How To Outsmart Your Boss On Coffee Beans To Buy
Where to Buy Coffee Beans
If you're in love with whole beans the best place to buy them is at your local coffee shop or roaster. If you're not fortunate enough to be near one, look for online companies which roast and ship to order.
Geography plays a significant influence on what coffee tastes like So, be sure to consider the country of origin of the beans you're purchasing.
Arabica vs. Robusta
There are more than 100 coffee species The two most commonly used are Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (Robusta). Robusta is more resistant against drought, pests, and diseases. It can be grown at lower elevations and produces more coffee cherries every year. It is also cheaper to cultivate than arabica.
Robusta is responsible for 40% of world's coffee production. While it's true that an inferior robusta batch can taste like burned rubber, a premium coffee made with specialty beans can actually rival Arabica in flavor. The problem is that, with only a few exceptions, the majority of robusta available on the market is from plantations that only care about the quantity.
The high caffeine content of the beans makes them impervious to diseases and pests. This is the reason why them a popular choice for traditional diner and instant coffee. Although some companies claim their product as 100 percent arabica, they often mix it with a sort of robusta in order to save money, and offer their customers a less than desirable cup of coffee. Robusta may have a harsher bitter, more bitter and a more grainy taste than arabica. It can also have an nutty or peanut taste. These flavors may be unpleasant to some people or too strong for others.
Origin
Coffee beans are actually seeds that develop inside small, vibrant fruit called coffee berries. When they are mature, the berries are removed from the coffee plant and split into two beans. The beans are then roasted and used to make our beloved coffee brew.
Arabica is the most adored bean variety in the world. They are well-known for their soft, non-bitter flavor. These beans are also renowned for their richness, and they can offer an array of flavors. The main growing regions for these beans are Africa, Central America and South America, where the conditions for a high-quality coffee are ideal.
They are more expensive than Robusta, because their growth requires more care. They need specific temperatures and enough rainfall to establish their flavor profile. In fact, the best beans in the world come from Africa, where many coffee farms are run by family-owned farms and operated in a small scale.
When buying coffee, it is important to determine if the coffee is of single origin or not. "Single Origin" can mean a variety of things but generally means that the coffee originates from one particular farm, crop, or region in a country. Third wave coffee is so excellent because you get to experience it in the purest form by knowing where it came from.
Grind
A great-quality brew begins with the best coffee beans, however, the process of grinding, brewing and serving will affect the final flavor of your coffee. Making a variety of grind sizes and brewing methods will allow you to discover the best blend of coffee that suits your individual taste.
The size of the grind has a significant impact on the extraction of coffee solids soluble from the grounds. This impacts the flavor of the coffee. If the grind is too coarse it is difficult for water to penetrate the ground and extract solids in the coffee that are soluble. This is known as under extraction and can lead to a weak cup of coffee. If the grind is too fine, water is able to pass through the ground too quickly and suffers an over extraction, resulting in bitterness.
You can purchase coffee that has been ground but it's better to purchase a 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 you were to purchase the pre-ground coffee.
bulk coffee beans is the preferred tool for creating an even grind, but you can also use a hand-grinder, a food processor or a mortar and pestle. Burr grinders are equipped with two cutting discs which can be adjusted to create an exact grind consistency. A smaller gap results in the finest grind, whereas the larger gap produces more coarse grind.
Stores
Coffee beans can degrade at a rapid rate after they've been exposed, so it's best to keep the bag tightly shut and only grind the amount you'll need to make your next cup. You might also consider purchasing a resealable coffee canister, which will remove air and allow CO2 off-gassing that happens when the beans are first crushed to escape.
If properly stored Whole bean coffee can remain fresh for up to one month. After the coffee has been ground, its quality will begin to diminish in just 30 minutes. This is why it's best to only grind as much as you need and then store the remainder of your beans in an airtight and opaque container.
You can pick from a range of attractive and convenient containers to store coffee. Some are vacuum-sealed to prevent moisture from getting in. Others have a one-way valve that lets out the gases produced by freshly roasted coffee, which will extend the beans' freshness.
The ideal place to store your unused coffee is in a cool, dark area that has a steady temperature. Do not store it in the cabinet by the stove or oven, as the heat can speed up the chemical reactions that destroy coffee. It is also recommended to keep the beans out of direct sunlight, since they absorb sunlight and diminish their flavor.