnamon, chocolate, mint, or vanilla. There are endless possibilities to suit any palate, when it comes to the enjoyment of premium gourmet coffee.