Welcome to our site. Here you will find information on gourmet coffee beans and accessories.

Convenience vs. Taste

Every single morning, the process of grinding, while not difficult, is an additional chore to the ritual of making your morning coffee. 

So why, then, do people opt to buy whole beans over previously ground beans?

What you lose in convenience, you gain tenfold in taste.

First, ground coffee beans have a shelf life that is significantly shorter than beans.  The fact that they are ground already exposes more surface area to air, one of the two enemies of coffee.  (The other is moisture.)  If you do buy ground beans, it’s important to store in an airtight container and store in an area receiving minimal light and no air.  Store it at room temperature, and expect to finish the ground amount in no more than two weeks. 

Whole bean coffee, on the other hand, are good for up to a month, normally.  This is not to say that the taste is bad after a month; I am sure we have all had coffee that has been stored for longer than this amount of time with acceptable results.  The ideal taste, though, is produced within that month.  Most beans are roasted immediately before sale, and by the time you picked up your coffee at the market, there is no real way of knowing how long it’s been since roasting.  The main advantage is that you grind the beans immediately before brewing, which exudes significantly greater aroma and taste than previously ground coffee.  A cup of freshly ground mediocre coffee is better than a cup of previously ground gourmet coffee.

Some countries renowned for their outstanding coffee beans are Brazil, Costa Rica, and Ethiopia.  If you happen to be lucky enough to visit these countries, you may end up bringing back some beans.  When you find yourself with beans in bulk, and you’re aware that beans do not last forever, another option is to store your unopened coffee beans in the freezer.  Storing in the freezer will lengthen the shelf-life of your coffee, but do keep in mind that this is a one-time action.  Once you take it out of the freezer, never put your coffee back into the freezer as condensation inside the bag will undoubtedly ruin the taste of your coffee and diminish the all-important coffee bean oil that is vital to a good cup of coffee.

Coffee preference is subjective, regardless of whether your purchase it in whole beans or previously ground.  Ultimately, the flavor and taste of the coffee is based on its origin.  The plant itself and the climate in which its grown contribute the majority to the final taste.  Furthermore, the roasting process in itself adds a massive change, as the carbohydrates and fats in the coffee are transformed into the essential coffee oils.  Without the roasting process, many of us would vow coffee off forever. 

As a rule, the coffee that is roasted longer produces a darker coffee, and while some prefer lighter coffees, dark roasted coffees have a smokier flavor that is very full.  However, some people claim to taste a “burnt” taste to the coffee and prefer a medium or even light roast.  Which whole bean coffees you prefer is entirely up to you!