"How you

react to these four characteristics will ultimately define what coffee

'taste' appeals to you," explained Master Taster Willy Pettersson

for Gevalia Kaffe, a European coffee company which offers a gourmet blend

for virtually every palate. "As a great sommelier might test the

uniform taste and body of a fine wine, I do the same for Gevalia's coffees,

weighing these four characteristics until the perfect balance is achieved."

So what exactly

does each tasting term mean to you and how you describe your favorite

coffee blend?

Aroma refers

to three distinct smelling sensations: Fragrance (how the ground beans

smell before brewing); Cup Aroma (how the vapors smell from the freshly

brewed pot); and Nose (how the brew smells when it wafts to your nose).

Body describes

the feel of the coffee on your palate. It relates primarily to the perceived

"mouth feel" of the coffee-is it thick, watery or smooth?

Acidity refers

to the enjoyable tartness of the coffee. Frequently misunderstood, this

describes the coffee's lively palate cleansing quality, using terms such

as bright, vibrant or dry.

Flavor refers

to a combination of the aroma, body and acidity. Words such as richness

(refers to the body); complexity (refers to how the different flavors

intermingle); and balance (refers to how all the tasting characteristics

work together) help you to capture the coffee's flavor.

Achieving the

perfect cup can be accomplished easily by finding your personal preferred

brewing preferences, and using the right equipment. Begin with a rich,

gourmet blend, such as Gevalia's Espresso Roast, to ensure a high quality

and superior tasting coffee. A good starting point for measuring is one

scoop of coffee for every six-ounce cup of fresh water-from there you

can adjust the measure to suit your taste. Always use a clean, automatic

drip coffeemaker. With your new expertise, the next time you brew the

"perfect" pot of coffee, appreciate its quality and let others

share the experience.

For a free

guide with more tips to help you brew the perfect pot of coffee, send

a self-addressed stamped envelope to "Gevalia Appreciation Guide,"

c/o Ketchum, 711 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017. You can find additional

information about Gevalia and its more than 40 coffee and tea varieties

at www.gevalia.com .

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