Gourmet coffee is a type of coffee with superior flavor and cultivation methods, often more expensive than regular coffee. There is no regulation of the term gourmet, and any roast from any region can be gourmet, depending on the quality of the bean and the roaster. Gourmet coffee can also be defined by the difficulty of cultivation or processing, or by the addition of flavorings, oils, or syrups. Some coffee fans consider gourmet coffee akin to fine wine, with each blend or bean having its own proper flavor and even food pairings.
Gourmet coffee is thought to be a type or blend of coffee with superior flavor characteristics and cultivation methods. As such, it is often more expensive than regular coffee. Gourmet coffee can be a delicious treat for coffee lovers, but be warned: There is no regulation of the term gourmet, which means any company can give title to their product regardless of any royal claim to superlative coffee.
Coffee can come from a variety of regions around the world, such as Africa, Hawaii, Central and South America, and the Middle East. It can also be roasted at light, medium, or dark levels to impart certain flavor characteristics or affect the caffeine content. Any roast from any region can be gourmet, depending on the quality of the bean and the roaster.
Certain terms often come up when describing a gourmet coffee that may not be explained precisely. A cultivated coffee is one where the beans are harvested in a coffee plantation, similar to a single vineyard wine. Farm-grown coffee is often considered gourmet as it can ensure quality control; coffee makers aren’t mixing some good beans with the discount, lower quality beans from another source to save money.
Gourmet coffee can also be defined by the difficulty of cultivation or processing. Jamaican Blue Mountain and Kona coffees, for example, only grow in very small regions under very specific conditions. Peaberry coffees are the product of a unique mutation in coffee beans that causes only one seed or bean to grow instead of the usual two. One of the most expensive gourmet coffees in the world is Kopi Luwak, or civet coffee, in which the beans have been eaten and excreted by a civet cat, giving them a unique flavor. Kopi Luwak, strange as it may sound, is a real foodie delight and can cost hundreds of US dollars per pound.
Another type of gourmet coffee is one in which other flavourings, oils or syrups have been added during processing. This can involve decadent blends like chocolate-caramel-coconut coffee or more typical flavors like vanilla and hazelnut. Whether flavor additives turn a gourmand into coffee is a matter of great debate among coffee fans; some find it leaves an artificial flavor and is used to mask poor beans, others like the range of flavors and new interpretations of the coffee in their cup every morning.
For some coffee fans, gourmet coffee is akin to fine wine. Each blend or bean has its own proper flavor, depth, and even food pairings. Some coffee shops offer tasting events to educate customers about the different characteristics of different coffees. Learning about gourmet coffee can be a fun way for foodies to expand their palate and enjoyment of this rich product, and true coffee fanatics will also seek poetics about the time, place, and emotions experienced when they tasted that cup of truly perfect gourmet coffee.
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