Coffee Near Me
We are going to start this article about “coffee near me” with a pretty bold statement: Anytime you do a Google search for any service “near me,” all you are receiving is a list based upon geography. It has absolutely nothing to do with quality of product or service, which is what we want to talk about in this article . . . quality of product and service!
What makes great coffee?
This is a tricky question and, in many ways, it is impossible to answer, simply because we all have different tastes and preferences. Still, we have to take a stab at it, or this article will be over very quickly.
Soluble Extract (%SE)
Soluble extract can be stated as the percentage of the beans extracted to derive the brew strength. In other words, when you grind beans and run hot water through them, you’ll dissolve a certain percentage of the bean into the brew. This is how you get all the wonderful coffee flavors into your cup. Certain flavors and tannins extract at a certain %SE. Other flavors require a higher %SE to be detected in your cup.
Total Dissolved Solids (%TDS)
Total Dissolved Solids represent the strength of the brew. The higher the %TDS, the greater the strength of the cup of coffee. Basically, when you brew a cup of coffee, you’ll dissolve some of the compounds into a solution. This measure is simply the %TDS and is a measure of dissolved solids compared to the volume of the brew. For example, an espresso shot would have a very high %TDS. Once made into an americano, however, the %TDS decreases dramatically because you mixed it with another liquid.
Quality of Your Grind
Even the best quality, freshest coffee beans can be completely ruined by grinding them poorly. Too large a grind and you’ll have a low %TDS. Too small and you’ll end up with a high %SE because water can’t flow through properly. When you do make a great cup of coffee, measure the time between the brew time and the grind size and take note.
Consistency in Your Brewing Method
Finally, you can never know what makes good coffee if you don’t consistently brew the same way. Changing your brew time, the temperature of your brewing water, grind size and type of beans all the time will guarantee you can’t get a handle on what’s ruining your java. When you want to change something, change one variable at a time. Brew a few cups of coffee with that new variable, keep all the others the same and see how you like it.
What makes a great coffee shop?
This is an easier question to answer. A great coffee shop offers fantastic service. A great coffee shop has baristas who not only know their craft but who are friendly and eager to help you. A great coffee shop consistently serves the best coffee, and the flavor of that coffee never varies. And, finally, a great coffee shop listens to its customers and continually tries to meet the needs and requests whenever possible.
No one expects any business to be perfect; however, striving to be the best possible is something every business should strive for.
No more “coffee near me” searches.
If you are from out of town, and you have no idea where the nearest coffee stand or coffee shop is located, fine, do a “coffee near me” Google search. However, if you live in the town in question, don’t bother with Google. Simply follow your instincts and go where you receive a great product and service consistently.
A final word about Madres Espresso in Olympia
Madres is locally owned and operated, with two coffee stands, one on the West side on Cooper Point Road, and one on the East side on Pacific Avenue. Come on in and get to know us.
