After oil, coffee is the most traded commodity in the world so it is not surprising that new coffee shops are springing up all over the place. Apparently Starbucks opens a new outlet every 36 hours. It is those that are doing things differently that are worth taking note of.Urban Grind Coffee Roasters opened in Parkhurst, Johannesburg, on Thursday night, with its first customers treated to a whisky and coffee pairing.Pairings - with whisky, brandy or chocolate - will be offered weekly on Thursdays and Fridays from 6pm to 8pm. During the pairing, guests sip the coffee then the whisky or brandy (or bite the chocolate), allowing both flavours to blend on the tongue, adding a new level to the enjoyment of both.Business partners Dirk Both and Wayne Burrows say the idea of a "shop of coffee" was sparked by their travels to New York and London."We saw an opportunity to bring a better understanding of coffee production and variety to the market, especially here in Parkhurst," said Both.''Our coffee is imported from different countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda, Brazil and India. Each country's coffee has its own flavour."The shop has a rustic look, with a dark, modern interior . Sit on one of the bar stools and soon enough a highly knowledgeable barista will bring you a free brew. You cannot miss the shop, with its wooden-plank exterior and big red star, from the road."While you're having a cup we teach you the different varieties and explain how we roast beans into different blends from a variety of single origins," said Both."And on Thursday and Friday pairing evenings, Urban Grind is a good place to start your night before you hit the streets for Phuza Thursday," addedBurrows.I tasted a range of coffees, but was intrigued most by the Cold Drip brew. It is made with Brazilian beans and ice water, using 100g of coffee and 100g of cold water, which goes through cylinders that dissolve the oil from the bean.The coffee has a chocolate and caramel tone that leaves a bitter taste in your mouth - in this case, a very good thing.Coffee TipsCoffee shouldn't be too fresh or too old. It's ideal to use beans 10 to 14 days after they are roasted. Store in a bag with a one-way valve.Buy beans and grind at home.Don't store coffee in the fridge. Condensation adds back water to the coffee, which changes the flavour. Also, coffee absorbs smells like garlic and cheese.The thing that most affects the taste of coffee is the quality of water used (not the machine). Filtered water is best.Buy a roast for the type of coffee you're going to make - filter roast or espresso roast, for example.It's a myth that coffee should be made with boiling water - it results in a burnt, bitter taste...