Coffee Coffee Coffee

[Gary]

I just can't get enough of the magic elixir.

And there is more to it than just the coffee. To get the full flavor from whatever your favorite beans are, there is more to know.

Basically, there are two types of coffee plants: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica only grows at high elevations, but it is the only coffee worth drinking.

Now, think of the four elements, i.e. Earth, Air, Water and Fire.

Earth: Where on Earth are the beans from? Different growing conditions give you subtle (or sometimes not so subtle) differences in the flavor.

Air: Exposing ground coffee to the air gives you stale coffee. Coffee beans should be ground, using a conical burr grinder (for consistency) immediately before brewing, and leaving coffee grounds exposed to the air overnight in your pot is also is a mistake. Fresh ground coffee makes a BIG difference.

Water: A bad taste in the water gives you a bad taste in the coffee.

Fire: Warming plates are the arch enemy of good coffee. They burn the coffee.

This is just a start. There is a lot more to it than this.