This new post is in response to a request for the scoop about coffee shops. I was trained as a barista at the well known Cafe Brazil in Dallas , and feel that if you're gonna pay for it , you should be getting the best. So ... here are a few tips to know , that can help you decide if you got the greatest cup ever , or if it's just another run of the mill brew.
1) A top notch shop will smell very fragrant , and the whiff of fresh brew should not be overwhelming. If it smells burnt , it is a sign that the crew doesn't pay attention to their stations and may be letting the coffee sit to long.... it won't be fresh.
2) Coffee is only fresh for about ten minutes after brewing , and will begin to become sour ( more acidic tasting ) and should not be served .
3) If you're buying beans by the pound, look for the husk to be smooth and in tact. In the grocery stores , the beans will take on the odor of the store , so if you ever see them near the chemical isle , or housekeeping is mopping with ammonia near the beans , guess what... go somewhere else, because you will never taste the true flavor of the stinky beans they sell at these stores.
I've probably got 100 more hints to include , but you know me ... steady as she goes .Let me know if you've come across any tried and true surefire ways to judge the bean. I'll help anyone , anytime. Just ask me.
Larry
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