10 Things Everyone Has To Say About 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 shop or roaster. If you're not close to the roaster, you can search online for companies that will roast and deliver your order.

Geography plays a significant role in what coffee tastes like, so pay attention to the origin of the beans you purchase.

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are more than 100 coffee varieties, but the two most commonly utilized are Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (Robusta). Robusta is more resistant to drought, diseases and pests. It can be grown at lower elevations and produces more coffee cherries each year. It is also less expensive to grow than arabica.

Robusta is responsible for 40% of world's coffee production. Although a poor-quality batch might taste like burnt rubber, a premium brew using specialty coffee beans can rival Arabica's flavor. The problem is there are some exceptions, however, most of the robusta sold on the market comes from plantations focused on quantity.

The high level of caffeine in the beans makes them invulnerable to disease and pests. This is why they are a favorite option in traditional diner coffees and instant coffees. But, even though some companies claim their product as 100 arabica-based, they usually mix it with some type of robusta to cut costs and give their customers an unsatisfactory cup of coffee. Robusta may have a harsher bitter, sour and more grainy taste than arabica. It also has the peanut, nutty or dark chocolate flavor. Some people find these flavors unpleasant or overwhelming.

Origin

Coffee beans are actually seeds which develop inside of small fruit that are colorful and sour, called coffee berries. These berries are removed from the coffee plant at the time they are ripe and then split into two beans. The beans are then roasted and used to make our beloved drink.

The most well-known variety of beans are Arabica, and they're known for their smooth flavor that isn't bitter. These beans are also renowned for their richness and offer diverse flavors. They are mostly grown in Africa, Central America, and South America where the conditions are ideal for coffee Gift brewing high-quality coffee.

These beans tend to have an expense that is higher than Robusta as they require more care in order to thrive. To allow the flavor profile to develop, they need certain temperatures and sufficient rainfall. In reality, the best beans in the world come from Africa in the region where a lot of coffee farms are owned by family-owned farms and operated in a small scale.

When buying coffee, it's important to determine if the coffee is single origin or not. "Single Origin" could mean a number of things, but it most commonly means that the coffee comes from a single farm, or region within a country. This is a large part of what makes third wave coffee so amazing knowing exactly where your coffee came from lets you experience it in its purest form.

Grind

The quality of the coffee you drink is affected by the way it is prepared. Experimenting with different grind sizes and brew methods will help you find the best blend of coffee that fits your personal taste.

The size of the grind has a major impact on the extraction of soluble coffee solids from the ground. This affects the flavor of the coffee. If the grind is too fine it is unable to get through the grind to extract those soluble coffee solids out. This is known as under extraction and may result in a weak cup of coffee. If the grind isn't fine it will allow the water to pass through the ground much more quickly and result in an over extraction. This can lead to bitterness.

You can purchase pre-ground coffee however, it is recommended to buy whole bean and grind your own beans right away prior to brewing. This will ensure that your beans are fresh and will last longer than if you were to buy the pre-ground variety.

The burr grinder is preferred to create a consistent grinding, but you can make use of a food processor a hand grinder or a mortar-and-pestle. Burr grinders feature two cutting discs that cut the beans into a certain grind consistency by changing the distance between the burrs. A smaller gap creates the finest grind, whereas an increased gap creates coarser grind.

Storage

Coffee beans are degraded at a rapid rate after they've been exposed, so it's a good idea to keep the bean bag tightly closed and only grind as much as you need for your next brew. You may want to buy a resealable canister that will remove the air and allow CO2 to escape once the beans are ground.

When stored properly When stored properly, whole bean coffee will last for up to one month. However, once the Coffee Gift is ground, the quality of your coffee can begin to decline in less than 30 minutes. It is best to use as much coffee as you'll need, and keep the remainder in an opaque, airtight container.

You can pick from a range of attractive and simple-to-use containers for storing coffee. Some are vacuum sealed to stop moisture from getting inside. Some have a one way valve that releases the gases that are produced by freshly-roasted beans, which helps prolong the freshness of beans.

The ideal location to store your leftover coffee is in a dark, cool area with a stable temperature. Avoid keeping your coffee near your oven or stove as the heat can accelerate chemical reactions that degrade the coffee. You should also keep the beans out of direct sunlight, as they absorb sunlight and reduce their flavor.