Where to Buy Coffee Beans

If you're a lover of whole coffee beans, your local independent roaster or coffee shop is the best place to purchase these beans. If you're not lucky enough to be near one, you can search for online companies who roast and then ship to customers who order.

Geography plays a huge role in what coffee tastes like therefore, pay attention to the country of origin of the beans you're purchasing.

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are more than 100 coffee species. 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 per 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 robusta batch can taste like burnt rubber, a high-quality blend made from specialty beans can actually compete with Arabica in flavor. The issue is that, with only a few exceptions, the majority of robusta on the market comes from plantations who only care about quantity.

Robusta plants thrive at lower altitudes and their resistance to diseases and pests is the result of the high amount of caffeine in the beans. This is what makes Robusta a popular choice for traditional diner coffee and instant coffee. But, even though some companies might advertise their product as 100 arabica, they frequently mix it with some form of robusta to save money and provide their customers with an unsatisfactory cup of coffee. Robusta coffee may be more bitter, more bitter and grainier than arabica. It also has the flavor of peanuts or nutty. These flavors may be unpleasant for some or too strong for others.

Origin

Coffee beans are actually seeds that are cultivated inside small vibrant fruits, referred to as coffee berries. When they are ripe, the berries are taken from the coffee plant and divided into two beans. The beans are then roasted before being used to make our beloved coffee brew.

The most well-known variety of beans is Arabica, and they're known for their smooth flavor which isn't bitter. These beans are also known for their complexity and Coffeee offer many different flavors. They are typically grown in Africa, Central America, and South America where the conditions are ideal for the production of top-quality coffee.

They are generally an expensive price than Robusta because they require more attention to ensure their growth. They require specific temperatures and a sufficient amount of rain to build their flavor profile. The finest coffee beans in the entire world come originated from Africa. Many of the farms are family-owned and run on a smaller scale.

Aside from the growing region an additional factor to consider when buying coffee is whether or not it's a single origin. "Single origin" can mean a variety of things, but most often it means that the coffee is sourced from a single farm, crop or region within a single country. Third wave coffee is so good because it allows you to experience it in the most pure form knowing where it came from.

Grind

A high-quality brew starts with excellent coffee beans however the process of grinding, brewing and serving can alter the taste of your beverage. You can find the perfect blend of coffee by experimenting with different grind sizes and brewing methods.

The grind size can have a significant impact on the extraction of soluble coffee particles from the grounds. This impacts the flavor of the coffee. If the grind is too coarse, water cannot penetrate the ground and extract solids in the coffee that are soluble. This is known as under extraction, and can lead to weak coffee. If the grind is too fine, water passes through the grounds too quickly and experiences an over extraction that results in bitterness.

You can purchase coffee that has been ground but it is recommended to purchase whole beans and grind them yourself immediately before brewing. This will ensure that your beans are fresh and last longer than if you were to buy the pre-ground coffee.

The burr grinder is the most popular for creating a consistent grinding however, you can also use a food processor, hand grinder or mortar-and-pestle. Burr grinders come with two cutting discs which can be adjusted to provide an exact grind consistency. A smaller gap will result in the finest grinding, while an increased gap produces an even coarser grinding.

Storage

Coffee beans deteriorate at an astonishing rate once they've been opened, so it's best to keep the bean bag tightly closed and grind only enough for your next brew. You might also look into buying a resealable canister that will shut out air and allow the CO2 gasses that are released when the beans are first ground to be released.

Whole bean coffee can remain in its best condition for up to a month when stored properly. Once ground, your coffee's quality will diminish in less than 30 minutes. It 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 selection of attractive and easy-to-use coffee storage containers. Some of them are even vacuum sealed, which prevents moisture from entering. Others have a one-way valve that releases gasses released by freshly roasted coffee, which can prolong the freshness of the beans.

The best place to keep the coffee you haven't used is in a cool, Solimo Intenso Dark Roast Coffee Beans 2Kg area with constant temperature. Avoid storing it in the cabinet next to your oven or stove, as the heat can accelerate the chemical reactions that degrade coffee. Also, keep the beans out of direct sunlight since they will absorb the light and diminish their flavor.