Making the perfect cup of coffee isn’t as difficult as it may seem. A large part of the process is centered around having the right ingredients, and then putting them all together. The first thing you have to consider is the quality of the coffee bean you plan to use.

There are only two varieties of coffee beans available, Arabica and Robusta. Arabica beans are considered a higher grade bean than Robusta, but that can also be a matter of your own taste and opinion. Arabica beans generally are grown at higher elevations and have a smoother consistence. Robusta coffee beans are generally stronger and more bitter. Which you choose is largely up to you, but most of the specialty roasters will suggest Arabica beans because of their quality.

The first thing to consider when selecting a bean is deciding what you like. Do you like a stronger flavor? More acidic? Lighter and smoother consistency? Fruity or nutty overtones? Each of these characteristics, and more, are things to keep in mind as you look for a good coffee bean.

Too often, people will ask you how dark or light you want your beans to be, but that question can wait for now. The roasting process can create a whole range of flavors and tastes all on its own. First of all, consider the flavor of the bean you like the best.

There are many regions where coffee is grown, and each of them have different highlights and benefits to consider. For example, you can find coffee beans from Central and South America, from Africa, the Middle East, India, the Caribbean, Indonesia, and Asia. Coffee in each of these locations is grown differently than anywhere else. While there may be some similarities between regions, each of them has something distinct to offer.

Good coffee begins long before it makes it to your coffee cup. Coffee farmers with great land, that has excellent soil and good plants begin the process. A talented farmer with skillful workers contribute to the overall quality of the coffee being produced as well. There is a huge amount of effort expended on making sure the coffee a plantation produces is of the highest quality.

Most people don’t realize that a coffee tree or bush only produces about a pound of coffee every year. That means that a plantation must have a large area to grow enough coffee to make the effort worthwhile. The highest quality coffees can be traced back to their points of origin, including the farm or plantation where it was grown, as well as the facility where it was processed.

The drawback to all of this is accessibility. The average coffee drinker in the United States isn’t able to travel to Costa Rica, or Indonesia, or Kenya to examine the coffee plantations and select the best coffee. Fortunately, there are people that do this full time so that you and I can enjoy the best coffee without having to expend so much expense to find it.

There are two companies that I trust implicitly for their coffee knowledge, and I purchase from them regularly. I almost always buy the beans green so that I can roast them myself, but occasionally, I like to try different roasters and different processes, too. You can experience a wide variety of excellent coffee that way.

The Roasterie

Based in Kansas City, The Roasterie has an excellent reputation for seeking and finding the best coffees. They are specifically a roaster, so much of what they market has already been roasted, but you can buy green coffee from them as well.

Sweet Maria’s Coffee

Sweet Maria’s Coffee is focused on helping the home roaster. That means they usually have a much wider selection of green coffee available, although you can purchase roasted coffee from them as well. Generally speaking, green coffee will cost from a third less to half the price of roasted coffees. Sweet Maria’s is where I primarily purchase most of my beans. I really enjoy the flavor of the beans they have been getting from Brazil recently.

Selecting the right beans is a critical aspect to creating the perfect cup of coffee. Many may tell you that water quality is the most important aspect to consider, but without the right beans, your water won’t do much. And choosing poor quality or stale coffee beans will make even the best water taste terrible.

If you are looking for the perfect cup of coffee, the place to start is by selecting the right beans. If you find a good bean already roasted, you are ready to grind it and brew. But if you buy your beans green, you’ll need to roast them first. That’s the next topic we will discuss.

Question: Where do you get your coffee? You can leave a comment by clicking here.