Premium coffee refers to coffee that is processed with exceptional care at every stage of production. The coffee consists of uniquely flavored coffee beans that have a unique aroma. And as the name suggests, premium coffee is usually expensive compared to the non-premium grades. Premium coffee is graded with an 80+ points cup score. Usually, all premium coffee will have a cup score on their packaging.
Most coffee aficionados prefer premium coffee for its full-bodied taste. The coffee beans used are usually grown at specific geographical locations such as some Caribbean parts, Africa, Asia, and South America.
Just like other types of coffee, premium coffee has to undergo different stages before being delivered to consumers. These stages include planting the coffee beans, growing them, harvesting them, roasting, packaging, and shipping. Premium coffee production involves the use of specialists in every stage of production – from planting coffee beans to shipping them around the world.
Premium coffee beans require planting in the right soil type and at the right altitude for proper growth. Usually, premium coffee is grown in microclimates where the atmospheric zones have unique properties that are different from the surrounding zones. Microclimates are also used to grow crops requiring certain humidity and heat conditions.
Harvesting is the next crucial production stage of premium coffee. Premium coffee needs to be harvested at the right time which is when the coffee cherries are ripe and ready for production. During the harvesting stage, a group of specialized workers gathers to harvest the ripe coffee cherries through hand picking, which are then peeled and cleaned. The raw product at this stage is known as green coffee. These cherries are then dried at the right temperature and stored in conducive conditions for conversion into coffee beans.
The coffee beans are then taken to a roaster for the roasting process. At a coffee roaster, the right techniques and equipment are applied to ensure that the flavors in the coffee beans are preserved. The roasting process involves passing the coffee beans through heat at the right temperatures to change the bean’s properties such as taste and color. The roasted coffee beans are then grounded for brewing or stored as roasted coffee beans.
For premium coffee, the grounds must be of a specific grind size, which preserves their quality. Additionally, the roasted coffee beans must be stored depending on the type of roast – either light roast, medium roast, or dark roast. The final premium coffee production stage is the brewing stage. Brewing premium coffee involves boiling the ground coffee using quality water and the right brewing temperatures. The brewing stage is carried out by specialists to taste and ensure that the standards of the premium coffee are met. After this stage, the premium ground coffee or roasted coffee beans are packaged and shipped around the world. Some premium coffee consumers prefer to grind their roasted coffee beans rather than buying pre-ground premium coffee.
The best test to tell whether your coffee is of good quality is to try it black. If the coffee isn’t of good quality, it will either taste very bitter or very sour.
Benefits of Premium Coffee
1. Lowers the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Regular consumption of premium coffee is linked to a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. According to studies, each cup of premium coffee consumed per day lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 9%. This is a result of coffee’s ability to preserve the functioning of beta cells in your body that are responsible for insulin production to regulate your blood sugar levels.
2. Reduces the Risk of Gout
Studies on coffee consumption in both men and women suggest that drinking premium coffee regularly reduces gout risk. This is a result of the antioxidant properties of coffee that decrease the risk of gout by reducing insulin levels, thus decreasing uric acid levels. High uric acid concentrations can cause gout.
3. Source of Antioxidants
Coffee is a potent source of healthy antioxidants compared to green tea and cocoa. So, most people who consume coffee get most of their antioxidants from it rather than from fruits and vegetables as they should. Antioxidants in coffee help fight inflammation, chronic conditions such as arthritis, and other types of cancer.
4. Reduces the Risk of Alzheimer
Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by brain plaque. Consumption of premium coffee supports your brain health and therefore reduces the risk of certain neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. According to studies, regular consumption of premium coffee lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s.
5. Helps Fight Depression
Consumption of premium coffee is associated with a lower risk of depression. According to studies, a cup of premium coffee consumed will lower your risk of depression by 8%. Additionally, drinking premium coffee lowers the risk of death by suicide.
