Cuppa Joe: How to Choose the Best Coffee Beans
Did you know that Americans spend an average of $1,092 on coffee every year? As long as you’re not spending over a thousand dollars on subpar instant coffee, that’s not a bad thing.
Buying your coffee beans whole and from an independent roaster are two ways to guarantee that you’re buying the best coffee beans.
But there are so many different varieties and flavor profiles. How do you know which are the best coffee beans for you? Follow this simple guide to find out!
Pay Attention to the Roast Date
When you buy mass-produced coffee beans or instant coffee from a grocery store, they often have an expiry date. But that’s not the best way to determine whether your coffee is fresh or not.
Proper coffee roasters will write the date that they roasted your coffee beans on the bag. You should consume the bag within three weeks of that date for the best flavor.
Choose Beans to Suit Your Order
How do you like drinking coffee? Are you a long black or a frothy latte type of person? It matters because some coffee beans go better with milky coffee than others.
If you drink lattes, cappuccinos, or flat whites, opt for South American coffees from Ethiopia, Peru, or Brazil. These often have chocolate and hazelnut tasting notes. Whereas fruity African coffee beans work better alone.
Pick Your Favorite Roast Level
There are four main roasting levels when it comes to coffee beans. These are:
- Light
- Medium
- Medium-dark
- Dark
Medium roast is the standard in most coffee shops and is sometimes known as “city” roast. When you buy coffee beans online, you won’t be able to see the actual color of the coffee beans. So, look for the roasting level in the description and if it says “city” you’ll know what that means.
Light beans have more acidity and flavor than darker beans. So, why would anyone choose darker beans if there is less flavor? Because darker coffee beans have more caffeine and a smoother texture.
Match Coffee Beans to Your Maker
Did you know that some coffee beans suit different types of coffee makers more than others? Not only that, you need to grind coffee beans to the right level of fineness for your maker. That’s one of the benefits of buying whole beans.
Here are some popular coffee brewers and the beans that work best with them:
- French press – Medium roast and medium body
- Stovetop/Moka pot – Medium/dark road and medium/heavy body
- AeroPress – Depends on whether you add milk
- Filter/drip coffee – Light/medium roast and light body
- Espresso machine – Whatever you like
If you don’t already own a coffee-making device, you will know which one to choose if you know your favorite roast level.
Which Coffee Beans Make Your Perfect Blend?
If you don’t know anything about coffee beans, following this guide is a great place to start. But as you taste different types of beans, you will develop your palate and be able to experiment with different combinations.
Using the best coffee beans in your morning pick-me-up is one way you can level up your life. Browse our website for more self-care and well-being tips and tricks!
Ben Stern wrote this article on behalf of FreeUp. FreeUp is the fastest-growing freelance marketplace in the US. FreeUp only accepts the top 1% of freelance applicants. Click here to get access to the top freelancers in the world.
HTV Native Ad Solutions and Hearst partners may earn revenue when readers click affiliate links in this article.