Over the past few years, aged coffee has been a trend that most coffee drinkers have heard of and are curious to know how it is made and even taste. The first thing you should know is that aged coffee is not the same as stale coffee.
Generally speaking, it wouldn't be prudent to assume that all coffee will be superior to aged coffee on the count of it being aged. Aged coffee deserves credit since it can produce an impressive variety of brews to try.
This article discusses all you should know about aged coffee. After learning the basics of aged coffee, you should consider using some of the brew guides on our page to make yourself a homemade brew
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF AGED COFFEE
In the 1500s, when coffee was first introduced, it was not the traditional coffee roasts of today but aged coffee. During that time, Europe got its coffee supply from the port of Mocha in Arabia Felix, which is now known as Yemen. Since importing the coffee by sea around the southern tip of Africa to Europe mandated a long voyage, the coffee had a lot of time to age while it was en route, and this held even as the production spread to India and Indonesia.
The time it took to import coffee from these three coffee origins and the exposure to salty sea air caused the coffee to change significantly. Over time, Europeans developed a taste for it and even preferred it over fresh coffee. In fact, in 1869, when the Suez Canal opened, a large portion of the European population rejected its fresh coffee produce in favor of aged coffee.
As a result, some coffee was intentionally aged in large, open-sided warehouses in shipping ports for 6 months or longer. The port was the preferred location since it provided exposure to salty sea air to mimic an aging process for the coffee that the Europeans of that time had become used to.
As years went by, the preference for aged coffee faded in Europe and was overrun by fresh coffee. Similarly, as fresh coffee became increasingly available in the United States, its relationship to aged coffee shifted. However, the trend of intentionally aging coffee has risen steadily in Taiwan, Europe, America, and elsewhere over the years.
WHAT TYPES OF COFFEE AGES WELL
Generally, only specific types of green, unroasted coffee beans will age well. Usually, the best coffee beans for aging should be low in acidity and high in body, but this isn't always the case.
The best coffee for aging include low-acid coffee beans from Indonesia and India, specifically semi-dry processed Sulawesi and Sumatra coffee, and as they age, they can develop a complex, spicy flavor. Bright/acidic wet-processed Latin American coffee can also be a good candidate since they tend to mellow as they age.
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WHAT IS ENTAILED IN THE COFFEE AGING PROCESS
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Unlike stale coffee, aged coffee is carefully aged for 6 months to 3 years. Usually, the coffee beans are monitored regularly and rotated to even out the aging process between coffee bags and distribute moisture. Doing this also prevents rotting and the occurrence of mold.
The aging process is done at a higher altitude since the humidity and temperature are more stable
Today's coffee roasters prefer to age coffee themselves, and they use barrels like those used to age whiskey and wine to do so. This type of aging imparts an entirely new range of aromas and flavors on the beans. Additionally, it gives the roasters more control over the roasting process.
During the aging process, the coffee beans are usually tested several times a year. Once they are properly aged, the beans are roasted.
A dark roast is usually the best since it accentuates the body of the coffee and evens out the flavor. This is often the approach for an aged coffee that is part of an overall blend. Although, some connoisseurs prefer light roasts for single-origin-aged coffee since it emphasizes the single-origin nature more heavily.
WHAT DOES AGED COFFEE TASTE LIKE
Real-aged coffee has an oomph in its body and isn't acidic. It may also be smoky and mellow or woodsy, winey, and oaky. Each aged coffee has a different flavor and aroma, which is what makes them so interesting.
CONSIDER TRYING OUT AGED COFFEE
If you are a coffee enthusiast and have the taste and a nose for finer blends, you would definitely enjoy an aged coffee experience. There is a large variety of aged coffee, such as whiskey-aged coffee, among others that will leave you wanting more. Just think of all the recipes you can try with aged coffee.
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