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How to choose, brew and store the perfect beans
COFFEE BUYERS’ GUIDE
This complete guide to buying and brewing coffee enables you to shop with confidence, discover your personal favorites, and enjoy every sip at home.
Find Your Way Around the Coffee Buyer’s Guide
Not sure where to start? We’ve broken this guide into five easy sections so you can jump straight to what matters most, from understanding where your Gourmet Coffee comes from to brewing it perfectly at home. Each section is packed with practical tips to help you buy, store, and enjoy your coffee with confidence.
Origin
Learn how growing regions shape coffee’s flavor and find the origins that match your preferred taste profile.
Roast
See how light, medium, and dark roasts change a coffee’s body, aroma, and intensity to suit your taste.
Grind Type
Find the best grind for your brewing method and discover how grind size impacts flavor and strength.
Storage
Keep your beans fresh by storing them properly and avoiding moisture, air, and strong odors.
Preparation
Brew a perfect cup every time with simple tips for water, ratios, and clean equipment, and more.
Choosing the Right Gourmet Coffee Beans
Every coffee bean has a distinctive taste depending on where it is grown and how it is roasted. You will find that you might enjoy some more than others. If you haven’t already, we suggest trying several different kinds of gourmet coffee beans to discover which ones you prefer. Our Coffee Sampler Packs are a good way to get a variety of gourmet coffee beans in small quantities.
Coffee Roast Levels Explained
Perhaps the easiest place to start is deciding what roast of coffee you prefer – this helps to narrow down the selection within single-origin coffee beans and gourmet coffee blends. The temperature and length of the roasting process directly affects the flavor of the coffee and most coffees in each category have similar qualities.
Generally, as green coffee beans are roasted they change from a sharp, acidic taste to a smooth, full-bodied taste. Light roast coffee beans have a shorter roasting time and tend to retain the flavor of the bean and soil (earthy taste) while dark roast gourmet coffee beans generally take on the flavor of the long roasting process (smoky or burnt taste).
| Light | Medium | Dark | |
| Typical Flavors | Nutty Fruity Earthy | Caramel Cocoa | Bittersweet Burnt Smokey |
| Body* | Lighter-body | Mid-body | Heavier-body |
| Acidity Levels | High – a lively, bright taste | Balanced | Low – flatter taste |
| Appearance | Light brown Cinnamon | Milk Chocolate Oil droplets on bean | Dark Brown/ Black Very oily bean |
*When comparing body, think of the difference between water and whole milk in your mouth. A heavier bodied coffee will retain more flavors when cream or milk is added.
If you know the roast that you like, you can shop for your coffee by roast type:
What Grind Should I Order?
We offer multiple grind options to meet all your gourmet coffee needs. Keep in mind that green coffee beans (non-roasted gourmet coffee beans) have the longest shelf life, followed by roasted coffee beans and then ground coffee. If possible, we recommend ordering your gourmet coffee beans whole and grinding the beans in small batches to be used for immediate brewing.
If this is not possible, we offer:
- Medium grind recommended for drip-type machines
- Fine Espresso grind recommended for Espresso machines
- Course French grind recommended for use in a French Press brewing
Gourmet Coffee Storage
Once you have ordered your roasted gourmet coffee beans and they arrive at your doorstep, there are a few storage techniques to keep in mind:
- Coffee is porous and will absorb other flavors – avoid putting your coffee near other strong foods and never place your gourmet coffee in the fridge
- Coffee oils give coffee its distinct flavor – avoid freezing your coffee as this breaks down the oils
- Coffee should be kept away from moisture, light, heat and air
The best way to store your gourmet coffee is in a sealed container, kept in a cool dry place.
Gourmet Coffee Preparation
There are several easy ways to turn your gourmet coffee beans into a delicious, flavorful cup of gourmet coffee:
- Keep your coffee maker clean as mineral deposits and burnt coffee at the bottom of the carafe can affect the taste – check your maker’s manual for cleaning instructions
- Grind whole bean gourmet coffee just prior to brewing – for drip coffee the consistency should be like granulated sugar, for French press coffee the consistency should be coarser and for espresso grind the consistency should be like a fine powder
- Use cold, fresh water – using bad water can make bitter coffee
- Measure the coffee grounds – the recommended serving is 1 -2 Tbsp of coffee per 6-8 ounces of water although your personal taste will dictate just how much to use
- Transfer brewed coffee into a preheated carafe if it is going to sit for more than 15 to 30 minutes – keeping the pot on the burner will break down the coffee making the coffee bitter
- Allow the entire pot of coffee to brew before pouring a cup to get a balanced cup of coffee – the brew cycle does not make the same strength coffee throughout the brewing process
FAQs About Buying and Enjoying Coffee
You’re not the only one wondering about the best roast, grind, or way to store your beans. These quick answers cover the most common questions coffee lovers ask when shopping and brewing at home.
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