Where to Buy Coffee Beans

If you are a fan of whole coffee beans The local independent roaster or coffee shop is the best place to buy these beans. If you don't live near an espresso machine, look online for companies who will roast and ship your order.

Geography plays a huge impact on how coffee tastes like, so pay attention to the source of the beans you're purchasing.

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are more than 100 coffee species, but the two most frequently used are Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (Robusta). Robusta is better able to withstand drought, pests, and diseases. It can be grown at lower elevations and produces more coffee cherries each year. It is also cheaper to grow than arabica.

Robusta is responsible for 40 percent of all coffee produced in the world. While a poor quality batch may taste like burned rubber, a high-quality blend made with specialty beans can match the taste of Arabica. The problem is with a few exceptions most of the robusta sold on the market comes only from plantations focused on quantity.

Robusta plants thrive at lower elevations and their resistance to disease and pests is a result of the high caffeine content in the decaf beans coffee. This is why they are the most popular selection in traditional diner drinks and instant coffees. Even though some companies proclaim their coffee as being 100% arabica, they will often mix it with a kind of robusta to save money, and offer their customers a less than desirable cup of coffee. Robusta coffee bean suppliers can be harsher and more bitter than arabica. It can also have the flavor of peanuts or nutty. These flavors can be unpleasant to some or too strong coffee beans for others.

Origin

Coffee beans are actually seeds that develop inside tiny, vibrant fruits called coffee berries. These berries are pulled from the coffee plant when they are ripe and then separated into two beans. The beans are then roasted before being used to make our cherished drink.

Arabica is the most sought-after variety of beans in the world. They are renowned for their smooth, non-bitter taste. These beans are also known for their complexity and ability to provide a variety of flavors. The most popular regions for these beans are Africa, Central America and South America, where the conditions for a high-quality coffee beans wholesale suppliers (Suggested Reading) are optimal.

These beans typically have more expensive prices than Robusta as they require more care in order to thrive. They require specific temperatures and enough 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 operated on a smaller scale.

When purchasing coffee, it is essential to be aware of whether the coffee is single origin or not. "Single Origin" can mean many things however it usually indicates that the coffee is from only one farm, or region within a particular country. This is a large 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 best coffee beans, but the process of grinding, brewing and serving can alter the flavor of your beverage. You can find the perfect mix of coffee by testing with different grind sizes and brew methods.

The size of the grind is a significant factor in the extraction of coffee solids soluble from the ground. This affects the taste of the coffee. If the grind is too coarse it is unable to penetrate the ground to pull the soluble coffee beans to buy solids out. This is known as under extraction and can lead to weak coffee. If the grind isn't fine the water will move through the grounds much faster and suffer from an over extraction. This will result in bitterness.

You can buy pre-ground coffee but it's better to purchase the whole bean and grind your own beans right away prior to brewing. This will ensure that your beans are fresh and also last longer than if were to buy the pre-ground variety.

The burr grinder is the most popular for creating a consistent grinding, but you can utilize a food processor, hand grinder or mortar-and-pestle. Burr grinders come with two cutting discs that can be adjusted to produce a particular grind consistency. A smaller gap results in more fine grinding, whereas a bigger one produces the coarser grinding.

Stores

Coffee beans deteriorate rapidly after they've been opened. Therefore, it's a good idea to keep the bean bag tightly closed and only grind as much as you need to make your next cup. You might also consider purchasing a resealable coffee canister that will shut out air and allow the CO2 gasses that are released when the beans are first ground to escape.

Whole bean coffee will stay at its freshest state for up to a month when stored properly. But once it's ground the quality of your coffee will deteriorate in as little as 30 minutes. This is why it's best to only grind the amount you'll need, and then keep the rest of the beans in an airtight, clear container.

You can purchase a wide assortment of attractive, simple-to-use coffee storage containers. Some are vacuum-sealed, which stops moisture from entering. Some come with a one-way valve that releases the gases generated by freshly roasted beans, which can prolong the beans' freshness.

The best place to keep your coffee that is not used is a cool, dark area with an even temperature. Avoid placing it in the cabinet near your oven or stove, as the heat can accelerate the chemical reactions that degrade coffee. Be sure to keep the beans out of direct sunlight will cause the beans to absorb the caffeine and lose flavor.