If you ask two people what the best coffee is, you will more than likely get two different answers. This is because everyones taste buds are different and what you like may not be palatable to someone else. However, there are some common things to look for to find the best coffee bean for your cup of coffee.
Before you do anything, make sure you go out and get a coffee bean grinder. Getting pre-ground coffee is doing nothing more than settling for second best. It doesnt matter how good the coffee is, if you get it in anything other than a whole bean, you are taking away from the true flavor and setting for second best.
You should also be buying the beans in a vacuum sealed bag. If they are not sealed in this manner, the air will continue to break down the bean and over time, its natural flavors will diminish. You should also invest in a foodsaver system so you can reseal the beans after you have opened them up.
Once you start looking at the actual beans, try and stick with Arabica beans for the best flavor. This has a much smoother and well rounded flavor than the Robusta bean. Most big name coffee shops as well as the neighborhood gourmet shops will use this type of coffee bean for their brews.
Robusta does not drink well because it is a bitter bean. Think back to the days of the old percolator pots that your parents used to put on the stove and you will be able to recollect the bean that we are talking about here. This is actually popular in Italian shops because it has a huge boost of caffeine, but for better flavor, stick with the Arabica bean.
Last but not least, if you are able to get your hands on fresh roasted beans, buy them. If you are able to get them right out of the roaster and seal them up, you will be getting a cup of coffee like nothing that you have ever tasted. The bean will lose flavor the longer it is out of the roaster so if you can get it closer to the end of that process, you are getting the best possible flavor available.
As we said, everyone will like a different flavor in their coffee. However, regardless of the flavors you like, all of these standards will come into play to make sure you are getting the best possible bean available for the kind of coffee that you like. Follow these guidelines and your next cup of coffee will probably be your best cup of coffee.
Are you a coffee lover? Then check out Arthur’s blog, Cafe-List.com, for more information on things like how to brew the best coffee and the best coffee machines.