Coffee flight is a delicate art. It’s not just about selecting the right flavors for your palate but also about curating a collection of coffees that tells a story. That’s why we’ve put together this list of ideas for building your coffee flight empire:
Table of Contents
Know what you’re buying
Buying coffee can be confusing for people who are new to it. To get into artisanal coffee, you must first learn about many different beans, flavors, and brewing methods. If you aren’t sure what you’re looking for, keep reading! This article will provide great tips on buying your first batch of specialty coffee.
Learn about the roasters
To build your coffee flight empire, it’s essential to understand the sourcing and roasting process. This includes learning about the people involved in that process, what types of coffee they source or roast, and how their practices impact the overall quality of your product
- The roaster
Learn about what kind of roastery you want to work with. For example, do you want a large-scale operation that produces thousands upon thousands of pounds? Or do you want a small batch artisanal roaster that has only enough beans for local consumption? Knowing this information will help guide your decision when selecting which provider(s) will provide an adequate supply of high-quality green beans, ideally one that aligns with your business philosophy.
- The farmer/farmers
Find out who grows (and processes) the beans used by each provider to ensure fair treatment for farmers who play critical roles in producing quality crops at scale.
Buy something new every time you go for coffee.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Just buy something new every time you get coffee. The point of this method is to continue to expand your palate and allow yourself to spend as much money as you want. Coffee flights are an excellent way to explore new flavors and different types of beans while also providing the flexibility and variety that comes with drinking coffee at a cafe versus making it at home.
Find your favorites and repeat them.
One of the best parts about coffee is that it’s an ever-changing experience. You don’t just drink coffee, though you taste it. And as you become more sensitive to flavor and aroma, you’ll notice subtle differences in each cup of coffee you try.
You might find that one roaster’s beans are better suited for your tastes than another’s or that a particular blend tastes best when made with a lighter roast but has too much acidity if brewed darkly. Maybe you prefer the way one brand makes their mocha latte compared to another; maybe what makes this particular barista stand out from others is their attention to detail when it comes time for presentation on top of production.
It doesn’t matter what your preferences are; finding them means taking time with each new cup and getting familiar with how they’re different from other cups before moving on to something else entirely (or returning).
Pair the coffees with a treat from the store
To complete the experience, pair your coffee flights with a treat from the store. This can be a cookie or pastry, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box. If you’re feeling creative, try pairing your flight with something like chocolate-covered espresso beans or a dark chocolate bar.
Some other ideas include:
- Pairing 1/3 dark roast with 2/3 medium roast for an added depth of flavor
- Pouring cold brewed iced coffee over vanilla ice cream
Try an espresso flight
If you’re visiting a coffee shop, try to order an espresso flight. You can get a variety of espresso drinks and roasts in one cup. This will help you discover what you like best or what’s worth trying again.
You can also try different brewing methods; some prefer the French press method, while others prefer the espresso machine or even cold brew (which doesn’t require any brewing). The point is that there are many ways to get your caffeine fix, so don’t limit yourself!
Make it a learning experience for others.
If you’re going to be a coffee shop owner, it’s essential to educate yourself on the different kinds of coffee so that you can explain them clearly when customers ask. It’s also important not just because it shows that you care about what goes into your drinks but also because knowing the difference between an espresso and a cappuccino will keep customers from being confused about which drink they ordered.
When hosting groups of friends in your shop or at home, have some fun with this! Get them guessing what is in each cup before taking a sip (this is great for those who don’t drink coffee).
Take a picture of your flight every time you get one.
- Take a picture of your flight every time you get one.
- Use this photo to remember the experience.
- Share pictures with friends and family who might want to try the same things.
- Use photos as a reference for future orders—lots of places have seasonal coffees that aren’t on the menu but are still available if you ask for them!
Use and display your flight as decor.
You may have heard the saying, “coffee is great, but coffee with friends is better.” And if you’ve ever had a friend come over to your house for a cup of joe, you know it’s true! So why not use your flight for more than just drinking? Displaying your collection in an arrangement on a shelf or wall allows others to admire its beauty without tasting it themselves and there’s nothing wrong with being proud of what you’ve accomplished.
Start a collection (and might we suggest CoffeeCards?)
Another great way to build your coffee flight empire is by starting a collection. We want to introduce you to CoffeeCards, a series of beautifully designed mini-posters that depict the origins and flavors of some of the best coffees in the world.
They’re ideal for anyone who loves coffee and appreciates art, especially those who want their home decor to be more than just another piece of furniture or knickknack.
CoffeeCards are also an excellent gift for any coffee lover in your life or yourself! You can learn about new countries and regions through these cards, improve your understanding of flavor profiles and even discover new ways to make better cups at home!
Build a collection of coffees you love, and share it with others!
You can build your coffee flight empire. You should. Not only is it a fun challenge, but it will also be a great way to share your passion with others!
Build a collection of coffees you love, and share it with others! Whether you’re giving them as gifts or displaying them on the walls in your home, these displays will show off all the hard work that went into creating this magical drink.
