With the advent of Starbucks® and the popularity of coffee shops that offer wi-fi, we sometimes take our coffee for granted. Walk into a coffee shop and order up a Mocha Latte and you’re out of there in a few minutes. Places like these can often make some really good drinks, from specialty coffees and all kinds of cappuccino drinks. Only a few make a really good espresso.

It’s a challenge to recreate many of those drinks for most of us. Some of us may have a decent espresso machine and can whip something up relatively quickly, no doubt, but nothing like what we can get from a decent coffee shop. Often we lack the knowledge of what flavors blend well with different kinds of coffee beans. What happens if you were hosting a cocktail party at your restaurant or a dinner party for clients and friends at your home? If one of your guests asks for an espresso during dessert, what would you serve?

Your food was a hit and your best friend devoured the hors d’oeuvres, but what now? Have no fear, you’ve studied the art of the Barista. What is a Barista you ask? A trained professional in making espresso and related drinks. They take their art very seriously as pairing the right flavors of a particular coffee bean (Columbian vs. Brazilian for example), is not an easy task with the complexity of flavors found in food.

The variety of coffee beans from around the globe produces an entire world of different flavors and textures that most of us don’t get to experience. Have you ever had coffee from Uganda or Ethiopia? They’re both coffee producing countries each with distinct qualities which vary from region to region. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe is a bean sought after by the U.S. consumers that has a fruity aroma, light and elegant body, and an almost menthol taste.

It would seem that with all the different flavors of coffee, only one as skilled as a Barista could truly pair a coffee with the main course, much as a gourmet chef would pair a fine wine. Read more about the Art of the Barista here:

Art of the Barista: A Brief Guide for the Gourmet Chef

Enjoy!