The best coffee beans are freshly roasted, sealed in an airtight jar or foil bag, and consumed within a week. Buzz words like fair trade, organic, shade-grown, and sustainable give consumers a warm glow of satisfaction, but they don’t necessarily mean much when it comes to flavor. That’s where knowing where and which coffee beans to buy comes in.
The best-tasting coffee can be made with whole beans and grinding them just before brewing.
Here are five tips for learning how to choose the right coffee beans at an affordable price:
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1. Buy whole beans instead of pre-ground coffee
Coffee beans start to go stale as soon as they’re ground. An airtight container will help maintain freshness, but if the package is still open, you should plan on using all of the beans within a week or two. Coffee lovers who want their beans to remain nearly as fresh for as long as possible should buy whole beans and grind them just before brewing. That means you’ll need either a coffee grinder at home or one on your way to work; many office supply stores, including Staples, offer coffee grinders for sale.
2. Look for airtight containers
You can prolong the freshness of your coffee by storing it in an airtight container. It will help keep the moisture that causes coffee beans to become stale. Some people like to use glass canisters with airtight screw-on tops; others prefer plastic containers, such as those made by Ziploc. The main thing is to ensure that none of the container’s contents are exposed to air.
3. Avoid refrigerating or freezing your coffee
Coffee experts agree that storing whole beans in the refrigerator is not a great idea—it can cause condensation every time you remove the beans, making it difficult to grind them evenly. Coffee experts also say not to freeze your coffee—this causes the moisture, leading to stale-tasting coffee.
4. Avoid storing your coffee in the cupboard
Coffee should ideally be kept away from heat, air, and moisture. If you’ve got an old metal container that once held fruit or veggies with a lid, try keeping your beans there. But don’t keep them near spices in the pantry—this can cause flavors to leach into your beans.
5. If you’re buying in bulk, keep them separate
If you buy coffee in bulk, store the beans in an airtight container at room temperature until you’re ready to use them—it’s best not to open a big bag of beans unless you plan on using all of them within two weeks or so. Store small amounts of coffee in smaller, airtight containers and make sure to keep them away from heat and light and fresh until you’re ready to use them.
Mistakes people make when buying coffee beans:
- Not checking expiration dates can lead you to stale coffee beans.
- Buying bulk coffee that is old or improperly stored (which means it’s lost flavor)
- Not storing your coffee in an airtight container (that includes the bag it came in and anything else you might use to keep it)
- Trying to keep every last ounce of coffee fresh by adding extra nitrogen gas in the bag.
- Storing coffee near any strong-smelling foods (spices, etc.)
- Packing your beans too tightly into the storage container. Coffee needs to be able to “breathe” to stay fresh longer. Do not pack them in tight!
- Buying pre-ground coffee, whether it’s pre-ground in a can or the kind you grind yourself.
Types of coffee beans:
There are many different types of coffee beans. The most common are Arabica and Robusta, but there are specialty breeds like Blue Mountain, Kona, Jamaican Blue Mountain, Peaberry, Excelsa, Catuai, and SL28. Arabica is usually a good choice if you want to brew gourmet coffee at home.
Conclusion:
Coffee is a beverage that most people start their day with, whether to give them energy or help them wake up. But if you’ve been buying the same brand of coffee beans every time, it might be time for a change. When you purchase whole-bean coffee, grind it yourself just before brewing, and only buy as much as you’re going to use within a week or two, you’ll be able to enjoy a richer taste and an improved flavor.
