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Best Coffee Beans in 2022 - Buyer's Guide

Kickstarting your energy in the morning requires a cup of good coffee that wakes you up and elevates the mood instantly. The best coffee beans are essential to achieve a good coffee taste and a fine crema. There are countless varieties of different quality. Some come from the exclusive growing area, hold a fair trade or organic seal, or undergo a special roasting process by the manufacturer. The variants of aromas are as numerous as the different flavors of coffee connoisseurs.

The following comparison provides information on the 10 best coffee beans with their respective properties and special features. In order to make the purchase decision easier, the following guide contains the most important purchase criteria and other details that are important in addition to the quality when buying a coffee grinder.

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Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

What should you look out for when buying coffee beans?

Not all coffee beans are created equal. It’s not just the variety or the mixture that determines the taste. Different roasting times and degrees of roasting result in different flavors.

Important points to look out for when buying coffee beans are:

Little breakage and defects:

With high-quality coffee beans, there are no shells or broken beans in the package. They are a sign that there is air in the upper part of the packaging. The beans should also be free of burns and mold. There should be no unripe beans or dirt such as twigs and stones in the packaging.

Diverse and detailed information on the packaging is also a sign of high-quality coffee. This includes:

Type of beans:

The mixing ratio of Arabica and Robusta beans with percentages should be printed on the packaging.

Origin of the beans:

Manufacturers who value quality and transparency not only indicate the country of origin of the coffee beans, but also provide information about the plantation, its location, and, if necessary, the altitude. Inferior quality can usually be excluded. Good quality can be seen in the bean image of roasted coffee, for example, if the beans look almost undamaged.

Sealing of the packaging:

A high-quality coffee sometimes has up to 800 different aromatic substances. When opening the pack, the scent should be pleasant and aromatic. As a rule, the packaging with whole coffee beans is provided with an aroma valve.

Roast date:

If there is only a best-before date on the packaging but no roast date, the coffee probably comes from a large industrial roastery. If the roast date is specified exactly to the day, it is probably a high-quality coffee.

Roaster and degree of roast:

For high-quality coffee types, not only the place of roasting but also the name of the roaster is sometimes given. The degree of roasting from light to dark roast should always be indicated.

Seal:

The procurement structures are indicated for many high-quality coffees. If the coffee beans have a Fairtrade or organic seal, this can usually be seen on the packaging.

Aroma profile:

Many manufacturers of good coffee beans provide information about the taste profile of their coffee. Here the customer can find out whether the coffee is rather mild or full-bodied and which aromas, e.g. of caramel, nuts, or chocolate, are being developed. An important point is the acidity of beans. Regardless of the type and quality, coffee beans contain tannic acid. It is important that the proportion of tannic acid is not that high. Coffee that is high in acid can cause heartburn, sweating, and stomach upsets in susceptible people.

Preparation recommendation:

Manufacturers of good coffee usually provide information on what they consider to be the best preparation method. For example, the customer can find out from the information on the product packaging whether the coffee beans are more suitable for café crema or espresso coffee.

COMPARISON TABLE OF COFFEE BEANS

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Top 10 Best Coffee Beans in 2022

The comparison of best coffee beans presents 10 whole coffee beans to help you find the best coffee beans for your needs.

Specifications:

Founded in Turin in 1895, Lavazza bean is an Italian manufacturer of coffee products. The company was initially small but has now grown and is administered by the current generations of the Lavazza family.
Lavazza beans have a medium roast and are originated from Brazil, Indonesia, and Central America. Medium roasted beans are generally high in caffeine, making you more functional and active.

As the name itself implies, the Lavazza beans create an amazing, rich crema. It brews a thick espresso with a delicate chocolaty flavor to it. The Robusta beans are washed, changing their flavor profile from woody and bitter to a deep chocolate taste. Lavazza coffee beans are packed with nitrogen for anyone who might be interested, giving them a much longer shelf life.
On the flip side, Lavazza super crema is a blend of 60% robusta and 40% Arabica, making it quite acidic. The Super crema might not be for you if you are someone whose stomach cannot handle acidic beverages. It isn’t organic either.

