10 No-Fuss Strategies To Figuring Out Your Coffee Beans To Buy

Where to Buy Coffee Beans

If you're a lover of whole beans, the best place to buy them is at your local coffee independent or roaster. If you're not lucky enough to be near one, try searching online for companies which roast and ship to you.

Geography plays a huge role in what coffee tastes like and so be aware of the country of origin of the beans you're purchasing.

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are more than 100 different coffee varieties. The two most common are Coffea arabica (Robusta) and Coffea Canephora. Robusta is better able to withstand drought, pests and diseases. It can be grown at lower altitudes and produces more coffee cherries per year. It is also less expensive than arabica in terms of cultivation.

Robusta is responsible for 40% of world's coffee production. Although a poor-quality batch might taste like burnt rubber, a high-quality brew using specialty beans can compete with Arabica's taste. The issue is that, with a few exceptions the majority of robusta on the market is sourced from plantations that care only about the quantity.

The high caffeine content of the beans makes them invulnerable to diseases and pests. This is why they are a popular choice in traditional diner coffees and instant coffees. Even though some companies advertise their product as 100 arabica, they often mix it with some type of robusta to save money, and offer their customers a less than desirable cup of coffee. Robusta may have a harsher sharp, bitter and more granular taste than arabica. It can also have a nutty or peanut flavor. These flavors may be unpleasant to some or too strong for others.

Origin

Coffee beans are actually seeds that grow inside small, colorful fruit called coffee berries. When they are mature, the berries are taken from the coffee plant and split into two beans. The beans are then roasted and used to make our cherished beverage.

Arabica is the most adored variety of beans around the world. They are famous for their smooth, non-bitter taste. They're also renowned for their richness and offer diverse flavors. These beans are primarily grown in Africa, Central America, and South America where the conditions are ideal for producing high-quality coffee.

These beans are more expensive than Robusta because their growth requires more attention. They need specific temperatures and sufficient rainfall to develop their flavor profile. In reality, the top coffee beans on the planet come from Africa which is where the majority of coffee farms are run by family-owned farms that operate on a micro-scale.

When purchasing coffee, it is crucial to know if the coffee is single origin or not. "Single origin" can mean a variety of things, but typically it means that the coffee is sourced from a specific farm, crop or region within a specific country. Third wave coffee is excellent because you get to experience it in its most pure form by knowing where it came from.

Grind

The quality of the coffee you drink is affected by the way it is prepared. Experimenting with different grind sizes and brewing techniques will allow you to find the best blend of coffee that matches your personal preferences.

The size of the grind can have a significant impact on the extraction of soluble coffee particles from the grounds. This affects the taste of the coffee. If the grind is too coarse the water won't be able to penetrate the grounds to get the coffee solids that are soluble out. This is referred to as under extraction, and can result in a weak coffee. If the grind is too fine, the water is able to pass through the ground too quickly and undergoes an over extraction that results in bitterness.

It is possible to purchase pre-250g Ground ROBUSTA Coffee Beans - High Caffeine coffee but it is best to buy whole beans and grind them yourself before brewing. This will keep your beans fresher and longer than if they had been pre-ground.

The burr grinding machine is ideal to create a consistent grinding but you can also make use of a food processor, hand-grinders or a mortar-and-pestle. Burr grinders have two cutting discs that can be adjusted to ensure the perfect grind consistency. A smaller gap produces a finer grind while the one with a larger gap results in a coarser grind.

Storage

Coffee beans degrade at an astonishing rate once they are opened, so it is a good idea to keep the bag tightly shut and grind only enough to make the next brew. It is also advisable to think about purchasing a resealable canister that will shut out air and allow the CO2 off-gassing that happens when the beans are first crushed to escape.

Whole bean coffee will remain at its peak freshness for up to a month when stored correctly. But once it's ground the quality of your coffee could deteriorate in as little as 30 minutes. It is best to use the amount of coffee you need, and store the rest in an opaque, airtight container.

You can buy a wide assortment of attractive, simple-to-use coffee storage containers. Some are vacuum-sealed, which prevents moisture from getting inside. Others have a valve that releases gasses produced by freshly roasted coffee which will prolong the freshness of the beans.

The best place to keep your unused coffee is a cool, Whittard Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans 150g - Decadent Indulgence area with constant temperature. Avoid placing it in the cabinet near your oven or stove, since the heat can accelerate the chemical reactions that destroy coffee. Keep the beans out of direct sunlight can cause the beans to absorb the caffeine and lose its flavor.