The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Coffee Beans To Buy

Where to Buy Coffee Beans

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

Geography plays a huge impact on how coffee tastes like So, be sure to consider the origin of the beans you're buying.

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are more than 100 different coffee species. Two of the most well-known are Coffea arabica (Robusta) and Coffea Canephora. Robusta is more resistant to diseases, drought and pests. It can be grown at lower elevations and produces more coffee cherries each year. It is also cheaper to grow than arabica.

Robusta is responsible for 40 percent of all coffee produced in the world. Although a poor-quality coffee beans batch may taste like burned rubber, a top-quality blend made with specialty beans can match the taste of Arabica. The problem is that, with only a few exceptions the majority of the robusta available on the market comes from plantations that care only about quantity.

Robusta plants thrive at lower elevations, and their resistance to diseases and pests is a result of the high amount of caffeine in the beans. This is the reason why Robusta a popular choice for traditional diner coffee and instant coffee. However, although some companies claim their product as 100% arabica, they often mix it with some form of robusta to save money and provide their customers with the least desirable cup of coffee. Robusta coffee can be harsher, more bitter and grainier than arabica. It also has the flavor of peanuts or nutty. These flavors can be unpleasant to some or too strong.

Origin

Coffee beans are actually seeds which grow inside tiny vibrant fruits, referred to as coffee berries. When ripe, these fruit are removed from the coffee plant and split into two beans. The beans are roasted, and then used to make our favorite drink.

Arabica is the most sought-after variety of beans around the world. They are renowned for their soft, non-bitter flavor. These beans are also renowned for their complexity and are able to provide an array of flavors. The most popular regions for these beans are Africa, Central America and South America, where the conditions for producing high quality coffee are optimal.

They are more expensive than Robusta as their growth requires more attention. They require certain temperatures and sufficient rainfall to establish their flavor profile. The finest coffee beans in the entire world come originate from Africa. Many of the farms are family-owned and run on a small scale.

When purchasing coffee, it is essential to be aware of whether the coffee is of single origin or not. "Single origin" could mean a range of things, but typically it means that the coffee is sourced from one farm, a crop or region within a specific country. Third wave coffee is great because you can taste it in the most pure form by knowing where it originated from.

Grind

The quality of the coffee you consume can be affected by way it is prepared. You can find the perfect blend of coffee by experimenting with different grind sizes and brew techniques.

The size of the grind plays a significant influence on the way that the soluble coffee solids are extracted from the ground during making, and this affects the flavor of your cup of coffee. If the grind is too coarse and water is unable to penetrate the ground and extract the solids of the coffee that are soluble. This is known as under extraction and may cause a weak cup of coffee. If the grind is too fine, the water is able to pass through the ground too quickly and experiences an over extraction, which results in bitterness.

You can purchase pre-ground coffee but it is better to buy whole beans and grind them yourself before making. This will keep your beans fresher for longer than if they were already ground.

The burr grinder is favored to ensure a consistent grinding but you can also utilize a food processor, hand grinder, or mortar-and-pestle. The burr grinder is equipped with two cutting discs which can be adjusted to ensure a particular grind consistency. A smaller gap will result in the finest grinding, while an increased gap produces more coarse grinding.

Storage

Coffee beans can degrade rapidly after they are opened, so it is a good coffee beans idea to keep the bean bag tightly shut and only grind enough to make the next brew. You may want to buy an open-top canister that is resealable to rid the air and permit CO2 to escape after the beans are ground.

Whole bean coffee can remain at its peak freshness for up to a month when stored in a safe manner. Once the coffee is ground, its quality will decrease in only 30 minutes. It is best to use as much coffee beans to buy as you need, and store the remainder in a transparent, airtight container.

You can purchase a wide assortment of attractive, simple-to-use coffee beans types storage containers. Some are vacuum sealed to stop moisture from entering. Some have a one-way valve that releases gases produced by freshly roasted coffee, which will prolong the freshness of the beans.

The ideal place to store your empty coffee is in a cool, dark space that is at a constant temperature. Avoid placing it in the cabinet near your oven or stove, since the heat can accelerate the chemical reactions that degrade coffee. You should also keep the beans away from direct sunlight as they will absorb it and lose their flavor.