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Lifeboost gets all of its coffee beans from the mountains of Nicaragua. They use high-quality Arabica beans that are grown without any pesticides.
You might not experiment with different flavors because all of the coffee comes from the exact origin. However, you might not even want to try anything else if you like Central American Coffee. It is undoubtedly addicting with the right blend of bitterness.

Lifeboost coffee can be a bit expensive. But you get your money’s worth out of every cup. The coffee is delicious, aromatic, and low-acid, meaning it will be quite gentle on the stomach. It is completely mycotoxin-free, organic, and shade-grown. It is available in a bunch of exciting flavors.
The medium roast coffee is smooth, has a medium body, and has a very well-rounded flavor. Lifeboost coffee is even better known for its cold brew.
The cold brew process lowers the acidity of coffee beans in general, meaning the already less acidic life boost coffee further reduces down in terms of sharpness, making it even friendlier for your stomach.

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Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is another brand of coffee beans that can easily be considered as one of the best coffee beans in the world. The Jamaica blue mountain coffee is grown in areas of the Blue Mountains that are specifically designated for their growth.
The coffee has a blue-green color, a decent level of acidity, an intense aroma, and a strong full-body flavor. The higher price tag that comes along with Jamaica blue mountain coffee is because of the high-quality coffee that they produce.

Jamaica blue mountain coffee has a low supply as it has a limited area for the growth of the coffee beans. This makes it one of the rarest coffee beans globally and one of the most expensive.

So, if you can get your hands over their pack, don’t hesitate. They bring out the money’s worth and win over your initial tastes.
If we talk about the demand for Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee, it is one of the most sought-after types of coffee found anywhere globally.
Its taste adds to the demand even more. It is very well known for its sweet, floral taste. It lacks any bitterness to it. It is a bit acidic but is generally loved by all coffee enthusiasts that have ever gotten a chance to taste it.

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Sure, money can’t buy happiness, but it can make the perfect cup of coffee for Kona bean lovers! ‘Kona coffee’ is the common name used for coffee cultivated on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa, situated in the North and south Kona districts in the Big Island of Hawaii.

It is considered one of the most luxurious and expensive coffees that money can buy. One reason for it being highly expensive is the labor cost. Kona coffee is hand-picked by workers. Also, like fine wines, Kona coffee requires complete attention throughout all of the processes that it goes through.

Switching the discussion towards the flavor profile of Kona coffee, its traditional taste is light, sweet, and fruity and hints of spice, or sometimes even nuts.
As the Kona coffee bean enters the process of being roasted, it picks up flavors of sweetness and fruitiness. As the roasting of the beans proceeds, they start losing the sweet fruity flavor and develop a much stronger taste profile while also developing a body.

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Starting with a love story that I will not be spoiling today, Don Pablo is now a world-class grower, as well as a roaster of specialty grade, roasted-to-order coffees that are sourced from second-to-none coffee growing regions and are then delivered all around the globe.

Don Pablo coffee is organic GMO-free and 100% Arabica coffee with a low acidity level, making it easier on the stomach. Don Pablo’s signature blend is a mixture of coffees from Colombia, Guatemala, and Brazil.

Each of the coffees has a distinct body character, making each sip more complex than most of the other coffee blends out there.

It carries a sweet, perfectly integrated taste and a medium to full body. It has a cocoa tone finishing to it and provides a very smooth experience.

The natural sugars in the bean are slightly caramelized, giving just a hint of tastiness to the Medium-dark coffee. It carries a sweet aftertaste.

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Produced by the same family-owned business, Lavazza espresso Barista Gran Crema is a slow-roasted blend of beans that are specially crafted to provide a fully professional experience with every sip.

It comes with a blended taste of honey and roasted coffee that can be made in an espresso machine. The blend is a mixture of Arabica and robusta beans and originates from Settimo Torinese, Italy.

It has aromatic notes of dried fruits and flowers with a medium roast. It comes with a nutty aftertaste. For the perfect espresso every time, it is recommended that you grind your coffee beans neither too fine nor too coarse.

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Coffee beans with the flavoring of fruits and flowers sound delicious. The growing and processing conditions of beans for Kenya AA coffee beans are famous because of their enriching taste and melodious coffee.

