Where to Buy Coffee Beans

If you're a fan of whole coffee beans the local independent roaster or coffee shop is the best place to purchase them. If you're unable to live near one, try searching online for companies that roast and ship to order.

Geography plays a huge factor in the taste of coffee like So, be sure to consider the origin of the beans you're purchasing.

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are more than 100 different coffee varieties. The two most popular are Coffea arabica (Robusta) and Coffea Canephora. Robusta is more resistant to drought, diseases and pests. It can be planted at lower elevations and produces more coffee cherries each year. It is also less expensive to grow than arabica.

Robusta is responsible for 40% of the world's coffee production. While it's true that a low-quality batch of robusta can taste like burned rubber, a premium coffee made with specific beans can easily surpass Arabica in flavor. The problem is that, with only a few exceptions the majority of robusta sold on the market is from plantations that are only concerned about quantity.

The high caffeine content of beans makes them immune to pests and disease. This is the reason they are the most popular selection in traditional diner drinks and instant coffees. Even though some companies advertise their product to be 100 arabica-based, they often mix it with some sort of robusta in order to save money and give their customers an inferior cup of speciality coffee beans. Robusta coffee can be more harsh, more bitter and grainier than arabica. It may also have a nutty, peanut or dark roast coffee beans chocolate flavor. These flavors may be unpleasant to some people or too strong for others.

Origin

Coffee beans are actually seeds that develop in small, bright fruits called coffee berries. These berries are removed from the luxury coffee Beans plant at the time they are ripe and separated into two beans. The beans are then roasted and used to create our beloved drink.

Arabica is the most sought-after variety of beans in the world. They are well-known for their smooth, non-bitter taste. These beans are also known for their richness and capacity to provide a variety of flavors. These beans are primarily grown in Africa, Central America, and South America where the conditions are ideal for brewing high-quality coffee.

They are more expensive than Robusta, because their growth requires more care. For the flavor profile of these beans to develop, they need certain temperatures and sufficient rainfall. In reality, the best coffee beans on the planet come from Africa in the region where a lot of coffee farms are run by family-owned farms and operated at a micro level.

Apart from the region of production an additional factor to take into consideration when purchasing coffee is whether or not it's single origin. "Single origin" can refer to a variety of things, but most often it means that the coffee is sourced from a single farm, crop or region within one country. This is a big component of what makes the third wave coffee so appealing knowing exactly where your coffee originated allows you to enjoy it in its purest form.

Grind

A high-quality cup starts with the finest coffee beans, however the process of grinding, brewing and serving can alter the taste of your beverage. Making a variety of grind sizes and brew methods will allow you to discover the best blend of beans that suits your individual taste.

The size of the grind plays a significant impact on how the soluble coffee components are extracted from the ground during brewing, and this impacts the flavor of your coffee. If the grind is too coarse it will be difficult for water to penetrate into the ground and extract solids in the luxury coffee beans that are soluble. This is called under extraction and could result in weak coffee. If the grind isn't fine it will allow the water to pass through the coffee grounds faster and result in an over extraction. This will result in bitterness.

You can purchase pre-ground top 10 coffee beans however it is preferential to buy whole beans and grind the coffee yourself prior to making. This will ensure that your beans are fresh and will also last longer than if you were to purchase the pre-ground coffee.

A burr grinder is the best tool to create a consistent grind, but you can also use a hand grinder or a food processor, or a mortar and pestle. Burr grinders feature two cutting discs that cut the beans into a specific grind consistency by altering the distance between the burrs. A smaller gap produces an easier grind, while a larger one produces an even coarser grind.

Stores

Coffee beans degrade at a rapid rate after they've been opened, so it's best to keep the bean bag tightly closed and only grind the amount you'll need for the next time you brew. You might want to invest in an resealable container that will rid the air and permit CO2 to escape when the beans are crushed.

When stored properly If stored properly, whole bean coffee can be kept fresh for as long as one month. However, once ground the quality of your coffee could deteriorate in as little as 30 minutes. It is recommended to only use the amount of coffee you need, and then store the remainder in an opaque airtight container.

You can pick from a wide selection of attractive and practical containers for storing coffee. Some are vacuum-sealed to prevent moisture from entering. Others have a valve that will release the gasses released by freshly roasted coffee which will prolong the freshness of the beans.

The best place to keep the coffee you haven't used is in a cool, dark area with constant temperature. Avoid storing it in the cabinet by the oven or stove as the heat can accelerate the chemical reactions that destroy coffee. It is also recommended to keep the beans out of direct sunlight, since they will absorb it and reduce their flavor.