The Seasons of Coffee: Expert Tips for an Authentic Tasting

Coffee, far more than just a beverage, is a sensory experience revealed through a multitude of factors. Ludovic Gossar, coffee expert at Brûlerie de Belleville, offers valuable advice for optimal tasting, highlighting the importance of traceability, freshness, and the seasonality of the beans.

Traceability and Coffee Seasonality: An Essential Duo

When it comes to buying coffee, Ludovic emphasizes a crucial point: traceability. He strongly recommends looking on the label not only for the terroir, but especially for the precise harvest and roasting dates. For example, for Ethiopian coffee, harvesting in October-November, combined with drying and transport time, offers an optimal tasting period the following May-June.

Enjoying Coffee: An Art in Itself

To fully appreciate the aromas of coffee, Ludovic recommends filtered or immersion brewing, and suggests grinding the beans yourself just before brewing. This approach allows you to discover a rich and authentic aromatic profile. For lovers of strong coffee, investing in a machine that combines a grinder and a brewing unit is advisable, offering long-term savings compared to capsules.

Ethical Café: A Critical Look

Referring to organic and ecological labels, Ludovic expresses reservations about their veracity, emphasizing the need to prioritize genuine coffee traceability. For him, this transparency is key to guaranteeing the quality and authenticity of coffee.

Storage and Coffee Beans: Guaranteed Freshness

Freshly roasted coffee should be consumed within 15 days if ground and within two months if whole beans. Ludovic advises against storing it in the refrigerator to avoid humidity, recommending instead that it be kept in an airtight container, away from light and air.

Whole Bean Coffee: Back to Authenticity

Choosing whole bean coffee, according to Ludovic, is a quality choice rather than a passing trend. He emphasizes the advantages of grinding the coffee yourself, thus preserving its original aromas. This method also avoids industrial processes, fostering a more authentic experience.

Season and Terroir: An Aromatic Journey

Each terroir offers specific harvest periods, influencing the ideal time to enjoy coffee. Ludovic highlights these seasonal nuances for the terroirs of Central America, Colombia, Brazil, Tanzania, Rwanda, Indonesia, and New Guinea.

Enjoying authentic coffee goes far beyond simply drinking a beverage.

It's an immersion into a world of aromas, terroirs, and seasons. By keeping a few key principles in mind, each cup becomes a unique sensory adventure.

Traceability is key: always check the label for the coffee's origin, as well as the harvest and roasting dates, for an optimal experience. Opt for filtered or immersion brewing, and grind your beans just before preparing them to unlock their full aromatic potential.

For storage, avoid the refrigerator and opt for an airtight container away from light to maintain the freshness of the beans. Choose whole bean coffee to preserve the authentic aromas, and discover the ideal seasons for each growing region to enjoy your coffee at its finest.

By following these simple tips, you will transform every cup of coffee into a rich and authentic sensory experience, fully savoring the nuances and subtleties that coffee has to offer.