Picking The Right Espresso Beans For a Great tasting Cup of Espresso

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

Coffee beans are produced in over seventy countries worldwide, but was first grown in the Arab world. By and large Brazil is the current world leader in producing coffee. Colombia, Indonesia, and Vietnam are not much behind. The quality of the beans generally speaking remains to be of consistently high quality. By purchasing coffee beans from these countries, consumers reduce the risk of obtaining mediocre batches. That doesn’t imply that good coffee beans can’t be found in other places. It is 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 which can be of considerably lower quality. Make sure you know where your coffee beans are originating from.

The coffee we consume isn’t made with raw coffee berries. If it were, it would taste quite unpleasant and bitter. What we know as coffee beans are the result of raw coffee berries undergoing a roasting process. There are a variety of roasts, light, medium and dark roasts. And all the flavors in between. A light, or cinnamon roast, yields a rather delicate flavor. The term cinnamon is used to describe the light color of the roasted coffee bean, not the actual flavour. Medium roasts are perhaps the most common. They tend to be heartier and sweeter than light roasts. Many coffee grounds bought at the supermarket are in the medium roast family. Lastly, there are dark roasts. Dark roasted coffee possesses a noticeably strong and pungent flavor. It’s frequently consumed “black”, or without milk. The richly aromatic flavor of a dark roast makes it perfect for espressos.

Once the various roasts are understood, it can be easy to ascertain why coffee blends are getting to be so popular. By mixing 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 fact is that coffee blending options are truly endless. Given that coffee is produced worldwide, and roasted many different ways, it is safe to assume that there are thousands of coffee blending options. One just has to decide whether or not they favor a commercial blend, like the ones sold by Starbucks, or a uniquely concocted regional blend. It’s important to understand that espresso drinks use darkly roasted beans. Make sure you check the packaging of any coffee blend to make sure that only dark beans are used.

It might appear tricky trying to find the best espresso beans. It merely requires a basic knowledge of the different locales and roasts, and how the beans are combined. Add in a true appreciation for good coffee, and let the exciting search begin. Of course, it all boils down to personal tastes and preferences. What one person might find unappealing could possibly be your golden cup of joe.

Do you like your espresso coffee, but hate having 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 come a long way in recent years, these days it’s not necessary to be an expert to brew a cup of great tasting espresso.