Where to Buy Coffee Beans If you're a fan of whole coffee beans Your local roaster or coffee shop is the best place to buy them. If you're not near a roaster, go online for companies that will roast and then ship your order. The origin of the coffee beans can influence the flavor. Arabica vs. Robusta There are more than 100 different coffee varieties. The two most popular 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 coffee cherries every year. It is also cheaper to grow than arabica. Robusta is responsible for 40% of the world's coffee production. Although a poor-quality batch might taste like burnt rubber, a high-quality brew using specialty beans can rival Arabica's flavor. The problem is with a few exceptions most robusta that is sold on the market comes from plantations who are focused on quantity. Robusta plants thrive at lower elevations, and their resistance to disease and pests is because of the high amount of caffeine in the beans. This is the reason they are a popular choice for traditional diner coffees and instant coffees. But, even though some companies may advertise their product as 100 arabica-based, they usually mix it with a variety of robusta to save money and provide their customers with the less than ideal cup of coffee. Robusta has a more harsh, bitter and more grainy taste than arabica. It can also have the flavor of peanuts or nutty. These flavors can be unpleasant for some or too strong for others. Origin Coffee beans are actually seeds that develop in small, bright fruits called coffee berries. These berries are removed from the coffee plant when ripe and then divided into two beans. The beans are then roasted before being used to make our cherished coffee brew. Arabica is the most popular bean variety in the world. https://www.coffeee.uk/categories/coffee-beans are renowned for their smooth, non-bitter taste. These beans are also known as complex and able to offer a variety of flavors. The main growing regions for these beans are Africa, Central America and South America, where the conditions for the production of high-quality coffee are perfect. These beans typically have a higher price tag than Robusta because they require more attention in order to flourish. To allow the flavor profile to develop, they require certain temperatures and sufficient rainfall. In reality, the best beans in the world originate from Africa which is where the majority of coffee farms are owned by family-owned farms and operated in a small scale. Aside from the region that is growing, another important factor to take into consideration when purchasing coffee is whether or not it's a single origin. "Single Origin" could mean a number of things however, it typically means that the coffee comes from one farm, a or region within a particular country. Third wave coffee is so excellent because you get to experience it in its most pure form knowing where it came from. Grind The quality of the coffee you consume can be affected by way it is prepared. The process of experimenting with different grind sizes and brewing methods will help you find the best blend of coffee that is a perfect match for your taste. The size of the grind plays an important influence on how the soluble coffee particles are extracted from the grounds during the brewing process, which affects the flavor of your coffee. If the grind is too fine and water isn't able penetrate the grounds to get the coffee's soluble solids out. This is known as under extraction, and can result in weak coffee. If the grind is too fine, the water flows through the grounds too quickly and undergoes an over extraction that results in bitterness. It is possible to purchase pre-ground coffee, but it's best to purchase the whole bean and grind your own beans directly prior to brewing. This will ensure that your beans are fresh and also last longer than if were to purchase the pre-ground variety. The burr grinding machine is ideal to create a consistent grinding however, you can also make use of a food processor hand grinder or mortar-and-pestle. Burr grinders are equipped with two cutting discs which cut beans into a particular grind consistency by altering the distance between the burrs. A smaller gap will result in more fine grind, while the larger gap produces a coarser grind. Storage Coffee beans are degraded rapidly after they've been exposed, so it's a good idea to keep the bean bag tightly shut and only grind the amount you'll need for your next brew. You may want to buy a resealable canister that will eliminate air and allow CO2 to escape when the beans are crushed. When stored properly Whole bean coffee can keep fresh for up to one month. Once ground, the quality of your coffee may diminish in as little as 30 minutes. It is best to use as much coffee as you need, and then store the remainder in an opaque airtight container. You can choose from a variety of attractive and practical containers to store coffee. Some of them are even vacuum-sealed, which stops moisture from entering. Some come with a one-way valve that releases the gases that are produced by freshly-roasted beans, which helps prolong the beans' freshness. The best place to store the coffee you haven't used is in a dark, cool place with an even temperature. Avoid storing your coffee near your stove or oven since the heat can accelerate chemical reactions that degrade the coffee. Keep the beans away as direct sunlight will cause the coffee to absorb and degrade the flavor.