And if sharing isn’t enough for you and you want to learn more about coffee? Well then
A Guide to Coffee Flight from Start to Finish
Coffee flights are the latest trend in coffee shops. These flights allow you to taste different types of coffee and compare and contrast them at your table. This blog post will walk you through what it takes to create a perfect coffee flight for yourself or someone else as a gift!
Find a coffee shop that serves coffee flights.
Before starting a coffee flight, you need to find a coffee shop that serves them.
- Type of Coffee Shop: The kind of shop is not essential; however, it must have a good selection of coffee. A good place would sell specialty coffees in addition to the standard options.
- Benefits: It’s great if your favorite coffee shop has flights because you know that they care about providing quality drinks and making their customers happy with something special like this unique experience!
Choose a brewing method.
- Espresso: The most common brewing method is espresso, which uses high-pressure water to extract the coffee’s flavor. This can be done with a machine or by hand, but it’s important to note that this method isn’t recommended for beginners because of its technicality and the fact that it requires more equipment (such as an espresso grinder).
- Drip: Drip coffee is made using hot water that runs through a filter attached to a pot of ground coffee. This process extracts all three elements of coffee solids (which become grounds), oils, and acids in about two minutes. Pour-Over: Pour-over allows you to control how much water interacts with your grounds and brews your cup at an optimal temperature.* Aeropress: Similar to pour-over, Aeropress requires less equipment than espresso or drip methods, making it ideal for those who want fresh cups without breaking their bank accounts.* Cold Brew: A cold brew takes days rather than minutes.* French Press: A French press uses hot water mixed with coarsely ground beans steeped in a glass container; then, the grounds are pressed down into liquid using an attached plunger.* Moka Pot: A Moka pot uses steam pressure from boiling water inside the base unit into an upper chamber where finely ground coffee sits, waiting for its infusion.Electric Kettle: An electric kettle heats water from room temperature or below within minutes, so you don’t worry about waiting around while they heat themselves! You can even find ones with cool touch handles so they won’t burn little fingers if grabbed right out off stovetop.”
Pick your coffee beans.
Before you start, you need to choose a coffee shop that serves coffee flights. This can be done with simple research. If you have friends who love good coffee, ask them where they go and why they like it. With the internet and apps like Yelp, you can find obscure places within walking distance of your home or office!
Once you’ve found a quality place to grab a cup of joe, it’s time to decide what kind of brewing method you want: drip or espresso. For those who prefer simplicity (and more control over taste), drip might be best; for those interested in creating unique flavor profiles that aren’t possible with traditional brewing methods (and who want something extraordinary), espresso might be just the ticket!
Next up: picking out your beans! When choosing beans for any brew service, whether it’s from an airport kiosk or fancy upscale cafe, there are several factors involved in determining which ones will work best for your needs:
- Price point versus quality
- Palate preference (sweetness level)
- Bean origin
- If applicable, the roasting temperature/time duration & humidity levels during the roasting process.
Take some time here because this is where all decisions about how strong or weak-tasting each cup should be made before ordering anything else, so know what flavor profile works best for both taste buds and wallet size constraints, so none get overwhelmed by too much caffeine while others don’t feel deprived because there weren’t enough variety options available at their local shop locations nearby town square neighborhoods across America.
Figure out your order
Starting with the lightest coffee is essential because you want to end with the strongest. Once you’ve had your first flight, take a break and order another set of three coffees, but this time in reverse order: strong-to-light. This will help you get the full range of flavors from each type of bean.
The third flight is where things get fun. You should order a different coffee three times in three different ways. In other words, three flights on two cups of coffee! If your local cafe has an espresso machine or some other brewing method that makes it possible for them to brew multiple shots off one batch (or if they even have more than one bean available), try ordering all three types together next time instead of switching back and forth between two separate cups or pots.
Compare and contrast the coffees.
- Taste
The first step of tasting coffee is briefly rolling the beans between your fingers, releasing their aromas. Next, drop one or two beans into your mouth and let them sit there for a few seconds. This will allow you to experience the flavor without swallowing, which would only mask it with saliva. Finally, swish the beans around in your mouth and eat them. This process allows for a complete tasting of each bean before moving on to the following bean or a variety of coffee.
- Smell
After rolling each bean between your fingers and allowing them to sit in your mouth for a bit (a process known as “cupping”), sniff it deeply through both nostrils before taking a sip from an espresso cup filled with water (this helps get rid of any residual taste left over from previous cups). Then take a small glass of water out of this same cup; this will clear away any lingering flavors so you can begin smelling again without interference.* Look at it
After one coffee flight, you will become a coffee flight aficionado!
Coffee flights are a great way to learn more about coffee. You will discover the different brewing methods, the beans used in each cup, and their tastes, textures, and flavors. You may even find yourself craving a specific brew after tasting it!
If you’re new to coffee flights or want to learn more, here are five tips to help you navigate your first flight.
In conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of our favorite ways to build a coffee flight empire. We’re excited for you to try new coffees and expand your palate, and we hope we’ve inspired you to do so! Remember that the best way to build your empire is with friends, family, and loved ones who share your passion for discovering delicious new drinks. Happy tasting!
