The No. 1 Question Everyone Working In Coffee Bean Should Be Able Answer
Where to Buy Coffee Beans
Making sure you buy fresh coffee beans and then grinding them prior to brewing gives you the most intense flavor. You can also control the size of the grind, which is not possible with pre-ground.
If you can, buy from a local roaster and/or grocery store that specializes in quality imports. By helping small-scale enterprises, you help them to survive and makes for more flavorful coffee.
1. Find a roaster that is reputable.
Both the quality of the coffee beans and roasting is crucial to making a great cup. You can find great beans from a wide range of coffee roasters on the internet. However, not all roasters are equally. Some roasters are more focused on selection, while others are more precise and focused on getting the perfect roast every time. Coffeee can learn a lot about a roaster by checking out their packaging, website and customer reviews.
When you purchase wholesale coffee beans, search for a roaster focused on sustainable business practices and ethical business practices. This will ensure that your coffee shop gets the best beans in an environmentally friendly way. Many coffee shops are looking to help their local community by buying local roasters.
You can save money by purchasing whole coffee beans and grinding them yourself. This is a simple and effective method of obtaining a fresher flavor in your coffee. You can also cut down on shipping costs by purchasing from a local coffee roaster who will deliver to your area.
2. Buy in smaller quantities
If you purchase your coffee from a small batch roaster, it's a great way to ensure that your beans are fresh. This is because small batch roasters have their stock low and can move their beans quickly, so they don't stay in the same place for a long period of time prior toor post roasting. They can also roast at a lower temperature to avoid overdoing things.
Look for labels that include a "roasted on date" as well (or in place of) the sell-by date. Certain high-end roasters, such as Stumptown and Counter Culture, stamp this right on the bag. They will also include information on the beans themselves, like the variety, altitude, name of the farmer, and more.
A large portion of the coffee traded during the second wave and beyond is called commodity coffee, which gets made in large batches and is typically roasting dark to hide every flaw. This kind of coffee isn't terrible, but it's not as tasty as the one you can get from a small-batch roaster. The coffee tends to have more of an aftertaste when it's been in storage for a longer time.
3. Buy fresh
Being a perishable product coffee beans start losing their flavor and aroma as soon as they're roasted. It's best to buy fresh coffee beans from an online or local roaster if you don't have one nearby.
Look over the bag for the "roasted on" or "use by" date. You can then make a plan for your purchase based on this. For optimal flavor and taste it is recommended to use the beans within two weeks of roasting.
It may be difficult to know how long beans have been sitting on the shelf in a supermarket that sells a variety beans. Most grocery stores do not have the facilities needed to keep their beans at the same quality as a roaster.
It takes a long time and a considerable amount of money to purchase the best equipment to ensure that beans are at their freshest. Even when they do invest in this equipment however, the quantity of fresh beans they have in stock at any given moment is limited.
4. Buy ground
The coffee aisle of the supermarket is awash with choices of whole and ground beans from around the globe. Whole beans are more flavorful and more convenient than ground coffee.
If you purchase whole bean coffee, it is your responsibility to grind it prior making it. This allows the freshness and subtle flavor to shine through. The majority of coffee that is pre-ground that is available is medium grind. This is the size that is most compatible with the majority of coffee brewing methods.
After the beans have been cooked, they start to degrade and then become stale. After roasting, there are holes in the shell which exposes beans to oxygen. This happens faster than when the beans are left intact.
Whole bean coffee bought from the grocery store is usually outdated by the time you get it at home. Even sealed cans of coffee from the local grocery store will be less fresh than freshly ground coffee from a reputable roaster. This is because once the beans are ground for sale and sold, they lose their subtleties aromas, natural sugar and scents. It is important to purchase enough beans to last for the duration of a week and then keep them in a proper storage.
5. Buy fair trade
Fair trade is an arrangement which guarantees coffee farmers fair prices on the market. While the International Coffee Agreement is important in regulating quotas and keeping prices stable, fair trade organizations go one step further.
Fair Trade aims to lift coffee farmers from the poverty trap and provide an industry sustainable model that is sustainable across the entire industry. In addition to fair prices, fair trade also requires sustainable practices in the farming industry that protect and preserve ecosystems, wildlife and habitats. This is not only for the farmers, but also for the consumers and the environment.
FLO and Fair Trade USA are primarily focused on reducing poverty and promoting economic development by establishing an upper price for green coffee beans. They index that floor to the New York Coffee Exchange price. This way, if the price of the commodity (non-specialty) coffee falls, the fair trade prices will go up and match the price. FLO and Fair Trade USA also require that farmers receive a fair wage and work in safe conditions. They also have to respect reasonable working hours.