Free virtual private coffee lessons from The Montreal Coffee Academy
“I'm still learning." - Michelangelo
I have always had a beginner's heart; open, humble, curious and full of wonder. I jumped at the opportunity to get a little taste for what the courses offer at the Montreal Coffee Academy. When I reached out to Victor Malherbe, one of the teachers there, he said, "The more you learn about coffee, the more you realize how much there is to know." I totally agree! I may be SUPER passionate about coffee and coffee-culture, and I have also taken some cupping and tasting classes at Café Saint-Henri, micro-torrefactor. With 3 years of leisurely coffee crawling under my belt, I am nowhere near expert status, YET! Thanks for coming along on this journey with me. :)
Espresso Brewing Tips for Bialetti
Boil hot water and pour it in the bottom piece, rather than using cold or warm water from the tap. The reason is so that your do not overheat the ground espresso when it is on the stove top. This allows for the full flavor of the espresso to be released without burning the it.
Don't over-pack your ground coffee! This will cause your coffee to come out bitter or with unwanted flavors.
Once the coffee has almost finished brewing and starts "sputtering" immediately take the machine off the heat. Any steam going through the grounds will make it bitter.
Experiment with different types of coffee to find out what you like and don't like. It's kind of like dating, right? Right now, I'm enjoying a medium Italian roast stove-top blend ordered from Café Baristello Jarry. It tastes like dark chocolate with smoky roasted notes. The crema is a caramel golden color and the body is round and full. My Calabrese grandmother would brew this kind of espresso on her stove-top and serve it with some homemade Amaretti Italian cookies, yum!
Coffee Tasting - What to Look For
Everyone has their own opinion and preference when it comes to their favorite flavour. What do you look for in your morning brew? Maybe it is more functional than what you look for in your afternoon cup, that may be a bit more decadent. Here are just a few things to look for when trying to give your own review on a coffee taste. More to come on these descriptors as I dig deeper into this topic.
Sweetness
Aromatic complexity
Balance
Acidity
Bitterness
Body
Intensity
Flavour
Clarity
Aftertaste
Crema
Aroma“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” ― Rumi
Since the Academy cannot hold classes during this time, teacher Victor is offering lessons by video conference. Head over to his website for full details!
We have so much time on our hands these days, and honestly, it feels SO good to learn.
Hugs,
Mtl Latte Heart
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