The majority of these beans are produced in Mount Kenya and Nairobi. And AA is the grade that is used to divide the size of coffee beans. It is the largest coffee bean you can buy.

Moving to its taste, it feels like a breath of fresh fruity air in your mouth with a hint of an acrid taste. Tropical fruits, berries, and wine also have imprints of their touch on these beans.

Food pairings for these beans are also impressive, ranging from sour to sweet. Donuts and bagels with Kenya AA coffee beans would complete a breakfast finely. For evening pairing, this acrid, sweet hot coffee with sour cheese dips can do wonders.

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From Ethiopia to Costa Rica, and now the most demanding coffee globally, Costa Rica Geisha Coffee has traveled a lot. The world’s ripest cherries are used to produce geisha coffee.

The riper the cherries are, the more sweetness it brings to the coffee. Some people process them by wet or others by dry method. Wet coffee beans are considered more bright and flow in the mouth. It keeps the coffee light and breezy.

It is perfect for people with a sweet tooth but a fitness freak preference. The high price of geisha coffee is easily justified by its quality and flavor notes of chocolate, honey, and tropical fruits.

The sweetness and bitterness of this coffee are balanced in a perfect manner to soothe your taste buds and provide a hint of African coffee treasure. The demand for these beans has been on the rise constantly for some time.

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The best from Columbia, Guatemala, Sumatra, and Brazil are found in these coffee beans. These beans are dark roasted, but there is a misconception that it would taste more bitter, and well, coffee lovers like me know that it is not the case; in fact, dark roasted beans can have slightly less caffeine than dark roasted beans medium roasted but still taste divine.

Different organic beans are blended into the mixture, including the forest beans, for their ethereal taste and provide a different touch to the Cult classic, Koffee beans.

It’s famous for the ability to provide both the best texture and perfect flavoring to cold brew, French press, or drip coffee maker. So, if your tongue gets its mood swings often, Koffee Cult Coffee beans are your thing.

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Specifications:

Hands Down! The most robust coffee we tried, its flavor and aroma can fill the room before you even try it and fill your heart too. It gives a kick to your life and is perfectly balanced to make your eyes pop out and your brain smart.

It is a blend of Arabica beans with delicious Robusta beans to produce the bright and warming taste to date. These beans can make you so addicting that every other coffee would not be strong and flavorful enough.

It is mostly processed in India and Peru, especially for people that may have developed a resistance to coffee. On average, its effect lasts for 4-5 hours if you drink coffee constantly.

Also, don’t take it with dinner meals if you really want to sleep. If it is taken without sugar and milk, it can be transformed into a delicious snack for weight loss too.

If you make it with a thick grind and paper filters but less temperature, your experience will be heavenly. Morning freshness is the most integral part of beginning with the day; a coffee drinker’s coffee decides their energy levels for the day and even their moods!

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Buyer’s Guide to Choosing the Best Coffee Beans

We all are coffee lovers but understanding how this coffee beans section works is not easy. Each factor is important in choosing the right beans from the country of origin to the right roast level.

Albeit, amazing brands have their natural coffee beans upon sale; however, having the appropriate knowledge to narrow down to the perfect beans is a blessing to one’s cup.

We have listed down the main considerations to pay attention to while you pick coffee beans so that you get your best brew.

Type

There are, in general, four types of coffee beans, among which the two most commonly used are Arabica and Robusta. Most people prefer consuming Arabica coffee beans, and around 75% of the coffee market comprises Arabica, which is grown in higher altitudes.

Robusta coffee beans are easier to grow in lower altitudes but have a very strong and bitter flavor, which is why they are less popular among consumers.

Flavor-wise, Arabica is more appetizing and low in caffeine, while the Robusta beans have a high amount of antioxidants and feel stronger.

So if you prefer a bitter and high on caffeine coffee, then Robusta is for you; otherwise, you can stick to Arabica. Also, you can get a blend of both kinds of beans in some ratio like the best coffee beans for espresso is 80:20 ratio of Arabica and Robusta.

Nothing is much more satisfying than finally finding the bean your tongue adores, mind prefers, and heart loves!

