Select Your Espresso Beans Wisely

Any coffee connoisseur knows that a terrific cup of espresso stems from high quality espresso beans. The 3 key areas of importance that contribute to the quality are what country it comes from, the roast, and the blend.

The beans to make coffee products are now harvested in over 70 countries worldwide, but they were initially cultivated in the Arab world. By and large Brazil is the current world leader in producing coffee. Indonesia, Colombia and Vietnam aren’t much behind. The quality of the beans generally speaking continues to be to be of consistently high quality. By purchasing coffee beans from these countries, consumers reduce the risk of obtaining mediocre batches. However, this doesn’t imply that great tasting coffee beans can’t be found in other countries. It’s just good to keep in mind that the C. arabica plant is the most highly regarded. C. arabica plants thrive in high altitudes and lower temperatures. Lower altitudes produce the C. canephora plants that are of significantly lower quality. Make sure you know where your coffee beans are coming from.

The coffee we drink isn’t made with raw coffee berries. If it were, it would taste quite unpleasant and bitter. Roasting the raw coffee berries brings out the taste and becomes what we know as coffee beans. There are light, medium, and dark roasts. A light, or cinnamon roast, delivers a somewhat delicate flavor. The term cinnamon is used to describe the light color of the roasted coffee bean, not the actual flavour. Medium roasts are maybe the most common. They are usually heartier and sweeter than light roasts. Many coffee grounds bought at the local supermaket are in the medium roast family. Lastly, there are dark roasts. Dark roasted coffee possesses a distinctly strong and pungent flavor. It is oftentimes consumed “black”, or without milk. The elegantly aromatic flavor of a dark roast makes it perfect for espressos.

Once the different roasts are understood, it is easy to ascertain why coffee blends are getting to be so popular. By combining different beans, completely new flavor combinations can be achieved. Some of the most common blends have names like “breakfast blend”, “espresso blend” and so on. The reality is that coffee blending options are truly endless. Considering that coffee is grown worldwide, and roasted many different ways, it’s safe to assume that you will find thousands of coffee blending options. One just has to choose whether or not they favor a commercial blend, like the ones sold by Starbucks, or a uniquely concocted regional blend. It is important to keep in mind that espresso drinks use darkly roasted beans. Make sure you examine the packaging of any coffee blend to make sure that only dark beans are used.

It may seem difficult trying to track down the best espresso beans. It just takes a basic understanding of the different locales and roasts, and how the beans are blended. Add in a true appreciation for good coffee, and let the exciting search get started. Needless to say, it all boils down to personal tastes and preferences. What one person may find unpleasant might be your golden cup of joe.

Do you love your espresso coffee, but hate being forced to drive all the way to the coffee shop to order some? Wish you could make great tasting espresso at home? Now you can. Espresso makers have advanced significantly in recent years, nowadays it’s not necessary to be an expert to brew a cup of great tasting espresso.