Any coffee-lover can attest to the common experience of going to the local supermarket and being completely overwhelmed by the different kinds of coffees that are available on the shelves. Ground coffee, a huge variety of beans, and even instant cappuccinos can be bought with ease and taken home but finding a coffee that’s just right is something more of a challenge.
Coffee is important to a lot of people and taking the time to find a brand and type of coffee that suits a drinker’s needs is often worth the effort. Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind for buying the perfect coffee while at the shops.
The Origins of the Coffee
Similar in some ways to buying olive oil or wine, the region in which the coffee was grown and harvested can make a big difference in its aroma profile as well as the taste. South America is one of the major regions of coffee export, and coffees from South American will tend to have a mellow acidic taste, as well as a good balance of flavours. Expect hints of nut, caramel, and chocolate in the coffees that are grown in South America.
Central American coffees, on the other hand, are much cleaner and “brighter” and don’t tend to be quite as sweet, except for those that have a fruity flavour profile. Hints of chocolate and nut is also fairly common among Central American coffees.
Those coffees that are grown in Africa have much more exotic flavours and have a strong robustness that few other types of coffee can match. Sometimes they can even have a unique floral flavour, especially if they’re from areas like Tanzania.
Ground or Whole Bean
Another common query is whether it invest in ground or whole bean coffee, and this can depend a lot on the drinker’s situation. Whole beans tend to remain fresher for that much longer and can be stored safely in a pantry for many months on end. The problem, however, is that in order to turn the bean into coffee, equipment will be needed, along with plenty of time.
Ground coffee tends to be the favourite pick for those that just want a hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning and don’t want to spend the time having to get their beans ready to be turned into drinkable coffee, especially if they have a few POLi pokies games to enjoy.
Personal Preference
Sometimes the easiest way to choose the right kind of coffee is by experimenting with what’s available at the store. Smelling, and even taking home and tasting the final result can be much more impactful than reading what other people have had to say. Price can also be an important factor to consider, with beans generally being the cheaper option overall, sometimes by a large margin. Take the time to see what’s on offer and eventually it’ll be easy to choose the perfect variant for the morning coffee.