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 shop or roaster. If you’re unable to be near one, search online for companies that roast and deliver to you.
Geography plays an important influence on what coffee tastes like, so pay attention to the country of origin of the beans you’re purchasing.
Arabica vs. Robusta
There are over 100 different coffee species The two most commonly utilized are Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (Robusta). Robusta is more resistant to drought, diseases and pests. It can be grown at lower elevations and produces more coffee cherries per year. It is also less expensive than arabica to cultivate.
Robusta accounts for 40 percent of all coffee produced around the world. While it’s true that a low-quality robusta batch can taste like burnt rubber, a high-quality robusta brewed with specialty beans can actually surpass Arabica in taste. The issue is that with a few exceptions most robusta that is sold on the market comes from plantations that are focused on quantity.
The high caffeine content of the beans makes them invulnerable to disease and pests. This is why they are the most popular choice in traditional diner coffees and instant coffees. While some companies claim their product as being 100 arabica-based, they often mix it with some kind of robusta to save money, and provide their customers with a subpar cup of coffee. Robusta has a more harsh 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. The berries are removed from the coffee plant when ripe and then split into two beans. The beans are then roasted and used to make our beloved beverage.
Arabica is the most adored variety of beans around the world. They are renowned for their soft, non-bitter flavor. They’re also regarded for their richness and capacity to offer a variety flavors. These beans are primarily grown in Africa, Central America, and South America where the conditions are ideal for brewing high-quality coffee.
These beans typically have more expensive prices than Robusta because they require more care in order to thrive. They need certain temperatures and sufficient rainfall to create their flavor profile. The finest coffee beans in the world come from Africa. Many of the farms are family-owned and operated on a small scale.
When buying coffee, it is essential to be aware of whether the coffee is of single origin or not. “Single Origin” can mean many things however it usually refers to the fact that the coffee comes from a single farm, or region within a country. This is a significant aspect of what makes third wave coffee so amazing knowing the origin of your coffee allows you to experience it in its most pure form.
Grind
The quality of the barista coffee beans you consume is affected by the method of preparation. Try different grind sizes and brewing techniques will help you find the best blend of coffee that matches your personal preferences.
The size of the grind has a significant impact on the extraction of the soluble coffee solids from the grounds. This impacts the flavor of the coffee. If the grind is too coarse it is difficult for water to penetrate the ground and extract the solids in the coffee that are soluble. This is known as under extraction, and can lead to weak coffee. If the grind isn’t fine the water will flow through the coffee grounds faster and will experience an over extraction. This can result in bitterness.
It is possible to purchase pre-ground coffee however it is preferential to purchase whole beans and then grind them yourself immediately before brewing. This will keep your beans fresher for longer than if they were pre-ground.
The burr grinder is the most popular to ensure a consistent grinding, but you can make use of a food processor hand grinder, or mortar-and-pestle. Burr grinders have two cutting discs, which break beans into a particular grind consistency by altering the distance between the burrs. A smaller gap results in the finest grind, whereas the larger gap produces coarser grind.
Storage
It is best to keep your bag tightly closed and only grind the amount you will need for the next coffee. You may also want to consider purchasing a resealable coffee container, which will block out air and allow the CO2 gasses that are released when the beans are first crushed to be released.
Whole bean coffee will remain in its best condition for up to a month when kept in a proper storage. Once the top 10 coffee beans is ground, its quality will decrease in only 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 wide selection of attractive and practical containers to store coffee. Some are vacuum-sealed to prevent moisture from entering. Some come with a one-way valve that lets out the gasses generated by freshly roasted beans, which prolongs the freshness of beans.
The best place to keep the coffee Beans price you haven’t used is in a dark, cool place with a constant temperature. Avoid keeping your unroasted coffee beans near your stove or the oven as heat can accelerate chemical reactions that weaken the coffee. It is also important to keep the beans out of direct sunlight as they absorb sunlight and diminish their flavor.