Best Coffee Beans – Which should I buy? Which is Stronger?

Over the past few years, fresh coffee has seen a surge in popularity. Although, with a surge in popularity comes an increase in suppliers claiming to ‘be the best’.

The main thing to think about is your taste preferences. Whether you’ve been drinking coffee for some time or a newcomer to the idea of a daily cup, there are different ways of deciding which ones are better for you,

Here’s a quick summary 5 of the best coffee beans, which are roasted to different levels.The most important thing the check when on your taste preference:

• For strength – Indonesian Coffee from Java, Dark Roast African Espresso 
• For newbies (light roast) – Brazilian beans (Santos)
• All Rounder (medium roast) – Continental Blend
• Best Light Roast – Yirgacheffe beans
• Best Green Beans – Single Origin Green

If you’re still wondering which is best for you then look no further.

Today we’re giving you a clear explanation on some of the most prevalent questions about fresh coffee, to help you decide what will give you your morning fix for the next few days or even weeks.

Of course it goes without saying; speciality coffee is the ONLY coffee you should be buying. You only need to read this article “Speciality Coffee – What is it & Why Should You Care?” to see how important it is.

The first question you should probably ask is –

“Do I need BEANS or GROUND?”

And the answer is simple – if you don’t have a grinder then you definitely need ground. But coffee beans will stay fresher for longer once you open the packaging. There are a couple of reasons why you may want to buy beans over ground

The great news is, our roasting experts at Adams + Russell will grind them for you when you choose any type of bean from our selection.

Just select ‘Ground’ option when choosing your coffee – it’s that easy.

Which is the best coffee for strength?

So you want to know the real truth about strong beans.

There are a lot of theories out there and lots of coffee beans ‘claiming’ to be the strongest EVER coffee.

And it may not come as a surprise to hear that the strength of coffee is very much dependent on your taste buds.

Some people think the darker the roast, the stronger the bean. Yes, it’s also true that there’s a more intense flavour when you roast the bean for longer, which is what makes it darker.

However, this doesn’t always relate to a desired level of strength for everyone

For example, coffee beans can have a number of strength measurements that you may value in your every day coffee.

Here are 3 of the perceived strength elements that can be released during the roasting process:

Coffee Strength Elements

Strong Earthy tones

Indonesian Coffee from Java is renowned for having rich, earthy undertones and is a good choice. The cherry is wet hulled, which is where it gets the earthiness characteristic from.

Strong Acidity/Bitterness

To a lot of non-coffee geeks ‘strongest’ means a bean that is most bitter. The cheaper Robusta beans certainly fall into this category.

Robusta beans are so bitter, it’s difficult to find a blend that is 100% Robusta. So they are usually 20% Robusta blended with 80% Arabica beans.

Not only that, some companies will sell what they call a STRONG coffee but really it may be  ‘packed full of cheaper robusta’.

Strong Tobacco flavour

Some of the darkest roasts usually contain tobacco undertones. Often the darker roasts are also known to have that ‘extra bite’.

Strong Savoury notes

Some of the more exclusive coffee beans are likely to have a savoury note to them. The savoury tones of a coffee bean may be best tasted at a medium roast, which means the flavour doesn’t intensify too much.

Strong Caffeine Levels

Who doesn’t love a Caffeine boost in the morning? And funnily enough, caffeine doesn’t actually have much (if any) taste. Again, Robusta beans are the choice for high caffeine, they also have a superb crema. Our very own Classico blend fits right into this category.

Which is the best coffee for strength when brewed?

Generally, the strength of a coffee can also be directly related to how much/little water you use to make coffee from a given weight of grinds.

Here’s a couple of simple tips to making the best coffee if you want it stronger:

How to Make the Best Strong Coffee

If you want it stronger, use more coffee.

And if you want weaker, use more water to brew it weak.

The average brew measurement is approximately 18g of ground coffee per cup poured.

Another trick to enhancing the strength is to use a metal filter as opposed to paper filters. Particularly when using an Aeropress, if you haven’t heard of an Aeropress, have a read here

Wikihow has a number of tips on how to make stronger coffee

Which are the best coffee beans for me?

Everyone is different and it really does depend on your taste, but your tasting experience can also have an impact when asking yourself “which is the best coffee for me?”.

So we’ve put together some experience levels and matched them to flavours which may work best for you.

Green Bean:

If you’re brand new to choosing the best coffee. Try these Brazilian Coffee beans (Santos), They are lightly roasted beans with smooth flavour and a medium body. Use just under 17g per cup to get used to the taste.

Lightly Roasted:

The Yirgacheffe bean is great for anyone growing their taste buds. It has a bright acidity and floral/citrus flavour. It’s therefore less intense than some of the full bodied beans. Look out for a smooth medium roast

Moderately Roasted:

So you’re fairly experience but still trying to get used to the intensity. Keep a look out for medium roasts with sweet tones

2nd Crack:

You’ve been drinking coffee for years and don’t really need me to advise you. You probably love to try the different flavours and are enjoying making your own mind up about which is best for you.

No matter how experienced you are, anyone can have a look at our Single Origin Coffee comparison chart to determine which flavours sound the best.

What’s your experience in choosing the best for YOU? Share your knowledge in the comments below.

Choosing based on Espresso or Filter

One of the main features between different coffee is whether it’s best for an espresso machine or a filter brew method. You will find that on each product we make a suggestion on the best brew method.

If you have a barista machine at home, then you’re best choosing an espresso blend because they are roasted with the knowledge that a finer grind will be used when brewing the drink.

Alternatively, if you’re brewing with a V60 or Aeropress, for example, you’ll want to choose a roast that is designated as a ‘Filter’.

Most home owners tend to use a filter form of brewing but in the past few years, Sage Barista Machines have become very popular