Bedford Landings Coffee
Posted on June 2, 2022 by
Some of you know the story of our mellow, tasty Bedford Landings blend coffee. When we first opened in 2013, we were serving Sam’s Warehouse Breakfast blend coffee. We had a lot of compliments on it and so we kept purchasing it. Whatever coffee we serve, we buy the beans and grind it fresh for each pot. Jack drinks his coffee black. He likes it that way and consumes a great deal throughout the day. I drink my coffee with about 4 T. flavored non-dairy creamer and I like about one cup a day! BUT, Sam’s discontinued this tasty coffee. We tried Sam’s substitute and it was too bitter. We bought locally and it was not a good fit either.
We had a small bit of Sam’s coffee left and were lamenting to our guests one day that we were having a tough time replacing this particular coffee blend. Lo and behold, this couple had a son who had recently opened a coffee roastery in Floyd, VA. We noted the man’s name and made an appointment. We ventured over to Floyd. My brother lived there so we could stop for a family visit along the way! We met the owner and coffee roaster of Red Rooster Coffee.
We took a gallon of our tap water to the roasters. The taste of the local water effects the taste of the coffee, of course. We also took the little bit of sam’s coffee with us so they could match the taste. They took on the assignment to blend a similar taste. They mailed us samples and we tasted them. Jack and I agreed that they nailed it with Sample #2. Now we order exclusively from Red Rooster Coffee.
What coffee should I order?
What I am still confused about, however is how to order coffee that I would like when I order it from a coffee shop. I noted this cool list in the New York Times today and want to share it with you in case you have the same difficulty. Here is an A-Z list of coffee terms. Enjoy (over a cup o’ java!) while you work your WORDLE!
A Glossary of Coffee Terms
By Oliver Strand
AFFOGATO – Ice cream (traditionally vanilla) “drowned” with a shot of espresso.
AMERICANO-A shot of espresso diluted with hot water.
BARISTA – The person who prepares coffee at a coffee bar.
CAPPUCCINO – An espresso shot combined with foamed steamed milk. Five to seven ounces total.
CHEMEX- The classic hourglass-shaped filter coffee brewer. Chemex filters are denser than other paper filters, and many believe that this creates a sweeter, well-balanced cup of coffee.
CLEVER COFFEE DRIPPER- Recently introduced, a filter cone with a stopper that lets coffee steep before dripping, extracting more flavor.
CLOVER- High-tech single-cup brewing machine. Company was bought by Starbucks in 2007.
COLD DRIP COFFEE- Coffee grounds are steeped in cold water for about 12 hours, then strained to make a concentrate that’s used for iced coffee and cut with milk or water. It’s associated with New Orleans.
CORTADO- Espresso topped with flat steamed milk, 4 to 4 1/2 ounces total.
CREMA- Thick, caramel-colored emulsified oils that sit on top of an espresso.
CUP OF EXCELLENCE- A competition to determine the best coffee bean grown in a particular nation. The top Cup of Excellence (C.O.E.) lots fetch significantly higher prices at auction.
CUPPING- Tasting method used by coffee professionals. Coarsely ground coffee is steeped with hot water in shallow bowls, then slurped from flat spoons.
DARK ROAST- Coffee beans roasted until they exude oils. The style has fallen out of favor among many artisanal roasters who think it overwhelms certain flavors.
DIRECT TRADE- When coffee roasters buy directly from farms rather than from brokers. Proponents say it increases coffee quality and gives farmers more power.
DRIP COFFEE- Coffee made with a filter, a press pot, a percolator or a countertop coffee maker. Flavor is extracted by contact with water not under pressure.
ESPRESSO- Concentrated coffee made when hot water is forced at pressure through fine coffee grounds. Usually slightly less than 2 ounces total. Baristas prefer 8 to 10 bars of pressure and 15 to 25 grams of coffee.
FLAT WHITE- Espresso with flat, steamed milk, about 5 to 7 ounces.
FRENCH PRESS- Coffee made by steeping grounds with hot water in a vessel with a plunger and metal filter that pushes the grounds to the bottom. Often used in coffee bars for limited-edition coffees. Also called a press pot.
GREEN BEANS- Unroasted coffee beans.
LATTE- Espresso with steamed milk, 8 ounces or more total.
LATTE ART- The pattern formed by rhythmically pouring steamed milk into an espresso drink. Decorative and demonstrative; only properly steamed milk will hold a form.
MACCHIATO- Espresso topped with a dab of foamed steamed milk, about 2 to 3 ounces total.
MICRO-LOT- Coffee from a single farm, or a specific part of that farm.
MOCHA- Espresso mixed with chocolate syrup and steamed milk.
NEL DRIP- Short for “flannel drip,” it’s a form of drip coffee that uses flannel filters imported from Japan. The filters are temperamental, and must be washed by hand and kept chilled when not in use.
EXTRACTION- Drawing flavor from coffee grounds. Coffee can be underextracted and taste sour or overextracted and taste bitter.
FAIR TRADE- A private program that certifies that farmers or coffee growers are paid a minimum price for coffee.
FILTER COFFEE- Drip coffee made with a ceramic, glass or plastic cone lined with a paper filter. Favored by professionals because it gives them control over water temperature ideally 200 to 210 degrees. This coffee is sediment free, though some believe the filters add unwanted flavor.
PORTAFILTER- The filter basket and handle on an espresso machine.
POUR-OVER COFFEE- A method of drip coffee developed in Japan in which the water is poured in a thin, steady, slow stream over a filter cone. One cup of coffee takes as long as three minutes to brew. Some coffee bars have pour-over setups with several cones and distinctive swan-neck kettles from Japan.
PUCK- Spent coffee from a portafilter or Clover.
PULL- Espresso shots are “pulled.” The term is a holdover from when machines were lever operated.
REDEYE- A cup of brewed coffee with espresso.
RISTRETTO- Espresso pulled short with less water for a smaller, more concentrated drink.
ROAST- Unpalatable green beans are heated to create complex flavors that are extracted during brewing.
ROAST DATE- Most small-batch roasters print the roast date on bags of coffee. The rule of thumb is that coffee should be used within two weeks, and some coffee bars won’t sell beans more than a week after they have been roasted.
SEASONAL COFFEE- Coffee beans ripen at different times of the year in different regions, and can appear in markets and coffee bars for limited times.
SINGLE ORIGIN- Coffee from a particular region, farm or area within a farm.
SIPHON- A coffeemaking device, using vacuum pressure and a series of vessels, that originated in the 19th century. It recently gained popularity in Japan and is being used more in the United States. Despite its complications, it is known for producing fruity, bright coffee.
SLOW DRIPPER- Unusual devices imported from Japan with a glass sphere and a series of tubes and valves that make coffee with cold water in about 12 hours.
TRIFECTA- A high-tech single-cup coffee brewer introduced this year.
Caffeinatedly cute!