7 Simple Secrets To Totally Enjoying 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 shop or roaster. If you're not near a roaster, go online for companies that roast and deliver your order.

The origin of your coffee beans will influence the flavor.

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are more than 100 different coffee species. Two of the most well-known are Coffea arabica (Robusta) and Coffea Canephora. Robusta is more resistant to drought, diseases and pests. It can be grown at lower altitudes and produces more coffee cherries each year. It is also less expensive than arabica in terms of cultivation.

Robusta is responsible for 40 percent of all coffee that is produced around the world. While it's true that a subpar batch of robusta may taste like burned rubber, a quality brew made with special beans can rival Arabica in flavor. The problem is with a few exceptions most of the robusta sold on the market comes only from plantations that are concerned about quantity.

Robusta plants thrive in lower altitudes and their resistance to disease and pests is because of the high amount of caffeine in the beans. This is the reason they are the most popular selection in traditional diner drinks and instant coffees. Even though some companies proclaim their product as 100% arabica, they will often mix it with a sort of robusta in order to save money and offer their customers a less than desirable cup of coffee. Robusta may have a harsher bitter, sour and more grainy taste than arabica. It also has an nutty, peanut or dark chocolate flavor.  unroasted coffee beans  can be unpleasant to some or too strong.

Origin

Coffee beans are actually seeds that develop in small, bright fruits called coffee berries. When they are mature, the fruits are removed from the coffee plant and divided into two beans. The beans are then roasted and used to make our cherished drink.

Arabica is the most sought-after bean variety in the world. They are renowned for their soft, non-bitter flavor. These beans are also known as complex and able to provide a variety flavors. They are mostly grown in Africa, Central America, and South America where the conditions are ideal for producing high-quality coffee.

These beans usually have a higher price tag than Robusta as they require more attention in order to flourish. They need certain temperatures and sufficient rainfall to develop their flavor profile. In reality, the top coffee beans on the planet come from Africa, where many coffee farms are owned by family-owned farms and operated in a small scale.

When buying coffee, it's important to consider whether the coffee is single origin or not. "Single Origin" can mean many things, but it most commonly means that the coffee comes from only one farm, crop, or region in the country. This is a big component of what makes the third wave coffee so amazing - knowing exactly where your coffee originated lets you enjoy it in its purest form.

Grind

A high-quality brew starts with the finest coffee beans, however, the process of grinding, brewing, and serving will affect the final flavor of your beverage. Making a variety of grind sizes and brew methods will allow you to find the perfect blend of coffee that matches your personal preferences.

The grind size can have a significant impact on the extraction of the soluble coffee solids from the grounds. This affects the taste of the coffee. If the grind is too coarse it is unable to penetrate the grounds to get those soluble coffee solids out. This is referred to as under extraction, and can lead to weak coffee. If the grind is fine it will allow the water to pass through the coffee grounds faster and suffer from an over extraction. This will result in bitterness.

You can purchase coffee that has been ground however it is preferential to purchase whole beans and grind the coffee yourself prior to brewing. This will keep your beans fresher and longer than if they were pre-ground.

The burr grinder is the most popular to create a consistent grinding but you can also make use of a food processor hand grinder or mortar-and-pestle. Burr grinders come with two cutting discs which can be adjusted to produce a specific consistency in the grind. A smaller gap produces the finest grind, whereas the one with a larger gap results in coarser grind.

Storage

It is recommended to keep your coffee bag tightly closed and only grind the amount you'll need for your next brew. You might also consider purchasing a resealable coffee canister that will shut out air and allow CO2 gasses that are released when the beans are first ground to be released.

If properly stored When stored properly, whole bean coffee will keep fresh for up to one month. But once it's ground the quality of your coffee may diminish in as little as 30 minutes. This is why it's recommended to only grind as much as you'll need and then store the remaining beans in an airtight, clear container.

You can choose from a variety of attractive and convenient containers for storing coffee. Some are vacuum-sealed to keep moisture from entering. Some come with a one-way valve that releases the gases created by freshly roasted beans, which prolongs the freshness of beans.

The ideal storage space for your unopened coffee is in a dark, cool location that has a steady temperature. Avoid storing your coffee near your oven or stove since heat can accelerate chemical reactions that weaken the coffee. It is also recommended to keep the beans away from direct sunlight as they will absorb it and diminish their flavor.