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Where to Buy Coffee Beans
If you're a big fan of whole coffee beans, your local independent roaster or coffee shop is the best place to buy these beans. If you don't live near a roaster, search online for companies that will roast and deliver your order.
Geography plays a significant impact on how coffee tastes like therefore, pay attention to the origin of the beans you purchase.
Arabica vs. Robusta
There are more than 100 distinct coffee varieties. The two most common are Coffea arabica (Robusta) and Coffea Canephora. Robusta is better able to withstand drought, pests, and diseases. It can be grown at lower elevations and produces more coffee cherries every year. It is also less expensive to cultivate than arabica.
Robusta is responsible for 40% of all coffee produced around the world. Although a poor-quality batch might taste like burnt rubber, a top-quality coffee brewed with specialty beans could surpass the flavor of Arabica. The problem is that, with only a few exceptions the majority of robusta on the market comes from plantations that only care about quantity.
Robusta plants thrive at lower altitudes, and their resistance to disease and pests is the result of the high caffeine content in the beans. This is the reason they are a popular choice for traditional diner coffees and instant coffees. While some companies claim their coffee as being 100 arabica, they often mix it with a type of robusta to save money, but give their customers an inferior cup of coffee. Robusta coffee can be more harsh and more bitter than arabica. It also has an nutty or peanut taste. These flavors can be unpleasant to some people or too strong for others.
Origin
Coffee beans are actually seeds that develop inside small, vibrant fruit called coffee berries. These berries are removed from the coffee plant when they are ripe and then separated into two beans. The beans are then roasted before being used to create our beloved coffee brew.
Arabica is the most sought-after variety of bean in the world. They are known for their soft, non-bitter flavor. These beans are also regarded as complex and able to provide a variety of flavors. These beans are primarily grown in Africa, Central America, and South America where the conditions are ideal for the production of top-quality coffee.
These beans tend to have an expense that is higher than Robusta because they require more care to ensure their growth. They need specific temperatures and enough rain to build their flavor profile. The best coffee beans in the entire world are from Africa. Many of the farms are owned by families and run on a small scale.
Apart from the region of production an additional factor to consider when buying coffee is whether or not it's of single origin. "Single origin" could mean a range of things, but typically it means that the coffee is sourced from one farm, a crop or region within a single country. This is an important element of what makes third wave coffee so appealing knowing exactly the origin of your coffee lets you enjoy it in its most pure form.
Grind
A high-quality brew starts with excellent coffee beans however, the process of grinding, brewing, and serving can alter the taste of your cup. Making a variety of grind sizes and brew methods will help you find the most optimal blend of coffee that suits your individual taste.
The size of the grind plays an important role in the way that the soluble coffee solids are extracted from the ground during brewing, and this impacts the taste of your coffee. If the grind is too coarse and water isn't able penetrate the grounds to get those soluble coffee solids out. This is known as under extraction and can cause a weak cup of coffee. If the grind isn't fine, the water will pass through the coffee grounds faster and result in an over extraction. This can result in bitterness.
You can buy pre-ground coffee but it is recommended to buy whole beans and grind them yourself immediately before brewing. This will keep your beans fresher and longer than if they were already ground.
The burr grinder is the most popular for a consistent grind however, you can use a food processor, hand grinder, or mortar-and-pestle. Burr grinders have two cutting discs that cut the beans into a certain grind consistency by changing the distance between the burrs. A smaller gap results in the finest grind, whereas a larger one produces more coarse grind.
Stores
It is best to keep your coffee bag tightly closed and only grind what you'll need for your next brew. You may also want to look into buying a resealable canister, which will remove air and allow the CO2 emissions that occur when the beans are first ground to be released.
When stored properly If stored properly, whole bean coffee can remain fresh for up to one month. Once the coffee is ground, its quality will degrade in just 30 minutes. good coffee beans is recommended to only use as much coffee as you need, and store the remainder in an opaque airtight container.
You can find a vast assortment of attractive, simple-to-use coffee storage containers. Some are vacuum-sealed, which prevents moisture from entering. Some even have a single-way valve that lets out the gases produced by freshly roasted coffee, which will prolong the beans' freshness.
The best place to store your coffee that is not used is a cool, dark area with a constant temperature. Do not store it in the cabinet that is near your stove or oven, as the heat could accelerate the chemical reactions that degrade coffee. Keep the beans out of direct sunlight will cause them to absorb the coffee and lose flavor.