Roast

Another main factor that affects the taste of coffee is the roasting level of coffee beans. The procedure of a particular bean speaks a lot about its quality and future take.

We have narrowed down a few bean roast types for you:

  • Medium Roast

Medium Roast coffee beans are the most common roasting level. They give a fuller and stronger flavor with fruity notes. The coffee has less caffeine and is good for both new drinkers and specialty coffee consumers, which is convenient and does not come with worries.

  • Medium-Dark Roast

A more aromatic version of medium roast tends towards the darker color and gives a fuller taste and smoky roasting effect. It offers a balanced ratio in the flavor of bitterness and body of the beans.

  • Dark Roast

Now for espresso or specialty coffee drinks that require a chocolaty and strong smoky, dark roast level is great. The beans are roasted for a long time, and all the oil is excreted and dried out.

These beans give a good punch of flavor in just a small amount quickly. They are less acidic and have lower caffeine content too.

  • Light Roast

Those who would prefer a naturally fruity and citric raw flavor in their coffee can go for light or weak roasted beans. These beans give a multi-flavor taste with an appealing aroma. Although due to high acidic and caffeine content, it is preferred to drink them with added milk.

Origin

Weather conditions, altitude, and soil in which the coffee beans are cultivated have a major effect on the flavor and quality of the beans. Some of the popular coffee-growing countries with their flavors and after notes are as follows:

  • Indonesia

It is one of the most popular Arabica growing countries, which has sharp spice after notes and an appealing aroma.

  • Columbia

Coffee beans from Columbia have a strong taste and usually give a mild sweet chocolaty or nutty flavor.

  • Brazil

Bright floral, nutty, and chocolate-flavored beans from Brazil occupy the major coffee market of the world. They give a balanced and smooth taste.

  • Costa-Rica

Beans from Costa Rica have a dark chocolate flavor with a hint of tropical fruity taste and brown sugar.

  • Kenya

If you are into citrusy flavors like lemongrass, grapefruit, or berries, then pick beans from Kenya.

  • Mexico

Appetizing aroma with hazelnut and cocoa flavors.

  • Guatemala

Tropical fruits with a light toffee kind of flavor.

  • Ethiopia

Floral and fruity undertones.

Well, these are some of the few origins where the coffee beans are grown. With Single-origin coffee beans, we meant beans from one country processed through a single method, while a multi-origin blend will consist of mixed beans gone through a different process.

So if you need a particularly strong flavor, single-origin will be good, but for a mixture of flavors and undertones, you can experiment with various blends.

Freshness

We often rush to the supermarket and buy the expensive coffee beans thinking that we got the best. But even the ones from big brands there have a long shelf life and are months old. So you won’t get the strong aroma or flavor as the beans are almost stale.

It is always wise to buy from a local roaster who will provide you with freshly roasted beans or buy the ones delivered within 8-10 days after packaging from brands.

Some of the Roasters or companies offer fresh roasting and packing when you order; this will give you a chance to enjoy fresher coffee. Also, use an airtight container to retain the aroma and freshness of beans for more days.

Nothing is much refreshing than a fresh cup of coffee in the morning; using the coffee beans roasted appropriately to the level of your preference brings out that therapeutic scent and utter freshness to a positive day.

Acidity & Bitterness

Well, different origin beans and roasting level results in varying acidity and bitterness of the coffee. So, whether you have a reflux issue or can’t enjoy the brew’s bitter punch, make your choice carefully.

When harvested and processed, the beans are taken care of for the acidity and bitterness level; also, the roasting has its effects.

So make sure to pick the right quality beans and look out for the brewing time and filter thickness to keep the coffee bitter as much as you like.

Ground or Whole Beans

Mostly in markets or superstores, you will find ground coffee beans, or even if you are buying from a local roaster, they will provide you with additional grinding service too. You can get the ground beans if you have a grinder at home or what kind of brewing method you are using.

It is better if you buy whole beans and grind them at home. This will keep the aroma and flavor intact for a long time.

