How To Choose Flavored Coffee
What you need to know before buying flavored coffee
Flavored coffee is everyone’s way of getting into the coffee madness. With rich flavor and complex taste, flavored coffee can turn a non-coffee drinker into a diehard fan. But just like any other coffee, flavored coffee needs to be chosen wisely.
Uncovering the bean
To make flavored coffee, a roaster needs to add a step to the roasting process. While it might seem that the beans inherently have flavor, this is not the case.
Flavored coffee is created by the addition of oils to the outside of the bean after it has been roasted. When the beans are ground, these flavors are released and you can taste the hazelnut, vanilla, etc.
Fact: In 1668, coffee had replaced beer as New York’s favorite breakfast drink.
Choose your pleasure
When you’re looking at flavored coffee beans, you’ll want to notice whether or not the bean’s exterior looks shiny. The shiny coating indicates the amount of flavor.
And while there is such a thing as too much oil, you also don’t want too little.
Take the beans in your hand (if you can) and rub the bean between your fingers. If the flavored coffee bean aroma can be smelled on your hand, then you have chosen a good coffee.
Pick and choose
In terms of kinds of flavored coffee, your options are limitless.
You can go with the standard vanilla or hazelnut or even a blend of flavors for the holidays, including cinnamon and cloves. Newer varieties include chocolate or liqueur flavors and can benefit from the addition of spirits.
Flavoring for you
Another factor that you want to consider in choosing a flavored coffee is the darkness of the roast.
Most manufacturers will roast the coffee darker in order to give the end result coffee more ‘coffee’ taste so as not to be overwhelmed by the flavoring that has been added.
And while this does serve its purpose, a milder, lighter roast may also create a better overall flavored coffee -- but that’s a matter of taste.