Where to Buy Coffee Beans

The best flavor comes from buying fresh coffee beans, and grinding them prior to making your coffee beans best. You can also control the size of the grind, which is not possible with grinding beans already ground.

If you can, purchase from a local roaster and/or the grocer that specializes on high quality imports. Supporting these small companies helps keep them in business and allows for better tasting coffee.

1. Choose a roaster with a good reputation.

The quality of the beans and the roasting process are both crucial to a good cup of coffee. You can find excellent beans from a variety of online roasters. However, not all are equal. Some roasters are more focused on selection while others are more precise and focused on getting the perfect roast every time. You can get a good idea about a roaster by checking out their packaging, website and reviews from customers.

When you are purchasing wholesale coffee beans, make sure you choose a roaster that is committed to sustainability and ethical business practices. This will ensure that your coffee shop is getting the highest quality beans in a responsible way. Many coffee shops are looking to support their local community by buying local roasters.

You can also save money by purchasing whole coffee beans and then grinding them yourself. This is a quick and effective way to add a fresher taste to your coffee. In addition, you can save the cost of shipping if you purchase from a local roaster who will deliver to your area.

2. Buy in smaller amounts

It is essential to purchase from small batch roasters as they will make sure that the beans you receive are fresh. This is due to the fact that they keep an inventory of a small amount and are able to move their coffee quickly and do not let it stay for too long either prior toor post roast. Additionally, they can roast at a lower temperature to avoid overdoing it.

If you prefer, look for coffee labels that have a "roasted on" date, as well as (or in lieu of) the sell-by date. Certain high-end roasters have this information printed directly on the bag, for example Stumptown or Counter Culture. They typically include specific information about the beans including the varietal, altitude, for sale and the name of the farmer.

The majority of coffee traded during the second wave and beyond is commodity coffee, which is processed in large batches and is generally dark-roasted, as it hides all sorts of imperfections. This kind of coffee isn't bad but it's not as tasty as the one you can get from a small-batch roaster. It's a bit tastier and has an aftertaste that is stronger as it's sat around for longer.

3. Buy fresh

Coffee beans are perishable and lose their aroma and flavor once they're roast. This is why it's vital to purchase fresh coffee beans from a local roaster or online when you don't have a roaster near you.

The best way to do this is by checking the 'roasted-on' date or 'use by' time on the bag. Then, you can determine the best time to buy. Ideally, you should consume your beans within two weeks from the roast date for the best flavor and taste.

If you buy your beans from a store that carries a wide range of beans, it might be more difficult to figure out how long the beans are sitting on the shelf. The majority of grocery stores don't have the facilities necessary to keep their beans at the same quality as a roaster.

It takes quite a long time and considerable amount of money to invest in the proper equipment to ensure that beans are at their freshest. Even if they invest in this equipment the amount of fresh beans available at any given time is limited.

4. Buy ground

The grocery store coffee aisle is filled with whole and ground options from all over the world. While convenience is an important factor, whole beans are better for your taste and taste buds.

It is your obligation to grind the entire bean coffee before making it into a cup. This allows the subtle flavors and freshness to be evident. The majority of coffee that is pre-ground that is available is a medium grind. This size is suitable for most coffee brewing methods.

After beans have been roasted, their quality starts to decline rapidly. After roasting, there are holes in the shell which exposes the beans to oxygen. This happens much faster than when the beans are left intact.

Typically the whole bean grocery store coffee is old when you get it home and even the sealed containers at your local grocery store are less fresh than freshly-ground coffee from an established roaster. This is because once the beans are ground for sale, they lose their subtleties, aromas and natural sugar. This is why it's important to purchase the equivalent of a week's worth of beans and store them properly.

5. Buy fair trade

Fair trade is an arrangement that guarantees coffee farmers a fair deal on the market. While the International Coffee Agreement is important in regulating quotas and keeping prices steady Fair trade organizations go a step further.

Fair Trade aims to lift coffee farmers out of poverty and to provide an industry-wide sustainable model for the industry. In addition to fair prices, fair trade demands sustainable farming practices that safeguard and preserve ecosystems, wildlife and habitats. This benefit is not only for farmers but also for people who consume the products and for the environment.

The primary way FLO and Fair Trade USA try to help alleviate poverty and jump-start economic development is to establish a "price floor" for green coffee beans. They index that floor to the New York Coffee Exchange price. Therefore, if the price for commodity (non-specialty single origin coffee beans) decreases, fair trade prices rise to match that. In addition, FLO and Fair Trade USA require that farmers work in secure conditions with a reasonable work schedule and a decent wage, and also implement strategies to ensure sustainability on their land.