The Best Fresh Coffee Beans

If you're looking to drink the finest coffee, purchase whole beans from a local coffee roaster or shop. A retailer that has a variety of blends would be a good option.

Koffee Kult's Thunder Bolt is a dark roast coffee beans French roast that has an intensely satisfying taste. It is a bit more expensive, but it's organic1, fair-trade2 and contains no additives.

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, one of the most sought-after coffee beans due to its refreshing flavor and delicate aroma, is one of the most sought-after coffee beans. It's also an excellent source of antioxidants. It is best to make it without sugar and milk to preserve the distinctive flavor profile. It is a great match with savory food items to balance the sweet and salty. It's also a great pick for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Ethiopia is often referred to as the birthplace of coffee. The story goes that a goat herder named Kaldi noticed his flock became more energetic after eating the red berries that were growing in a nearby plant home. He tried the berries himself and realized they were a major influence on his energy levels. The herder shared the berry with his family, and this is how gourmet coffee beans was first consumed.

In the Yirgacheffe area of Sidamo, Ethiopia, coffee is typically "washed" or wet processed. This helps remove bitter tastes and produce an appealing, fresh taste. In the mid-2000s global coffee prices soared to levels that were too high for many farmers across the world, including in Ethiopia. However, the Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (YCFCU) was capable of helping the farmers keep their businesses going through their fair trade initiatives and empowerment to bargain with the market. This led to the rise of a new breed of single-origin Ethiopian coffees with fruit flavors that are referred to as "new naturals". Today, the world enjoys the distinctive fresh and floral flavor of the Yirgacheffe beans.

Geisha

Geisha is among the most expensive coffee beans around the world. It has a delicate tea taste with hints of peach, mango, and raspberry. It also has a smooth taste similar to black tea. But does the price tag really justify it?

The Geisha variety was first discovered in the highland region of Gesha (it was mispelled during the process) in Western Ethiopia in the 1930s by a British consul. The seeds were then transferred to CATIE, Costa Rica, before being shipped to Panama by Francisco Serracin (also known as Don Pachi). When the Peterson family began to experiment with it at their Hacienda Esmeralda farm, they discovered that it had extraordinary flavors with balance and finesse.

Geisha is more than just an excellent cup of coffee. It has a significant impact on the communities who produce it. It allows farmers to reinvest profits into improving farming practices and quality processes. This in turn leads to higher quality for all the coffee varieties that they cultivate.

Yet, many common coffee beans shop drinkers refuse to try it due to the hefty price. This is a shame, because Geisha coffee truly is worth it. Do yourself a favor, and get some.

Ethiopian Harrar

Ethiopian Harrar coffee is exotic and full-bodied. It is a dry-processed (natural) arabica that hails from southern Ethiopia's Oromia region. It has a distinct acidity that is accompanied by an alcohol-like fruitiness as well as a strong mocha flavor.

The coffee is harvested and dried in the spring. It is then fermented, and released its aromas and tastes. In contrast to most commercial coffees this one is free of chemicals and is low in calories. It also comes with a host of health benefits, including reducing the risk of suffering from Alzheimer's disease. It is also a great source of antioxidants and a host of other nutrients. It is recommended to drink it on empty stomachs in order to reap the maximum benefits.

Ethiopian Harrar is one of the most prized coffees in the world. It's a product of one of the country's premier producing regions, the easternmost Harrar. It is cultivated near the town's walled city, which is a historical landmark of Harrar, at the highest altitudes. This coffee has a unique taste and can be enjoyed in the form of espresso or as in a latte.

The coffee is sorted and then harvested by hand. It is then sun-dried in traditional cloth bags. This method preserves aromas and increases flavor. It is also a more sustainable method. It can be made with any method of brewing, but is especially suited to a French press or pour over.

Monsooned Malabar

Monsooned Malabar is among the world's most renowned and distinctive coffees, is a sweet coffee with a woody, nutty taste and virtually no acidity. Its name is derived by the "monsooning" process and the region it's from the most arid region of India the mountainous area of Malabar which encompasses Karnataka & Kerala.

The history behind this coffee is apocryphal. During the British Raj period, large wooden vessels were used to transport raw coffee to Europe. During the voyage humidity and wind caused the beans to naturally dry which resulted in a pale off white color. When they arrived in Europe, the beans were discovered to have a distinct and desired flavor taste.

Monsooning is a distinctive and unique method of processing coffee that continues to be practiced in Keezhanthoor. This hamlet of high-end nestled in the Western Ghats is surrounded by small traditional tribal farmers who are devoted to producing only the finest beans. They produce a full bodied smooth, aromatic coffee bean coffee with notes of baker's cocoa, syrupy sweetness and a mild vanilla.

This coffee is great for espresso or cafe crème. It can be enjoyed by itself or with fruitier coffees. Pour-overs, such in a Bialetti Moka Pot, are also very popular. Monsooned Malabar is also resistant to heat because of its lower acidity.