You might have all the tools and other gadgets that help you make the finest coffee in North America, but no equipment will compensate for stale or low-quality green coffee beans. Now, you must know at least a little something about quality coffee beans if you are on this website reading this. To truly enjoy a really good cup of coffee, you need to start with the finest coffee beans. Buying coffee beans is a little like choosing the right wine, so here are a few basics you need to know when shopping coffee beans.
Understanding the terms used to describe coffee and its flavor and aroma is an important first step. As you sample our different coffees, keep these characteristics in mind.
Acidity– This refers to the snappiness and sharpness of the coffee, you can feel acidity on the tip of your tongue. This is a positive quality and is sometimes best described as the brightness of a coffee. Coffees with less acidity are considered mellow, but all coffee needs some acidity to avoid being dull and flat.
Aroma– Our taste buds are only capable of discerning four categories of flavor; sweet, sour, salty and bitter. It is our sense of smell that provides all the other dimensions of flavor. The aroma of coffee adds such qualities as flowery, earthy and smokey.
Body– Although coffee is brewed with water, it feels denser and heavier in your mouth. A coffee that is full in body might feel like you are drinking something heavy, like cream for example, but a light-bodied coffee will seem more like skim milk.
Roast– The amount of time coffee beans undergo heating has a huge effect on the appearance and taste. Light roasts are milder in flavor and the surface is light brown with no visible oil while a dark roast holds some bitterness and very little acid taste.
Balance– This word is used to describe how the above factors interact with coffee. A coffee with a low balance has heavy taste in one aspect and feels shallow while a high-level balance coffee is complex and satisfying.
Finish– Like wine, coffee leaves a taste and sensation in your mouth after you swallow. Some coffee leaves a fruity aftertaste while others have a chocolaty finish.
Just like wine, the taste of coffee reflects in its geographical location. Regions hold distinctive characteristics, depending on factors like altitude, soil and the methods in which the coffee beans are farmed. There are so many factors that influence the taste of a coffee that it is difficult to generalize by specific region. Your best bet is to rely on descriptions given to you on coffee bean websites. We feature coffee beans from South America, Africa, Indonesia and more.
Once you have a better understanding about coffee and coffee beans, then you won’t feel so intimidated while shopping for the perfect type. We encourage you to branch out and try different types of coffee beans in your quest for the perfect cup of coffee.