Choosing the best Arabica beans involves understanding roast differences, knowing quality indications, checking freshness, and considering the sourcing and harvesting methods. Experimentation and research are key, as well as looking for fair trade options. Grinding whole beans fresh is recommended for optimal flavor.
Choosing the best Arabica beans is usually a matter of understanding roast differences, knowing the indications of quality, and looking for the freshest beans possible. The specifics of how the beans were sourced and harvested can also be a concern. More often than not, this information can be found relatively easily through a little cursory research. In dedicated cafés, roasters may also be on hand to answer your questions. It’s usually a good idea to experiment with beans as you are able and shop around to find the best choices for you.
Arabica beans are the basis of many different coffee blends. The strength of their flavor and the intensity of their brew is largely a matter of roast. Understanding roast differences is one of the first things you’ll need to master in order to choose the best Arabica beans.
Raw coffee beans generally have a very bitter taste and will not produce a beverage like the one most people associate with coffee. To get the dark brown liquid loved by so many, the beans must be roasted, usually over a fire or in specialized roasting ovens. The heat causes the beans to release oils and enhances their flavor. Light roast, medium roast, and dark roast are the three most common styles, but different manufacturers have different styles and often different names for each. Knowing the different roasts and how they affect the taste will help inform your choice.
Fusion is another important consideration. The Arabica coffee bean is often blended with different flavors and spices during roasting to create variety in the final beverage. In some cases, Robusta beans – cheaper, milder beans – are added with Arabica varieties. This alters the overall taste and texture of the resulting beer, and is something to look out for. The term “Arabica blend” can only mean that the beans include external spices, but it could also indicate that the beans are not purely Arabica.
Once you know how you want your coffee beans to be roasted and have an understanding of different flavoring and blending options, freshness becomes the primary concern. The best Arabica beans are those that have been roasted recently, as they will have the boldest and freshest flavor. If you live near a roastery, it’s often possible to purchase beans within a day or two of roasting. Otherwise, be sure to look for the dates on the commercial packaging.
Pre-packaged beans almost always include a roast date. Sometimes it is the same as the “packed” date, but not always. Look for beans that have been roasted within a month of the purchase date for optimal flavor and freshness.
It’s also usually best to buy whole beans, then grind them fresh the day you want to use them. Grinding coffee at home is relatively simple and almost always brews better than pre-ground versions, even of the same coffee base. Beans lose a lot of moisture and flavor when ground.
There is some controversy in the coffee industry over the ethics of harvesting and sourcing coffee, particularly in developing countries. If you’re concerned about the labor practices of the farmers who grew your Arabica beans, look for roasts labeled “fair trade.” The Fair Trade designation is granted to roasters and distributors who are committed to sourcing beans only from agricultural cooperatives that have adopted certain human rights and fair labor practices. Fair trade coffee is often more expensive and is never a designation of quality – only background.
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