If you have ever been to Starbucks and tasted some of their incredibly flavorful coffees and espressos, then you understand immediately that there are various types of coffee beans. Unfortunately, selecting a high quality coffee bean can be a daunting task for anyone wanting to create an amazing home brewed coffee. Instead of giving up and going with whatever coffee beans are on sale at your local store, take a bit of time to read this through and truly gain an understanding of the different classifications and qualities that various coffee beans hold. Armed with this knowledge, you can then experiment with different beans and decide for yourself which you like the most.
Types of Coffee Beans
As you have probably realized, there is a wide range in the quality and taste of coffee. As such, you will find that there is an equally wide range of coffee beans that can be grouped into various categories. Here, you can learn more about the two main types of coffee bean plants and their main classifications. Robusta – grown primarily in Africa and Indonesia, Robusta coffee beans are generally considered a lower quality due to their strong and harsh flavor. They have a significant amount of caffeine in them, and are considered much easier to grow in comparison to Arabica beans. Arabica – for anyone looking for that sweet and soft taste, Arabica beans are truly the ones to choose. They contain a higher level of acidity, and also have undertones of fruits and sugar in their coffees. Generally grown in the western hemisphere and Africa, these beans are harder to cultivate and are therefore more expensive. Arabica beans can be classified into two types: Milds & Brazil.
- Milds are beans from plants that have grown at very high altitudes and truly produce the absolute best coffees in the world. Generally, these are considered the ‘typical’ espresso coffee bean due to their lovely flavor.
- Brazil beans are Arabica beans grown at lower altitudes in Brazil. While these are nowhere near the quality of milds, they are preferred for general coffees because they are fairly inexpensive.
Best Coffee Beans Those looking for the best espresso coffee beans will generally lean towards the high quality Arabica Milds because of their delicate flavors and rich undertones. These beans are typically grown in much of South America and are highly regarded in the coffee drinking community. There is, however, much debate on the quality of some of the Robusta coffee beans. You see, Robusta coffee beans produce an absolutely delightful crème that Arabica beans simply cannot match. In fact, many manufacturers will mix some high quality Arabica beans with Robusta beans in order to achieve that delicious crème. This is why there are quite a few supporters stating that the highest quality Robusta beans are actually the best for espressos. They are not only cheaper, contain more caffeine, and easier to grow, but their crème produced is amazing and truly makes for a magnificent cup of coffee. Although the consensus is that anything less than the highest quality Robusta beans are unsuitable for making quality espresso; it is eventually a decision that depends on individual tastes – it is truly up to you to decide whether or not you prefer the Arabica beans over the high quality Robusta beans for your espressos! Types of roasted coffee beans When choosing the type of coffee beans for your espresso, you will have a variety of options in the form of roasts. Each coffee bean should be expertly roasted before it is packaged and prepared for grinding and coffee making use. The roasts you have to choose from are listed below.
- Light roasts are very mild and are not roasted for nearly as long as the darks. These include light city, half city, cinnamon, and New England roasts.
- Medium roasts have a stronger flavor and are commonly used in the United States. These include city, American, and breakfast roasts.
- Dark roasts have a slightly bitter aftertaste and are the strongest of the three. These roasts include high, continental, Italian, French, European, espresso, and Viennese roasts.
Each type of roast can be made into a blended or flavored coffee, so be sure to experiment. You may be surprised at the wide variety of flavors that can be achieved through roasting various coffee beans and may fall in love all over again with a truly unique espresso tailored to your tastes! Take a look at the various types of whole bean coffee you can buy.
Originally posted 2014-03-02 19:37:00.