Coffee likened to Cigar: Searching

No doubt many of us follow a similar process when searching for that cigar that will just hit the spot. Lately, that right cup of coffee, search, located and brewed has been of similar importance.

Coffee beans are one of the biggest commodities worldwide. More than a billion cup of coffee is consumed the world over and it keeps on increasing. Consumers will pay a lot of money to get a hold of their favorite coffee beans. To assure yourself of your own stock of beans, try scouting for coffee bean suppliers on your own.

An assortment of beans of high excellence and a variety of blends are available. There are several coffee bean suppliers from all over the world. Because it is big business, suppliers are continually upgrading and are always prepared to provide the commodity.

In your hunt for coffee bean suppliers, find out if they have the facts and understanding as well as the zeal for the commodity. These people must be very knowledgeable about the quality of coffee. People in this industry must be dedicated and are known for improving their products and continually upgrading their processes to come up with high quality beans. If they prefer to talk more about their products, their marketing strategies, research and development, and are proud of their personnel, then you are in good hands.

Once you have narrowed down your list of suppliers, go for a personal visit so that you will be able to see the beans yourself. Check how good their beans are, the packaging and the roasting processes. If it would be possible, try to request for a coffee-tasting session together with the site visit. The session could be done with the supplier or the master roaster. When the master roaster tastes the roasted coffee along with you and readily explains the process to you, this is considered a good sign and that you've come to the right place.

You should also ask if the companies have their own blends and if these blends have undergone testing and tasting by their own roasting staff. They should be able to tell you the difference between espresso and espresso-based beverages. Observe if their baristas are well-trained and if their machines are spotlessly cleaned and well-maintained.

To a supplier, you may just be another cup of coffee to them. Let them know you mean business. Ask them what they know of water filtration, the quality of water they use, the difference between drip coffee and brewing, quality control standards, shelf life of their coffee beans, and mostly of all what are their emergency precautions. What is essential is that a good supplier is someone who cares about the business and is equally devoted in serving a good cup of coffee like you.

Any thoughts about how this applies to our cigar tastes?