Coffee is not just a hot drink in a cup, but also a social ritual: many of us cannot imagine starting the morning, attending a business meeting, or catching up with a long-lost friend without coffee. Good and proper coffee can help focus or even inspire new ideas.
Enjoying a delicious cup of coffee in the city is easy, but what about those who are not café-goers and prefer to drink coffee at home? When searching for the right coffee, it’s easy to get lost among a plethora of different names and descriptions.
Have you ever thought about the arguments guiding your coffee choices? Price? Packaging appearance? Or advertising influence? A formed image does not necessarily match the real quality inside the package. Here are some simple tips to help you choose quality coffee that suits you best:
Preparation method. Consider how you prepare coffee. If you like to make coffee quickly and simply, then ground coffee might suit you better. However, as with food, freshness is paramount in coffee. Freshly ground coffee has a different aroma, a more intense flavor, and makes it much easier to taste the nuances of the coffee. Therefore, it is worth preparing coffee from freshly ground beans. Also, remember that an opened package of freshly roasted coffee retains its best aroma for 3 days, after which it starts to fade, and the flavor becomes less intense. Coffee should be stored in a sealed container after opening.
Composition. The most popular coffee varieties are Arabica and Robusta, with Liberica being less common. Arabica accounts for about 60% of the global coffee market and is most appreciated for its taste qualities—mildness, sweetness, nutty, berry, and fruity flavors. This variety is much more expensive than Robusta or Liberica because Arabica coffee trees are particularly picky about growing conditions. Notably, Arabica contains much less caffeine, making it healthier. Robusta has more bitterness and acidity. It is often blended with Arabica to give the coffee strength. Coffee made from these beans is richer, sharper in flavor, and less aromatic. Liberica is the least common variety. These beans are used for brewing coffee drinks and making instant coffee.
Altitude. Pay attention to the altitude at which the coffee beans were grown. The optimal height for Arabica is 1000-2000 meters above sea level, and for Robusta, approximately 100-700 meters above sea level. The higher the location, the more aromatic the coffee beans become.
Origin. When choosing a good wine, we always pay attention to the region it comes from. The same should apply when selecting coffee. For example, Brazilian coffee is known for its sharp yet sweet flavor, Colombian coffee is typically slightly acidic with black cherry and cocoa notes, while Cuban coffee has a sharp, slightly burning, and slightly bitter taste with no acidity. Knowing what flavor (sweeter, sharper) you prefer is important when searching for your favorite coffee.
Roasting. One of the most important stages in coffee production is roasting. The roasting of the beans determines the flavor of the coffee. Many believe that the darker the beans, the more caffeine they contain. However, the opposite is true; lightly roasted beans will have a slightly higher caffeine content. The darker the roast, the less acidic the coffee will be, having a more pronounced bitterness.
And most importantly, don’t be afraid to experiment and trust yourself rather than others’ opinions, as this is the only way you can find your favorite coffee!