COFFEE VARIETIES AND TYPES

Can't decide on just one type of coffee?

Try our "World Coffee Tour Sampler" and get five (5) half-pound bags of coffee beans from around the world for just $26.00!

Makes a great gift idea!

Brazilian... Colombian... Guatemalan... Mexican... Costa Rican... Kenyan...
...So many coffee choices! How do I Choose the Perfect Bean for my taste?

If you're asking yourself "WHAT SHOULD I ORDER?"... then here are some of our suggestions... or just go directly to send a GIFT CERTIFICATE or PLACE YOUR ORDER!

COFFEE BEAN TYPES

There are several different beans to choose from, as well as, their growing environment... I could go on for ever and explain each and everyone of them, but I'll just give you the "highlights".

Supremo Beans: Supremo is the highest grade of Colombian coffee beans. These large beans can create a full bodied and sweet tasting coffee with a rich flavor and aroma. Truly gourmet. You'll savor a rich, superbly balanced flavor from this "famous for coffee" South American country.

Arabica Beans: Arabica coffee is the superior grade of coffee that most people usually refer to as gourmet coffee. They contain about half of the caffeine of robusta and have more desirable flavors and aromatic properties. Much of the coffee grown world wide is of the arabica species, but only a fraction meets standard set by the Specialty Coffee Association of America.

Peaberry Beans: Peaberry, also known as caracoli, is a type of coffee bean. Normally the fruit of the coffee plant develops as two halves of a bean within a single cherry, but sometimes only one of the two seeds gets fertilized so there is nothing to flatten it. This oval (or pea-shaped) bean is known as Peaberry. Typically around 5% of all coffee beans harvested are of this form. Normal coffee beans are less commonly called by contrast flat berry. Peaberry coffees are particularly associated with Tanzanian Coffee.

Robusto Beans: Robusta coffee is a lower grade of coffee that is typically grown at lower elevations. It has more of an astringent flavor and contains a higher amount of caffeine. The robusta trees are easier to grow and maintain. They are also more disease resistant and produce a higher yield. This type of coffee is typically used to achieve a lower price.

...and several more types of beans...

ROASTING LEVELS

There are many attributes and techniques to consider when roasting coffee beans.  We won't go into roasting techniques, but will identify typically accepted roast levels to help you in selecting your coffee.  Generally, the time and temperature a coffee bean is roasted determines the roast level.

LIGHT ROASTS - light brown in color, generally preferred for milder coffee varieties.  The surface of the bean is dry with no oils present. 

MEDIUM ROASTS - medium brown in color wit a stronger flavor and a non-oily surface of the bean.  The bean is typically slightly sweeter than a light roast.  This roast is sometimes referred to as American roast, because it is generally preferred in the U.S. 

MEDIUM - DARK ROASTS - a rich, dark color with some oil on the surface of the bean.  A medium-dark roasted bean has a slightly bittersweet aftertaste. 

DARK ROASTS - exhibited by shiny black beans with an oily surface.  This roast produces a significant amount of bitterness.  Darker roasted beans have lower levels of acidity.  Many roasters name their dark roasts differently, and the beans can be anywhere from black to charred. 
>>> TID BIT INFO: the darker the roast, the LESS caffeine the bean contains!

COFFEE TASTE AND AROMA

Similar to wine, coffee has some specific tastes and aromas that are present.  Judging these characteristics can be both objective and subjective.  There are certain tastes and aromas that good coffee cuppers look for; but the bottom line is how the coffee tastes to you and what type of coffee do you typically like.  Here are some guidelines in helping choose your coffee:

*  Aroma - how does the coffee smell, after grinding and after brewing.  This provides an indication of how your coffee will taste.
*  Acidity - this just means the level of tanginess or liveliness available from a small to a large amount for a particular coffee.  Many people like a certain level of acidity in their coffee.  In general, different coffee growing regions have different acidity levels because of the soil and climate.
*  Body - how the coffee feels in your mouth.  This is the thickness or heaviness of the coffee on your tongue.  The body level ranges from light to full.
*  Roast - the level of roasting, ranging from a light roast to a very dark roast.
*  Balance - the overall level of combination of the above factors.  Typically ranging from low to high, a coffee with a medium or "good" balance would exhibit fairly equal levels of acidity, body and aroma.  No single characteristic would overpower another. 

These characteristics combine to provide the overall flavor characteristics of your selected coffee. Like fine wines, coffee tastes typically evolve for an individual over time.  The more different types of coffee you try, help you determine what characteristics you like or dislike.  Over time, you will develop a preference for what types of coffees you choose. You may join our "BEAN PHISHING" club to receive a different coffee every 6 weeks and help you expand your coffee bean knowledge.

COFFEE CUPPING

Cupping is a method of evaluating the aroma and taste of coffee beans.  Typically used by coffee growers, buyers and roasters to determine the quality of a particular coffee sample.  There are specific techniques learned for proper cupping.  A trained coffee cupper typically considers these characteristics:

*  Fragrance - the smell of the beans after grinding
*  Aroma - the smell of coffee after it is brewed
*  Taste - the flavor of the coffee
*  Nose - the vapors released by the coffee in the mouth
*  Aftertaste - the vapors and flavors that remain after swallowing
*  Body - the feel of the coffee in the mouth

Now that you know enough (definitely NOT all) about coffee to make a decision, would you like to sample one or more of the beans we offer? Click here to take a look at our selection and place an order... OR... If you are selecting a gift, then you may want to get a GIFT CERTIFICATE to allow for a more personal choice.

QUESTIONS? Contact Us and we will try to answer them!