How to Buy The Best Coffee Beans

French press, pour-over, water temperature, brew duration and so much more. Coffee fanatics love testing and refining their morning brewing method in search of the perfect cup. But when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, what beans you are using has way more effect on the flavor of your cup of java over what technique you used. While we may be spoiled here at Montecillos, since we have a steady supply of fresh coffee beans on our doorstep, we do believe that unless you are buying the best coffee possible, you’ll never find that perfect cup. 

So how do you determine what is a delicious, high-quality coffee? Well, if you don’t feel like reading you can just buy a bag of freshly roasted Montecillos beans here. But for those that want to master how to buy the best coffee beans, here are some tips to follow. 

Single Origin vs. Blends 

Certified organic, single-origin blends from small, traditional farms are a great starting point. Single-origin coffee is from one place or farm only, from a particular region or country. Since they are often harvested from a single estate or farm they may only be available certain times a year and the local growing season can impact production. 

Coffee blends are when beans from multiple locations are mixed together and roasted. Some blends may contain beans from up to ten places although typically most roasters select between two and four sources. 

Cost & Taste Difference

Single-origin can be slightly more expensive than blended coffee because of growing season variance and availability. It may be produced in small batches only seasonally. Blended coffee, on the other hand, can be produced year-round, which can slightly lower the cost. 

But for most coffee connoisseurs, a single-origin tends to be their favorite choice. This is because, with single-origin coffee, you can deeply experience the particular taste of that specific bean. 

Some people do argue that blended coffee can be more flavorful, but this largely depends on the skill of the roaster and the quality of all bean sources being used. If you order a latte or milk-heavy drink at your coffee shop, typically you will be served a house blend, whereas if you prefer to drink espresso or a black americano, a single-origin blend will be served. 

Read the Label

While ground coffee is certainly convenient, for the best flavor possible it is worth buying whole beans. This is because once the beans are ground and exposed to air the oxidation process happens quicker and the grind’s flavor may become slightly muted. 

Coffee is also not meant to have an eternal shelf life! Make sure that you check the roast date on your bags, the fresher the better! 

Origin

Sunshine, rain, soil, chemistry, and altitude all factor into the flavor of the final coffee bean, which is why origin is such a talked-about factor! Many of the famous bean regions are located just north or south of the equator (including our little farm) and are a good starting point to experiment. Why not try a bag today? We bet that it’s the best honduran coffee that you have ever tasted.