Writer Lara Piu
Photography courtesy Press Coffee Roasters

[dropcap]Y[dropcap]ou may not realize it, but behind the scenes, coffee shops invest hours of consideration, planning, selection and applied education into the coffee beans they buy and brew. Before your favorite bevy is served, many hands had an impact and many minds had a say in that Instagram-worthy cuppa joe served out of the best coffee shops in st augustine fl, or indeed around your local area. For this reason, many baristas are against nespresso (learn about the espresso vs nespresso debate).

So what is all the fuss about? Press Coffee Roasters answers that very question every Saturday morning at its Coffee 101 tasting class. Held at Scottsdale Quarter at 10 a.m., the local coffee shop and roaster shares everything you need to know in a one-hour session: the ins and outs of coffee beans, the regions where they are grown around the world, and more. Known for its high-quality coffee beans and brewing methods, the class supports the company’s mission to spread its coffee knowledge and passion with the community. Once you’ve become a coffee tasting expert you might want to stop making your normal black coffee’s in the morning and enjoy one with a bit more taste and quality, perhaps looking at these coffee machines could spark you into wanting to create the perfect cup of coffee every morning for yourself.

First, experts from Press Coffee Roasters guide you through a brief history of each coffee and how their journey from seed to cup has created the flavors you taste today. Then, just as a professional bean buyer would, you’ll partake in a coffee cupping, where you’ll evaluate the beans and roasts of four distinctly different coffees. It’s a fun and interactive experience filled with learning, smelling and (if you do it right, loud) slurping. By the end, you’ll be ready to join, or perhaps lead, the coffee conversation with a new understanding of and appreciation for the coffee you love. Perhaps you’ll even be inspired to start making your own coffee from home, applying any new techniques you’ve learned, or even looking on sites like Slummy Single Mummy to find unique and alternative ways to make your favourite drink.

Registration for tasting classes is $10 and participants receive a $10 gift card redeemable at any of Press Coffee Roasters’ three Valley locations. Space is limited and advance registration is advised. Sign up on the company’s website.

If brain food is called for afterward, Press Coffee Roasters has added four new avocado toasts to the menu. Order yours plain, with egg or select from one of three topping combinations. The caprese avocado toast is loaded with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil, then finished with a drizzle of thick, caramel-like balsamic vinegar. The protein avocado toast is topped with bacon, sausage and cojita cheese. And the BFT avocado toast is heaping with bacon, feta and cherry tomatoes. If a wrap is more your style, the turkey bacon wrap has layers of arugula, cheddar, avocado, tomato and fresh turkey slices. It’s slathered with honey mustard and neatly pulled together in an oversized, fresh tortilla.

Coffee 101 Tasting
Press Coffee Roasters
Scottsdale Quarter
15147 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste. 102
Saturdays 10-11 a.m.
$10

presscoffee.com