One thing that can make your day better after hitting the alarm and rolling out of bed is a cup of freshly brewed coffee. While brewing may seem simple, it involves more than just pouring hot water over coffee grounds. It is easy to create a flat, boring cup, instead of a well-balanced brew. The best way to improve your drink is to understand brewing fundamentals, which involve the coffee bloom.
What Is a Coffee Bloom?
A coffee bloom occurs when freshly roasted coffee is brewed. It refers to the fast bubbling up and release of carbon dioxide. It happens when hot water comes in contact with fresh coffee grounds.
The coffee bloom is part of the coffee brewing process since it releases carbon dioxide, giving your coffee a half minute to bloom, depending on how recently it was roasted, will enhance its flavors.
How Do I Create a Coffee Bloom?
Using the pour-over method allows you to see coffee bloom more clearly. After setting up your dripper and coffee grounds, pour hot water into the center of your coffee filter in a circular motion, and make sure all the grounds have been soaked in water. Now, wait 15-30 seconds for bubbles to form. This is the coffee bloom.
Keep in mind that this process happens naturally as long as your coffee is fresh enough. If your brewed coffee does not have any bubbles, it might mean that degassing may have already occurred and your coffee is no longer at its freshest. Unfortunately, this could diminish your drinking experience, because the flavor of your drink might be flat.
What Are the Factors That Affect the Coffee Bloom?
Many factors contribute to coffee bloom. Here are some of them:
Temperature
Gas will escape faster from the coffee beans if they are at higher temperatures. Because of this, store your beans in a cool, dry place. Avoid exposing them to prolonged and excessive heat to prevent gases from escaping.
Humidity level
More gas can escape from the coffee beans if stored in an area with low humidity levels. On the other hand, too much moisture may result in mold and fungus growth. That’s why it’s crucial to store roasted coffee beans in a dry, dark place.
Length
Bloom length affects the taste of your coffee. Feel free to experiment with how long you allow your drink to bloom and see the differences in the flavors.
Type of roast
The type of roast has a huge impact on the quality of the coffee bloom. For instance, longer darker roasts degas to a lesser degree. This is why darker Italian roasts undergo less degassing than other varieties.
The origin and hardness of the bean
The origin and hardness of your coffee beans affect the bloom. Beans originated in certain regions can degas more than others, and harder beans may make it harder for the gas to escape.
Conclusion
Now that you know what coffee bloom is and how it can enhance the taste of your drink, don’t forget to let your coffee grounds bloom the next time you brew them. This way, you can savor even the subtlest flavor notes. Meanwhile, to ensure you will have a more enjoyable coffee drinking experience, explore more coffee brew guides and use the best coffee beans.
Buy your high-quality, sustainable coffee beans from Kunjani. We are a women-owned coffee shop and coffee roaster and take pride in focusing on ethical practices from sourcing to roasting. Our beans are also available nationwide. Order now!
Leave a comment