Back when I used to attend coffee festivals – something I should plan to do next year! – I would revel in the prospects of trying coffees that vary by varietals, roasting method, region, and more. For each coffee I tasted, I could learn something new; I learned some flavour profiles are more typical of certain regions, that the fruity and floral flavours I enjoy come from high altitude coffee, and more. I found joy in trying different brewing methods: the Aeropress, Chemex, V60, Kalita Wave, and more.
Now, I spend most of my time drinking coffee made from a Kalita Wave or an Aeropress. I enjoy the slow process of making pour over coffee – the way grinding coffee by hand helps wake me up in the morning, the sound the coffee makes when it drips from the dripper into the mug below, the smell of coffee as it brews. I like to buy full ground beans, usually single origin, from local coffee roasters. I still enjoy trying coffees from different origins, trying to taste the unique flavours in each brew.
I like my coffee black at home, and enjoy milky coffees when I am away from home.
I don’t have a regular coffee roaster, but there are a few that I like to keep in mind when I’m looking to buy new coffee. Steampunk Coffee and Cairngorm Coffee are at the top of the list for Scottish coffee roasters. Sometimes I try coffee from roasters that are further away, too – Nomad Coffee from Barcelona has been consistently excellent in my experience.
When I am out and about, I seek out independent coffee shops. I like to look for coffee shops that serve speciality coffee first, and especially those that roast their own beans. I rely on both recommendations kindly shared by friends as well as Google Maps to help me find coffee shops when I am visiting new places.
While I enjoy speciality coffee, I also love diner coffee. It is one of my favourite kinds. Consistent, and served in a delightful ambiance. I am seldom in diners, so I like to savour the moments when I am in one. The warmth of the coffee radiating through the thick mug is special. The coffee cup I like to use in the morning is a “diner” mug from Steampunk Coffee because of how it feels – a good mug elevates the morning coffee experience.
While diner coffee may not be the best in the world, the offer of free refills, the good conversations I have had in diners, and the general atmosphere elevates the experience of drinking the coffee.
I like Starbucks coffee.
I also enjoy conference room coffee. It may not be the best coffee in the world, but it is commonly served when I am working with colleagues. Thus, the memories I have of the coffee is it being a boost in the morning as I’m working on a project with people
Coffee is an anchor of many memories: a reminder of the places I have been, good times with friends, and the hobby of making coffee at home that brought me joy in the depths of the pandemic.
I’m curious: what are your coffee preferences?
