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 the beans. If you're not fortunate enough to live close to one, look for online companies that roast and ship to you.

Geography plays a huge role in what coffee tastes like So, be sure to consider the origin of the beans you purchase.

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are more than 100 distinct coffee species. The two most common are Coffea arabica (Robusta) and Coffea Canephora. Robusta is more resistant to drought, pests, and diseases. It can be planted at lower elevations and produces more coffee cherries per year. It is also cheaper than arabica in terms of cultivation.

Robusta is responsible for 40% of the world's Deliciously Strong SF Bay Organic Coffee Beans production. While it's true that a low-quality robusta batch can taste like burnt rubber, a good coffee made with specialty beans can be able to surpass Arabica in taste. The problem is that, with only a few exceptions, the majority of the robusta available on the market is sourced from plantations that only care about the quantity.

The high content of caffeine in the beans makes them invulnerable to diseases and pests. This is the reason they are the most popular selection in traditional diner drinks and instant coffees. Even though some companies advertise their coffee as being 100 arabica-based, they often mix it with a kind of robusta to save money, and give their customers an inferior cup of coffee. Robusta has a more harsh, bitter and more grainy taste than arabica. It may also have an almond, peanut or dark chocolate flavor. Some people find these flavors unpleasant, or even overwhelming.

Origin

Coffee beans are actually seeds that grow inside small, vibrant fruit called coffee berries. When they reach their peak, the berries are removed from the coffee plant and divided into two beans. The beans are then roasted before being used to create our beloved coffee brew.

Arabica is the most well-known bean variety in the world. They are well-known for their smooth, non-bitter taste. They are also regarded for their richness and capacity to offer a variety of flavors. The main growing regions for these beans are Africa, Central America and South America, where the conditions for a high-quality coffee bean suppliers are optimal.

These beans are more expensive than Robusta due to their growth requires more care. They require specific temperatures and sufficient rainfall to develop their flavor profile. In reality, the best beans in the world come from Africa and the continent of Africa, where many top rated coffee beans farms are owned by family-owned farms and operated in a small scale.

Aside from the region that is growing Another important aspect to take into account when buying coffee is whether or not it's single origin. "Single Origin" can mean many things however it usually means that the coffee comes from one particular farm, crop, or region in a country. Third wave coffee is so good because it allows you to experience it in its most pure form by knowing where it came from.

Grind

A high-quality cup starts with the finest coffee beans, but the process of grinding, brewing, and serving can alter the flavor of your cup. You can discover the perfect blend of coffee by playing around with different grind sizes and brewing methods.

The grind size has a major impact on the extraction of the soluble coffee solids from the ground. This affects the taste of the coffee. If the grind is too fine, water isn't able to penetrate the grounds to get those soluble coffee solids out. This is known as under extraction and can lead to weak coffee. If the grind isn't fine, the water will pass through the grounds much faster and result in an over extraction. This can cause bitterness.

You can purchase coffee that has been ground but it's recommended to purchase a whole bean and grind your own beans right away prior to brewing. This will keep your beans fresher and longer than if they were ground pre-priced.

The burr grinding machine is ideal to create a consistent grinding, but you can use a food processor, hand grinder or mortar and pestle. Burr grinders feature two cutting discs that break the beans to a specific grind consistency by changing the distance between the burrs. A smaller gap produces an easier grinding, whereas the larger gap results in an even coarser grinding.

Storage

Coffee beans deteriorate in a rapid manner once they've been opened. Therefore, it's best to keep the bean bag tightly shut and only grind enough to make your next cup. It is also advisable to consider purchasing a resealable coffee canister, which will remove air and allow CO2 emissions that occur when the beans are first crushed to be released.

If properly stored If stored properly, whole bean coffee can be kept fresh for as long as one month. Once ground, the quality of your coffee could deteriorate in as little as 30 minutes. This is why it's recommended to only grind as much as you need and then store the rest in an airtight, opaque container.

You can pick from a range of attractive and simple-to-use containers for storing coffee. Some of them are even vacuum-sealed, which will eliminate moisture from entering. Others have a valve that releases gases produced by freshly roasted coffee, which will preserve the beans' freshness.

The best location to store your leftover coffee is in a cool, dark space that is at a constant temperature. Do not store it in the cabinet that is near your oven or stove, as the heat can speed up the chemical reactions that degrade coffee. Be sure to keep the beans out of direct sunlight can cause them to absorb it and lose flavor.