Caffeine Level

Well, it doesn’t matter if you are sensitive to caffeine or cutting out on it as the doctor prescribed. You can still enjoy a good cup of coffee. The caffeine levels of the coffee beans vary from region to region and due to the after processing and roasting of the beans.

For example, Robusta beans have 83 % more caffeine than Arabica Beans, or if you go for dark roast beans, you get a less caffeinated version.

Many brands offer decaf options with very minimal caffeine, or if you want a good caffeine kick, you can choose any high caffeine beans.

Certified and Organic

When buying coffee beans, make sure that you buy from brands that are “Fairtrade certified” and follow the standards, or else you can buy via direct trade, meaning directly from the farmer or local roaster.

 This will give you a better price and quality. Fairtrade certified brands, the quality and sale benefits are ensured by the authorities to reach the farmers to uplift their living and help better coffee growing areas.

Another important factor is choosing USDA-approved organic brands that provide you with entirely GMO and pesticide-free coffee beans grown naturally without any harmful chemicals. This is beneficial for your health and has a big impact on the environment, saving moto for a better future.

Taste Preferences & Budget

Lastly, your taste preference and the budget are major criteria for choosing the coffee beans as high-quality beans are sometimes quite expensive, so pick wisely.

Your taste preference is the most essential for coffee beans, a cup that forces you to chug it because its coffee and “it will get you through the day” is not the coffee you want.

Appearances can be deceiving, so don’t just go for the ratings or price; look carefully at the flavors and notes the beans deliver and what kind of brewing method they are suitable with to get what you want to enjoy fully later.

Benefits of Choosing Whole Coffee Beans Over Ground

coffee beans

With the different levels of grind beans available in the market, why would one go for whole coffee beans?

Well, the answer is great taste, aroma, and quality brew.

Let us explain how, when the beans are grounded in a coffee grinder, the coffee starts aging, and with each day, the aroma and flavor start fading.

So if you buy whole beans, there are chances that your beans remain fresh for longer, and you get the strongest flavor and aroma.

Plus, you take a small amount to grind manually at home before brew makes the coffee taste fresher.

Now with a single type of grind, you don’t have many brewing choices, but with whole beans, you can grind as you wish and brew coffee from any method, be it cold brew or French press, you are in control.

Coffee Brewing Methods

Each coffee brewing method requires a different grind and roast level to get the perfect flavor. So either you get your beans to grind from a local roaster or do it at home; make sure to keep it this way:

  • Pour-over

For pour-over coffee makers to get the balanced flavor and strength, a fine sand-like grind is suitable but slightly coarser as it takes 2-3 minutes to brew.

  • French press

As the brewing time for French press is 4 minutes, to avoid extra bitterness or grains passing through the filter, a medium-coarse grind is needed.

  • Espresso

For rapid espresso extraction, extra-fine coffee beans are great to get the strongest flavor quickly.

  • Drip coffee

A medium-coarse grind is ideal for drip coffee makers to get a pleasant and strong flavor and avoid over-extraction.

  • Cold-brew

Coarser grounds are better for cold brews.

Conclusion

In general, you can’t decide on one best coffee beans as they vary from person to person and their circumstances. Although with the right roast and grind, you can brew perfect-tasting coffee at home like a pro.

For lovers of strong and rich flavored coffee, the dark roast will do while the light roast will give a natural flavor.

Similarly, for the high caffeine content, Robusta beans are the better choice, and you should pick the beans grown at higher altitudes if you wish to have a cold brew.

Preference is the key to the flavors! Take your time, experiment, and remember, good things take effort!

Whatever you choose, be it single flavored or experimenting with multiple flavors together, we hope you get a luscious cup of coffee!

Enjoy café level from the comfort of your home.

Happy brewing!

FAQ

Yes, Arabica coffee beans are decaffeinated to give you great-tasting coffee with a very low amount of caffeine as they decaf it without chemicals or soaking, so the aroma and flavors are intact.

Dark roasted coffee beans brewed in French press go great with milk; if you prefer a caramel or chocolate flavor, then a mild roast will be good too.

The best coffee beans in the world are grown by Columbia, Jamaica, Brazil, Indonesia, and Costa Rica.

Both are good, but most commonly, Arabica beans are used in a French press.

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