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How Do You Buy Your Coffee Beans? Top Tips on Choosing Great Beans

By Kenneth J. Dickson 

Anyone who enjoys a good cup of coffee would agree that the best coffee is made from freshly roasted and freshly ground beans.But how can you be sure that what you’re buying is good quality? Check out these tips and my article on buying coffee beans… 

Buy from Specialty Roasters 

Many specialty shops roast their beans daily so if you buy beans from such places, make sure to ask how old the beans are. Reputable shops will be happy to share that information with you! 

Always check the date and beans 

If you buy your beans in supermarkets, check the bottom of the bag for the date the beans were roasted or a freshness date. Old beans will appear oily and have an unpleasant smell or none at all. Avoid getting beans from bins that have splintered or broken beans. Remember, just like fresh fruit, good coffee beans look and smell appetizing! 

What type do you like? 

Now that you know how important freshness is, you should decide what type of beans you want to look for. What kind of coffee do you like? Are you a fan of strong, dark roasted coffee that would wake the dead or do you prefer a light, fruity brew? It will help a lot if you know about the different countries and regions that coffee is grown in and what types of flavors those areas produce. 

Choose the right region! 

For instance, if you like a bright coffee with a fruity undertone, you will probably want to buy beans from Kenya. If you prefer a bold, earthy brew you’ll like the coffee beans from Indonesia. Brazilian beans have a smooth, nutty flavor with slight floral undertones while Columbian coffee beans produce a cup of rich, full-tasting brew that is clean and bright. 

And what roast do you prefer? 

Your roast preference is also important when you are buying coffee beans. If you like French or Italian Roasts, you like dark roasts. There is nothing wrong with this type of roast but since the beans are subjected to higher temperatures, much of the flavor and undertones are burnt away. You could actually be buying an inferior bean that has been dark roasted to disguise its shortcomings! 

Not every dark roast is good! 

Have you noticed that most commercially advertised coffees are “dark roasted”? This is an economical and safe process for commercial coffee companies as the high temperatures ensure that all the beans are the same. There are some truly superb dark roasts but for the most part, this type of roast is like burning a fine filet mignon-you get a piece of meat but all the remarkable attributes have been destroyed. You might want to try a lighter roast and see if you enjoy all the different flavors and undertones you can taste when the bean has been caressed by the heat instead of scorched by it. 

Blend in carefully 

Once you’ve settled on the type of roast you like as well as the region of the world you prefer your beans grown in, you might want to try a blend of beans. Mocha-Java, for instance, mixes beans from Yemen and Java for an interesting combination of unique attributes. If you’re really adventurous and have done your homework, you could choose your own blends instead of the pre-mixed ones already on the shelves! 

You’ll find that these tips will really help you to choose better coffee beans. If you’re looking for more advice, why not check out my article Tips On Buying Coffee Beans. 

Visit PurelyCoffeeBeans to find out the latest tips and information on making ‘great coffee every day’! 

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