Where to Buy Coffee Beans

If you are a fan of whole coffee beans, your local independent roaster or coffee shop is the best place to purchase the beans. If you're not lucky enough to be near one, try searching online for companies that roast and deliver to you.

Geography plays an important impact on how coffee tastes like and so be aware of the origin of the beans you purchase.

Arabica vs. Robusta

There are more than 100 distinct coffee species. The two most common are Coffea arabica (Robusta) and Coffea Canephora. 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 less expensive than arabica to cultivate.

Robusta is responsible for 40% of world's lavazza coffee beans 1kg production. While it's true that a subpar batch of robusta may taste like burnt rubber, a quality brew made with specific beans can easily surpass Arabica in flavor. The issue is that there are a few exceptions, but most of the robusta sold on the market comes only from plantations who are focused on quantity.

The high amount of caffeine in the beans makes them invulnerable to pests and disease. This is the reason they are the most popular choice in traditional diner coffees and instant coffees. However, although some companies claim their product as 100% arabica, they often mix it with some type of robusta to save money and provide their customers with a less than desirable cup of coffee. Robusta can have a harsher bitter, sour and more grainy taste than arabica. It also has an nutty, peanut or dark chocolate flavor. These flavors may be unpleasant to some or too strong for others.

Origin

Coffee beans are actually seeds that grow inside tiny vibrant fruits, referred to as coffee berries. The berries are removed from the coffee plant when they are ripe and separated into two beans. The beans are roasted, and then used to create our favorite brew.

The most sought-after variety of beans are Arabica and are known for their smoky flavor that doesn't have any bitterness. They are also renowned for their richness and can provide many different flavors. The main growing regions for these beans are Africa, Central America and South America, Local where the conditions for making high-quality coffee are ideal.

These beans are more expensive than Robusta as their growth requires more care. To allow the flavor profile to develop, they require specific temperatures and a sufficient amount of rainfall. In fact, the best coffee beans originate from Africa which is where the majority of coffee farms are owned by family-owned farms that operate in a small scale.

Aside from the growing region another crucial aspect to take into account when buying coffee is whether or not it's single origin. "Single Origin" could mean a number of things but generally means that the coffee comes from a single farm, crop, or region in the country. This is a large part of what makes third wave coffee so amazing - knowing exactly the source of your coffee allows you to enjoy it in its purest form.

Grind

A high-quality brew starts with the finest coffee beans, but the process of grinding, brewing and serving can alter the taste of your beverage. You can find the perfect mix of coffee by testing with different grind sizes and brewing techniques.

The grind size has a significant impact on the extraction of the soluble coffee solids from the ground. This impacts the flavor of the coffee. If the grind is too coarse it is difficult for water to penetrate the ground and extract the soluble coffee solids. This is known as under extraction and can lead to weak coffee. If the grind isn't fine it will allow the water to pass through the grounds more quickly and experience an over extraction. This can cause bitterness.

It is possible to purchase pre-ground coffee but it is recommended to buy whole beans and grind them yourself prior to brewing. This will keep your beans fresher for longer than if they were ground pre-priced.

A burr grinder is the best tool to create an even grind, but you can also use a hand-grinder, a food processor or a mortar and pestle. Burr grinders have two cutting discs that can be adjusted to provide a specific consistency in the grind. A smaller gap will result in the finest grinding, while a bigger one produces the coarser grinding.

Stores

It is recommended to keep your bag tightly closed and only grind as much as you will need for local the next 1kg coffee beans. You may also want to consider purchasing a resealable coffee container, which will block out air and allow CO2 off-gassing that happens when the beans are first ground to be released.

Whole bean coffee can stay at its freshest for up to a month if stored in a safe manner. Once ground, your coffee's quality will diminish in less than 30 minutes. It is best to only drink the amount of coffee you'll need, and keep 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 to prevent moisture from getting inside. Others have a one-way valve that will release the gasses that are produced by freshly roasted coffee, which will prolong the beans' freshness.

The ideal storage space for your unopened coffee is in a cool, dark area that has a steady temperature. Avoid placing your starbucks coffee beans near the stove or the oven as the heat can accelerate chemical reactions that destroy the coffee. Keep the beans out of direct sunlight can cause them to absorb the coffee and degrade the flavor.