How to Taste Costa Rican Coffee Beans - Pleasant Sweet and Sour Flavor Profile

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Costa Rican Coffee

Costa Rica's volcanic soil is extremely fertile and has excellent drainage. It is the first country in Central America to grow coffee and bananas for commercial value. Coffee and bananas are the country's main export commodities. High-quality Costa Rican coffee is known as "Strictly Hard Bean" (SHB), which can grow at altitudes above 1500 meters. Due to the high altitude, there is abundant rainfall, which is very beneficial for the growth of coffee trees.

Although Costa Rica has gained recognition from coffee enthusiasts through its honey-processed coffee beans, this is also inseparable from Costa Rica's superior geographical and climatic conditions, and the fact that all cultivated coffee varieties are Arabica. Costa Rica's premium coffee beans are called "Strictly Hard Beans" (SHB), followed by Hard Beans (HB) and Semi-Hard Beans (SH), with quality decreasing in that order, which is also its grading system. SHB grows at altitudes above 1500 meters, and altitude has always represented the quality of coffee - the higher the altitude, the better the quality. Additionally, the altitude difference creates abundant rainfall, which is very beneficial for coffee tree growth. Moreover, the lower temperatures at high altitudes slow down tree growth, allowing coffee cherries to absorb more nutrients, resulting in richer coffee flavors.

First Taste: Bitterness

Bitterness is perceived at the back of the tongue. The degree of stimulation when coffee passes through the root of the tongue is the bitterness level of the coffee. Similar to acidity, one factor affecting coffee bitterness is related to the characteristics of coffee beans. For example, Mandheling coffee is known as a low-acidity coffee with higher bitterness. If you drink Mandheling coffee, a higher bitterness level is considered normal.

Second Taste: Acidity

Acidity is mainly perceived by both sides of the tongue. After taking a sip of coffee, let it pass along the sides of your tongue to feel the degree of acidity stimulation. The reason for coffee acidity might be influenced by the characteristics of coffee beans. For example, Yirgacheffe, Mocha, and other African-produced coffees often have prominent fruit acidity.

Third Taste: Sweetness

Sweetness is typically divided into two types. The first is sweetness upon entry, perceived by the tip of the tongue. Although it's often described this way, frankly speaking, using the tip of the tongue to perceive coffee sweetness is quite challenging, as the sweetness in coffee itself is relatively weak.

Fourth Taste: Body

Astringency in the mouth manifests as discomfort in the throat after drinking, with a dry sensation. I once heard a friend who drank astringent coffee describe it as "throat-locking." The appearance of astringency might have several reasons, possibly related to coffee bean roasting or coffee preparation methods.

Sixth Taste: Aroma

If a coffee addresses the above six issues, it basically meets the standard. As for coffee aroma, it doesn't have much impact during the coffee preparation process and is mainly influenced by the quality of green coffee beans, coffee roasting level, and the freshness of the coffee beans.

Seventh Taste: Off-flavors

Off-flavors manifest in the mouth as a messy sensation after taking a sip of coffee. For example, a coffee that is both sour and bitter would be a manifestation of off-flavors. Off-flavors are indeed somewhat difficult to understand. Simply put, they refer to the chaotic taste sensation in the mouth after coffee enters, resulting in an unclean mouthfeel.

Knowledge Point: The most famous growing region in the country is Tarrazu, near the capital San Jose.

In summary: FrontStreet Coffee is a research-oriented coffee establishment that loves to share coffee knowledge with everyone. We share everything without reservation just to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Additionally, we hold three low-discount coffee events every month because FrontStreet Coffee wants to provide more friends with the best coffee at the lowest possible prices - this has been our principle for the past six years!

Important Notice :

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

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