Andrew Zimmern Takes His Coffee Very, Very Seriously

Many folks choose to start off mornings by sipping on some coffee. The bitter beverage's caffeine content can put a spring in your step as you jump into the day ahead. Exactly how you get the coffee from the bean to the bloodstream, however, is completely up to you.

Over 60% of Americans enjoy a cup of joe every day, per the National Coffee Association. While some may decide to spend their money on Starbucks each morning, others opt to save a little dough by making coffee at home. The variations in the home barista setup are innumerable. Maybe you like waking up and having a little Folgers in your cup. Alternatively, you may brew your coffee one cup at a time with the help of a single-serving Keurig pod. Others won't dare touch a pod or a pot, and will instead use any number of trinkets and tools to craft the perfect java experience. Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern falls cleanly into the third camp.

In an interview with lifehacker, Andrew Zimmern gives a detailed account of his coffee preferences. He scoffs at the notion that he would deign to drink simple drip coffee, explaining that his obsession with fine foods simply doesn't allow it.

Zimmern explains that he likes to use his personal pour-over setup. Pour-over coffee, as the name suggests, involves slowly pouring hot water over coffee grounds. There are several reasons why pour-over coffee is so good. You're able to control factors like the temperature of the water and the ratio of water to coffee grounds, as well as how long your coffee grounds are brewing for, which makes for more complex coffee that you can make to perfectly align with your preferences, per Barnie's Coffee & Tea Co. It takes more effort than just flipping the switch on your coffee pot, but making a pour-over could optimize flavor.

When Andrew Zimmern is making his pour-over coffees, it isn't going to be average grocery store coffee grinds packed into his filter. He's very particular about the types of coffee he drinks.

Talking with lifehacker, the chef shares that he prefers coffee that is rich in chocolatey and nutty flavors. This leads him down a number of different paths. He says that he is always searching internationally for varieties of peaberry coffee. According to Homegrounds, many coffee connoisseurs believe that peaberry beans make a sweeter brew.

Additionally, Zimmern specifically mentioned three countries that make great coffee, namely, Rwanda, Jamaica, and Mexico. Espresso & Coffee Guide explains that brewed Rwandan coffee has a smooth body and floral hints. Jamaica's blue mountain region produces incredible coffee, which brings together the flavor of both chocolate and nuts to give coffee enthusiasts a multilayered sipping experience (via Coffee Bean Corral). Mexican coffee is less bold, but it is still rife with fruity, floral flavors, per Perfect Daily Grind.