Where to Buy Coffee Beans

If you're a big fan of whole coffee beans bulk buy beans, your local independent roaster or coffee shop is the best place to purchase the beans. If you don't live near a roaster, search online for companies that will roast and ship your order.

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

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are over 100 different coffee varieties The two most commonly utilized are Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (Robusta). Robusta is more resistant to drought, pests, and diseases. It can be grown at lower elevations and produces more coffee cherries per year. It is also cheaper than arabica in terms of cultivation.

Robusta accounts for 40 percent of all coffees produced around the world. Although a poor-quality batch may taste like burned rubber, a premium brew using specialty beans can compete with Arabica's taste. The problem is that, with only a few exceptions, the majority of the robusta available on the market is from plantations who only care about the quantity.

Robusta plants thrive in lower altitudes and their resistance to disease and pests is because of the high caffeine content in the beans. This is what makes Robustas a favorite choice for traditional diner coffee and instant coffee. However, while some companies claim their product as 100 arabica-based, they usually mix it with some form of robusta to cut costs and give their customers an unsatisfactory cup of coffee. Robusta coffee can be more harsh, more bitter and grainier than arabica. It also has the flavor of peanut or nutty. Some people find these flavors unpleasant or overwhelming.

Origin

Coffee beans are actually seeds that grow inside small, colorful fruit called coffee berries. When they reach their peak, the fruits are removed from the coffee beans to buy (reference) plant and divided into two beans. The beans are roasted, and then used to create our favorite beverage.

Arabica is the most popular variety of beans in the world. They are well-known for their soft, non-bitter flavor. These beans are also known as complex and able to offer a variety flavors. The primary regions of cultivation for these beans are Africa, Central America and South America, where the conditions for producing high quality coffee are ideal.

These beans tend to have an expense that is higher than Robusta due to the fact that they require more care for growth. They require specific temperatures and sufficient rainfall to create their flavor profile. In reality, the best coffee beans around originate from Africa and the continent of Africa, where many coffee farms are run by family farms and operated at a micro level.

When buying coffee, it is crucial to be aware of whether the coffee is of single origin or not. "Single Origin" can mean a variety of things however it usually indicates that the coffee is from one particular farm, or region within a particular country. Third wave coffee is so great because you can taste it in its purest form by knowing where it originated from.

Grind

The quality of the coffee you drink is affected by the method of preparation. You can find the perfect blend of coffee by experimenting with different grind sizes and brew methods.

Grind size plays a big influence on how the soluble coffee components are extracted from the grounds during brewing, and this impacts the flavor of your coffee. If the grind is too fine it will be difficult for water to penetrate into the ground and extract the coffee solids that are soluble. This is known as under extraction, and can cause a weak cup of coffee. If the grind isn't fine the water will flow through the ground much more quickly and result in an over extraction. This can result in bitterness.

It is possible to purchase pre-ground coffee but it's recommended to buy whole bean and grind your own beans directly before making. This will keep your beans fresher for longer than if they had been pre-ground.

The burr grinder is the most popular for creating a consistent grinding but you can also make use of a food processor hand-grinders or a mortar-and-pestle. Burr grinders are equipped with two cutting discs that can be adjusted to provide an exact grind consistency. A smaller gap produces a finer grinding, while the larger gap results in a coarser grinding.

Stores

It is best to keep your bean bag tightly sealed and only grind the amount you will need for the next coffee. You might want to invest in an open-top canister that is resealable to remove the air and allow CO2 to escape when the beans are ground.

If properly stored If stored properly, whole bean coffee can remain fresh for up to one month. However, once the coffee is ground, the quality of your coffee could begin to decline in less than 30 minutes. This is the reason it's important to only grind as much as you'll need and then store the rest of the beans in an airtight, opaque container.

You can pick from a wide selection of attractive and practical containers to store coffee. Some are vacuum-sealed, which will eliminate moisture from getting in. Others have a one-way valve that releases gasses produced by freshly roasted coffee which can prolong the freshness of the beans.

The best place to store your unused coffee is in a dark, cool location that has a steady temperature. Avoid placing your coffee near the stove or the oven as the heat can speed up chemical reactions that degrade the coffee. Keep the beans away from direct sunlight will cause the coffee to absorb and lose its flavor.