Black or Flavored Coffee: Which suits your taste?

The simplicity of coffee as a beverage has now evolved into complex in nature. Gone are the days when coffee was simply brewed, enjoyed with just cream and sugar, or possibly even just plain black coffee at that.

Coffee drinkers are slowly coming up with artistic coffee blends and are discovering that the accustomed black coffee can now be enjoyed in different flavored coffee beans. Flavors such as “Chocolate Swiss Almond,” “Hazelnut,” “Amaretto Supreme,” “Irish Creme,” “French Vanilla,” and “Georgia Pecan”, are about a few of the popular flavored coffee beans available.

So what process do these famous flavored coffee beans undergo before they transform into delightful beverages? The beans are first processed either through the “dry method”, which allows the beans to be dehydrated by the sun after harvesting, or through the “wet method” wherein the beans are steeped and fermented up to a day, then a water spray removes the pulp, and dried under the sun.

In both processes, the beans are then cleaned and sorted. Next the beans go through a roasting process which brings out the oils from the beans. This produces the natural flavor of the beans. When the beans are done with the roasting process, flavorings are then added.

It is necessary though, to know the appropriate amount of flavoring to be used. Flavor oils are added to the roasted beans before they are ground. The coffee is packed in cans as quickly as possible to prevent any contact with the environment. These beans should be kept in a dark, cool place if they are to be consumed within a month. The beans may also be frozen if consumption may take longer.

The process of flavoring coffee beans is also known to be beneficial to the consumer as it helps extend the shelf life of the coffee. Indeed, flavored beans are much appreciated at present especially by individuals who prefer variation to their beverages.