11 Ways To Completely Sabotage Your Coffee Beans To Buy

Where to Buy Coffee Beans

If you're a big fan of whole beans, the best place to buy them is at your local coffee independent or roaster. If you're not fortunate enough to be near one, look for online companies who roast and then ship to customers who order.

The origin of your coffee beans will influence the flavor.

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are more than 100 coffee varieties. The two most commonly used are Coffea arabica (Robusta) and Coffea Canephora. Robusta is more resistant to drought, disease and pests. It can be grown at lower elevations and produces more coffee cherries each year. It is also cheaper than arabica to cultivate.

Robusta accounts for 40 percent of all coffees produced in the world. While a poor quality batch may taste like burned rubber, a top-quality coffee made from specialty beans can compete with Arabica's taste. The issue is that there are some exceptions, however, most robusta that is sold on the market comes from plantations focused on quantity.

The high amount of caffeine in the beans makes them resistant to pests and disease. This is the reason why Robustas a popular choice for traditional diner coffee and instant coffee. Even though some companies advertise their product to be 100% arabica, they will often mix it with a sort of robusta in order to save money and provide their customers with a lower quality cup of coffee. Robusta has a more harsh sharp, bitter and more granular taste than arabica. It can also have an almond, peanut or dark chocolate flavor. These flavors may be unpleasant to some or too strong.

Origin

Coffee beans are actually seeds that grow inside of small colourful fruits known as coffee berries. These berries are plucked from the coffee plant when they are ripe and separated into two beans. The beans are then roasted before being used to make our cherished coffee brew.

Arabica is the most adored variety of beans around the world. They are renowned for their smooth, non-bitter taste. These beans are also known for their complexity, and they can offer many different flavors. They are mostly grown in Africa, Central America, and South America where the conditions are ideal for the production of top-quality coffee.

These beans are more expensive than Robusta because their growth requires more attention. They need specific temperatures and enough rainfall to develop their flavor profile. The finest coffee beans in the world come originated from Africa. A lot of farms are family-owned and operated on a small scale.

When purchasing coffee, it's important to know if the coffee is of single origin or not. "Single Origin" could mean a number of things however, it typically means that the coffee comes from a single farm, crop, or region in the same country. This is an important part of what makes third wave coffee so appealing knowing exactly the source of your coffee allows you to enjoy it in its most pure form.

Grind

The quality of the coffee bean shop you drink can be affected by the method of preparation. You can find the perfect combination of coffee by experimenting with different grind sizes and brew methods.

The size of the grind plays a major role in how the soluble coffee solids are extracted from the ground during brewing, and this impacts the taste of your cup of coffee. If the grind is too fine the water won't be able to penetrate the grounds to get the coffee's soluble solids out. This is known as under extraction, and can lead to a weak cup of Cafe coffee Beans. If the grind is fine it will allow the water to pass through the grounds much faster and suffer from an over extraction. This will result in bitterness.

You can buy pre-ground coffee but it is recommended to purchase whole beans and grind them yourself before making. This will ensure that your beans are fresh and last longer than if you were to buy the pre-ground variety.

A burr grinder is the best tool to create a consistent grind, but you can also use a hand grinder or a food processor as well as a mortar and pestle. Burr grinders have two cutting discs that can be adjusted to produce a specific consistency in the grind. A smaller gap results in more fine grind, while the one with a larger gap results in a coarser grind.

Storage

It is best to keep your bag tightly shut and only grind what you'll need for the next coffee. It is also advisable to consider purchasing a resealable coffee canister, which will remove air and allow CO2 off-gassing that happens when the beans are first crushed to be released.

Whole bean coffee will stay at its freshest for up to a month when kept in a proper storage. Once ground, your coffee's quality will degrade in just 30 minutes. That is why it's best to only grind the amount you need and then store the rest in a sealed, airtight container.

You can find a vast variety of attractive, easy-to-use coffee storage containers. Some are vacuum-sealed, which will eliminate moisture from entering. Others have a valve that lets out the gasses released by freshly roasted coffee which will extend the beans' freshness.

The best place to keep your coffee that is not used is a cool, dark area with the same temperature. Avoid placing your coffee in close proximity to your stove or the oven as the heat can speed up chemical reactions that destroy the coffee. Keep the beans out of direct sunlight can cause the coffee to absorb and lose flavor.