How to choose the best whole bean coffee and what indicators to pay attention to, you will learn by reading this article.

There are thousands of single varieties and mixtures of various qualities and properties on the market. We will teach you how to choose the right coffee beans so that it does not disappoint, but becomes a pleasant discovery. If you highlight several main selection criteria, the task becomes simpler.

Which type of coffee to choose.

All coffee varieties in the world are produced from the fruits of coffee trees of only two types:

• Arabian (Cofféa arábica), common under the name "Arabica"

• Congolese (Coffea canephora) or (Coffea robusta), known as "robusta".

Arabica is characterized by softness, thick velvety taste with a slight sourness, low caffeine content. Grains grown on various plantations have a natural flavor: chocolate, nutty, berry, floral, caramel, wine. Despite the whimsicality and low fertility of coffee trees, about 70% of the coffee market is represented by Arabica.

Robusta can be easily distinguished by its bitterness and strength, as it contains significantly more caffeine. Because of these properties, this type of coffee is rarely consumed in its pure form, although it also has its own connoisseurs. Congolese coffee trees are more hardy and fertile, so the cost of robusta is cheaper than arabica.

In order to feel the pure taste of these types of coffee, and to understand in the future which type of coffee to choose, you can buy a single variety. However, most often, coffee blends from Arabica and Robusta or of the same type, but from different coffee plantations, go on sale. Choose a mixture from:

• 30% Arabica + 70% Robusta, if you like a combination of sweetness and light bitterness, without a sour aftertaste

• 20% Arabica + 80% Robusta, if you like a high-density drink with sourness and a slight hint of bitterness

• 10-15% Arabica + 90% Robusta if you need a sip of coffee to invigorate.

This is a conditional classification so that you know approximately what to expect when choosing a certain quantitative ratio of coffee beans of different types. You can experiment with the proportions yourself by ordering an individual blend.

How to choose coffee beans by origin.

The taste, smell and properties of coffee also depend on which plantation it was grown on. Arabica beans harvested in its historical homeland, Ethiopia and Yemen, will give a rich taste with chocolate notes. Kenya is famous for its coffee with a berry aftertaste. Indian coffee is very soft and slightly tart. You will find a more astringent taste with a hint of hazel in Brazilian coffee. If you prefer the natural sweetness of coffee without the characteristic bitterness, you can try grains from Guatemala with a scent of flowers and spices. Among the coffee plantations of the American continent, the leading place is occupied by the Colombian ones. Their products are characterized by lightness, brightness and freshness, a pronounced fruity flavor. The rich taste and aroma are also demonstrated by the coffees of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The beans with an exotic tobacco flavor are brought from the plantations of Cuba.

It is advisable to be interested in the homeland of coffee also for the reason that the type of processing of the fruit of the coffee tree depends on the person, which also affects the characteristics of the drink. During dry processing, all the taste and aroma properties of the grain are preserved, however, the quality of cleaning is somewhat worse. This method is used in Africa, Asia, in countries with dry hot climates. Wet processing allows for a more thorough cleaning of the grain, it is used in almost all planets of Central and South America.

How to choose quality coffee by the appearance of the beans.

When asking the question of how to choose grain coffee, one of the main criteria should be the quality of the beans themselves. First of all, you need to know that Arabica grains are larger than robusta and can reach 8 mm in length. They have an oblong regular shape.

High-quality and fresh grains of any kind:

• Approximately one size

• whole

• free from spots and depressions or bulges

• have a smooth velvety surface with gloss

• uniform color with different shades from beige to chocolate.

The aroma can tell a lot about the quality of coffee. He can be strong or weak, but always pure and pleasant. Any smell of rancid oil, dampness, or mold indicates that the grain is old or spoiled.

So now you know how to choose coffee beans:

• study the characteristics of the variety or blend

• get information about the place of origin of raw materials

• determine the desired degree of roast

• evaluate the appearance and aroma of coffee beans.

With this information, you will always be able to unmistakably find the best varieties and blends to your liking.