Where to Buy Coffee Beans

If you're a big fan of whole beans, the best place to purchase them is at your local coffee independent or roaster. If you don't live near the roaster, you can search online for companies that roast and deliver your order.

Geography plays an important impact on how coffee tastes like So, be sure to consider the origins of the beans you're buying.

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are over 100 different coffee species however, the two most frequently utilized are Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (Robusta). Robusta is more resistant to drought, pests, and diseases. It can be planted at lower elevations and produces more coffee cherries every year. It is also cheaper to grow than arabica.

Robusta accounts for 40 percent of all coffees produced in the world. While a poor quality batch may taste like burnt rubber, a superior brew using specialty beans can surpass the flavor of Arabica. The issue is that with a few exceptions the majority of robusta sold on the market is from plantations that are focused on quantity.

The high caffeine content of the beans makes them resistant to diseases and pests. This is why they are Robusta a popular option for traditional diner coffee and instant coffee. However, while some companies may advertise their product as 100 arabica-based, they typically mix it with other varieties of robusta to cut costs and provide their customers with the least desirable cup of coffee. Robusta has a more harsh bitter, sour and more grainy taste than arabica. It can also have the peanut, nutty or dark chocolate taste. Some people find these flavors unpleasant or overpowering.

Origin

Coffee beans are actually seeds that grow in small, bright fruits called coffee berries. When ripe, these berries are taken from the coffee plant and separated into two Coffeee Beans. The beans are then roasted before being used to make our beloved brew.

Arabica is the most popular variety of bean in the world. They are well-known for their smooth, non-bitter taste. These beans are also known for their richness and can provide many different flavors. They are mostly grown in Africa, Central America, and South America where the conditions are ideal for the production of high-quality coffee.

These beans are more expensive than Robusta due to their growth requires more attention. They need certain temperatures and sufficient rainfall to create their flavor profile. The finest coffee beans in the entire world come from Africa. Many of the farms are family-owned and run on a smaller scale.

Aside from the region that is growing, another important factor to take into consideration when purchasing coffee is whether or if it's of a single origin. "Single Origin" can mean a variety of things but generally refers to the fact that the coffee comes from one farm, a crop, or region in a particular country. This is a large element of what makes third wave coffee so wonderful knowing where your coffee came from allows you to enjoy it in its most pure form.

Grind

The quality types of coffee beans the coffee you consume is affected by the way it is prepared. Making a variety of grind sizes and brewing techniques will help you discover the perfect blend of coffee that fits your personal taste.

The size of the grind has a significant impact on the extraction of soluble coffee solids from the ground. This affects the flavor 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 known as under extraction and could result in weak coffee. If the grind is too fine, the water passes through the grounds too quickly and undergoes an over extraction, resulting in bitterness.

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

A burr grinder is a preferred tool for creating a consistent grind, but you can also use a hand grinder as well as a food processor or a mortar and pestle. Burr grinders come with two cutting discs, which break beans into a particular grind consistency by altering the distance between the burrs. A smaller gap will result in the finest grinding, while the larger gap results in the coarser grinding.

Stores

500g coffee beans beans degrade in a rapid manner once they are opened, so it is a good idea to keep the bag tightly closed and grind only as much as you need for the next time you brew. You may also look into buying a resealable canister, which will remove air and allow CO2 gasses that are released when the beans are first ground to be released.

When stored properly Whole bean coffee can remain fresh for up to one month. But once it's ground the quality of your coffee can diminish in as little as 30 minutes. It's best to only use the amount of coffee you need, and store the remainder in an opaque airtight container.

You can choose from a range of attractive and simple-to-use containers for storing coffee. Some are vacuum-sealed to keep moisture from getting inside. Some even have a one-way valve that releases the gasses produced by freshly roasted beans, which extends the freshness of beans.

The best location to store your leftover coffee is in a dark, cool area that has a steady temperature. Do not store it in the cabinet near your oven or stove, as the heat can accelerate the chemical reactions that destroy coffee. Be sure to keep the beans out of direct sunlight can cause the coffee to absorb and lose flavor.