Coffee comes in a wide range of options, which can have a price tag of $1 to $12 per pound. In some cases, the price per pound doesn’t reflect the quality of coffee you want. Typically, your choice has to do with personal tastes and preferences. Also, you don’t want something that tastes burnt, or the flavor is not intriguing enough.
As such, it helps to take the time to choose the right coffee beans. Keep in mind that having a quality or advanced coffee machine won’t compensate for low-quality beans. Who has the best coffee beans? Read on to learn more.
1. Origin
If you’re not a savvy coffee user, it’s important to note that the origin of coffee beans is a significant determinant of the flavor you’ll get. The largest coffee growing regions include Kenya, Central America and Colombia, Ethiopia, Brazil, Indonesia, and Hawaii. In the US, major brands source their beans from Central America and Colombia.
So, when shopping for coffee beans, be sure to inquire about their origin. The beans from Central America and Columbia is usually a bit acidic and well-balanced with fruity undertones. Different regions have different types of soils, farming methods, characteristics, seasons, and elevation. All these elements play a role in the final taste of the coffee beans.
2. What’s Your Ideal Roast?
Basically, the roast is the amount of time the beans have been exposed to heat. Keep in mind that the skill, tools, and duration involved in the roasting process vary widely. This has an impact on the appearance and taste of the beans. Choosing the right roast is entirely based on your personal preference.
Coffee beans come in different roasts, include light, medium, medium-dark, and dark roasts. So, if you want a mild flavor, then light roast is great as it exhibits more of the original flavor. For those who want something strong, you’ll undoubtedly find dark roast ideal. You just need to ensure that the beans have not been under-roasted or over-roasted.
3. Consider Freshness
The freshness of coffee beans depends on how long they have been stored and the type of storage environment and solutions. You want to ask the seller when trying to determine who has the best coffee beans. When dried, coffee beans are usually stable, and they can be stored for up to a year without losing quality.
You’ll find some coffee beans described as “aged,” and this can be misleading if you don’t understand the term. Plus, other sellers might want to misuse this term to their benefit. The term “aged” is used on coffee beans that have been stored, turned, and frequently stirred in their origin country to prevent bacterial growth. This results in a flavor that is somewhat aged.
4. Arabica vs. Robusta
There are over 100 distinct species of coffee beans, but Arabica and Robusta (Canephora) are the two most popular options. Arabica is the most popular option, and it accounts for about 75 percent of the total world production. Robusta, however, has more caffeine than Arabica and it’s more resistant to pests.
If you love a coffee drink with thick crema, then you’ll undoubtedly go for Robusta beans. But Arabica is still considered as high-quality coffee for those that like something that is more refined. These two coffee species can also be blended if you want an option that exhibits both of their unique properties.
Choose the Ideal Coffee
For most coffee lovers, there are many things that define the ideal coffee to use. So, if you want to enjoy your latte, espresso, stove top, or cold brew coffee, you need to need to consider the nitty-gritty of the selection process. The roast level, climate, roasting date, and originality are essential elements to take into account when shopping for coffee. If you have adequate time, you can sample some of the options sellers offer.
