Where to Buy Coffee Beans

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

Geography plays a major influence on what coffee tastes like So, be sure to consider the origins of the beans you're purchasing.

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are more than 100 coffee species. The two most commonly used are Coffea arabica (Robusta) and Coffea Canephora. Robusta is better able to withstand diseases, pests and drought. It can be grown at lower elevations and produces more premium coffee beans cherries every year. It is also less expensive to grow than arabica.

Robusta is responsible for 40% of world's coffee production. While it's true that an inferior batch of robusta can taste like burnt rubber, a high-quality blend made from specialty beans can actually compete with Arabica in taste. The issue is that, with a few exceptions the majority of robusta sold on the market is sourced from plantations that are only concerned about the quantity.

The high content of caffeine in the beans makes them impervious to pests and disease. This is the reason they are a common choice for traditional diner coffees and instant coffees. Even though some companies advertise their product as 100% arabica, they will often mix it with a kind of robusta to save money, and offer their customers a less than desirable cup of gourmet coffee beans. Robusta can have a harsher sharp, bitter and more granular taste than arabica. It also has an nutty or peanut taste. These flavors can be unpleasant to some people or too strong for others.

Origin

Coffee beans are actually seeds which develop inside of small colourful fruits known as coffee berries. These berries are plucked from the coffee plant at the time they are ripe and separated into two beans. The beans are then roasted and then used to make our favourite brew.

Arabica is the most popular variety of beans in the world. They are famous for their smooth, non-bitter taste. They're also renowned for their complexity, and they can offer an array of flavors. These beans are primarily grown in Africa, Central America, and South America where the conditions are ideal for brewing high-quality coffee.

These beans are more expensive than Robusta because their growth requires more care. They need specific temperatures and sufficient rainfall to create their flavor profile. In fact, the finest coffee beans around originate from Africa, where many coffee farms are owned by family-owned farms that operate at a micro level.

When purchasing coffee, it is crucial to consider whether the coffee is single origin or not. "Single origin" can mean a number of things, but most often it means that the coffee comes from a specific farm, crop or region within one country. Third wave coffee is so excellent because you get to experience it in its purest form by knowing where it originated from.

Grind

The quality of the coffee you drink is affected by the way it is prepared. You can find the perfect blend of coffee by experimenting with different grind sizes and brewing methods.

The size of the grind plays a major impact on how the soluble coffee particles are extracted from the ground during the brewing process, which affects the taste of your coffee. If the grind is too fine it will be difficult for water to penetrate into the grounds to extract the coffee solids that are soluble. This is known as under extraction and may result in a weak cup of coffee. If the grind is too fine, water flows through the grounds too quickly and experiences an over extraction, resulting in bitterness.

You can purchase coffee that has been ground but it's recommended to buy whole bean and grind your own beans as soon as you can 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 however, you can use a food processor, hand-grinders or a mortar-and-pestle. The burr grinder is equipped with two cutting discs which can be adjusted to ensure an exact grind consistency. A smaller gap leads to the finest grinding, while larger ones result in a coarser grinding.

Storage

Coffee beans are degraded at an astonishing rate once they are opened, so it is a good idea to keep the bag tightly closed and only grind as much as you need for the next time you brew. You may want to purchase an open-top canister that is resealable to eliminate air and allow CO2 to escape once the beans are crushed.

If properly stored When stored properly, whole bean coffee will be kept fresh for as long as one month. Once ground, the quality of your coffee will diminish in as little as 30 minutes. It is recommended to only use as much coffee as you require, and then store the rest in an opaque airtight container.

You can choose from a variety of attractive and convenient containers for storing coffee. Some are vacuum sealed, which prevents moisture from entering. Some even have a single valve that releases the gases generated by freshly roasted beans, which extends the freshness of beans.

The best place to store your unused coffee beans bulk (their website) is an area that is cool and dark with constant temperature. Avoid placing it in the cabinet that is near your stove or oven, as the heat can accelerate the chemical reactions that degrade coffee. Keep the beans out of direct sunlight will cause the coffee to absorb and lose its flavor.