Where to Buy Coffee Beans

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

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

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are over 100 different coffee varieties, but the two most frequently used are Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (Robusta). Robusta is more resistant against drought, pests and diseases. It can be planted at lower elevations and produces more coffee cherries every year. It is also less expensive than arabica to cultivate.

Robusta accounts for 40 percent of all coffees produced around the world. Although a poor-quality batch may taste like burnt rubber, a superior coffee brewed with specialty beans could match the taste of Arabica. The problem is that, with a few exceptions the majority of robusta sold on the market comes from plantations that care only about the quantity.

The high amount of caffeine in beans makes them immune to disease and pests. This is why they are a common choice in traditional diner coffees and instant coffees. However, while some companies might advertise their product as 100 arabica-based, they usually mix it with a variety of robusta in order to save money and offer their customers the less than ideal cup of premium coffee beans. Robusta is known to have a stronger bitter, sour and more grainy taste than arabica. It also has an nutty or peanut taste. These flavors can be unpleasant for 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 fruit are removed from the coffee plant and divided into two beans. The beans are then roasted and then used to make our most-loved beverage.

The most popular variety of beans is Arabica and are known for their smoky flavor that isn't bitter. These beans are also known for their richness, and they can offer an array of flavors. The most popular regions for these beans are Africa, Central America and South America, where the conditions for a high-quality coffee are ideal.

These beans typically have a higher price tag than Robusta because they require more care for growth. For the flavor profile of these beans to develop, they require specific temperatures and adequate rainfall. In fact, the finest beans in the world originate from Africa and the continent of Africa, where many coffee farms are owned by family-owned farms, and operate on a micro-scale.

In addition to the region in which it is grown an additional factor to take into account when buying coffee is whether or not it's single origin. "Single Origin" could mean a number of things however, it typically indicates that the coffee is from only one farm, crop, or region in the same country. This is a significant part of what makes third wave coffee so amazing knowing where your coffee came from lets you experience it in its purest form.

Grind

The quality of the coffee you consume is affected by the method of preparation. Making a variety of grind sizes and brewing methods will help you discover the perfect blend of coffee that suits your individual taste.

The grind size has a significant impact on the extraction of soluble coffee particles from the ground. This impacts the flavor of the coffee. If the grind is too coarse, water isn't able to get through the grind to extract those soluble coffee solids out. This is known as under extraction, and can result in a weak coffee. If the grind is too fine, the water passes through the grounds too quickly and suffers an over extraction that results in bitterness.

You can purchase coffee that has been ground but it's better to purchase whole beans and grind your own beans directly before brewing. This will keep your beans fresher and longer than if they were already ground.

A burr grinder is a preferred tool for creating a consistent grind. However, you can also use a hand-grinder or a food processor as well as a mortar and pestle. Burr grinders are equipped with two cutting discs which can be adjusted to produce a specific consistency in the grind. A smaller gap leads to an easier grinding, whereas the larger gap results in an even coarser grinding.

Storage

It is recommended to keep your coffee bag tightly shut and only grind the amount you'll need for the next brew. You may want to buy a resealable canister that will eliminate the air and allow CO2 to escape after the beans are ground.

Whole bean coffee can stay at its freshest state for up to a month if stored properly. However, once ground the quality of your coffee can decrease in just 30 minutes. It is best to use as much coffee as you need, and then store the remainder in an opaque, airtight container.

You can choose from a variety of attractive and easy-to-use containers for storing coffee bean suppliers near me. Some are vacuum-sealed, which prevents moisture from getting inside. Some have a one-way valve that lets out the gasses that are produced by freshly roasted coffee which will preserve the beans' freshness.

The best place to store the coffee bean shop near me you haven't used is in a cool, dark area with the same temperature. Avoid storing it in a cabinet that is near your stove or oven, as the heat can speed up the chemical reactions that degrade Organic coffee Beans. Also, keep the beans out of direct sunlight, since they will absorb it and diminish their flavor.