Coffee Wonders

by Raegan Densmore

Photo Credit: Raegan Densmore

I have been a big coffee fan for a long time. Not only is it a fun treat to get for yourself and an excuse to leave the house, getting coffee is also a fun activity to do with friends. Recently, I have been diving more into the coffee realm, not just by going to cafes, but by learning the different kinds, and even making it myself as well.

Whenever someone asks me what I like to do for fun here in Toronto, I say I like to walk around and explore different cafes. I have barely done so this winter, due to school work and also the weather. But now that it is April, it's warmer, and I have a free week during exam season, I plan to explore some more. I enjoy seeking out good study spots, I appreciate cafes with themes or intriguing interior designs. There are so many local cafes here, and I love to try the coffee each of them make, whether that be a simple latte, or one of a unique flavour. It's quite enjoyable to experience the different varieties of taste. 

I do not only buy lattes, however, I have been learning how to make lattes myself. My grandmother bought my espresso machine and grinder for me, which I really thank her for. When I first started, it was quite sad actually, I was using bottled water and pre ground coffee (this was before I got a grinder), I was simply pouring a shot (eyeballing it too) and did not steam my milk. And I wondered why it tasted so bad. Now I have good quality beans that I grind myself, and the proper equipment and technique (roughly), my lattes have actually been tasting great. I still suck at latte art though, but I am determined to improve. 

Making coffee is basically a science, I have grown to realize. Especially with some of the ways there are to make it, and taste it. For example, I had no clue what pour over coffee was until this year. It is a very interesting way of making coffee that emphasizes the assortment of flavours extracted from the beans. One could describe it as quite tea-like and no milk is needed. The temperature, the ratio of coffee to water, and where you pour from are very important when it comes to this type of coffee. Through this, I learned about coffee beans, their different varieties, and all the different notes they can taste like. I got some espresso beans of this kind for myself, the flavour notes of mine are chocolate strawberries, cinnamon hearts, and cocoa. It has a very pleasing taste. 

Being a coffee lover makes living in a walkable city so much more exciting. There are plenty of cafes and coffee shops everywhere, which is great for buying coffee, and for making it yourself. There is so much I have learned about coffee in the past couple of months. Not only does it taste good, it truly is an art.