The Best Coffee Beans
If you want that perfect cup of coffee you need to buy the best quality and most fresh coffee beans, says baristas at some of the most well know and best Kolkata coffee shops. Most coffee lovers across the world have a discerning taste and flavour which if of course dependant on the sort of coffee beans one chooses and the taste of beans depends directly on the area where it grows. On record there are more than six thousand varieties of coffee beans in the world among which only a few are exported and have become popular all over the globe. Individual tastes are bound to vary and with is the selection of beans, whatever beans you may flavour it is imperative you do not compromise with the quality as inferior quality beans will only produce flat coffee.
If the taste of coffee is in the beans then here is a list of most popular flavours or varieties to choose from to brew that perfect cup of joy for yourself.
- Arabica beans, undoubtedly producing the highest quality coffee, accounts for 60% of the overall coffee production world wide. Arabica beans that possess a rare and delicate flavour are vulnerable to pests, weather conditions and hence happen to be one of the most expensive varieties. Delicate taste of Arabica beans vary depending on the country of origin, so Arabica beans from South and Central America possess a more moderate aroma and body those grown in different parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda have distinctive flavours. Ethiopian Harrar for example has a pure taste with medium body and zero acidity while Yirgacheffe and Sidamo also grown in Africa have completely different tastes.
- Robusta beans which are far hardier and resistant to weather conditions than Arabica make up for 40% of world’s coffee production. Unlike Arabica beans, Robusta has a more power packed taste and do not vary in flavours. When added to other coffee blends Arabica serves to deliver a powerful kick that many a coffee lover crave. While Robusta beans grow in greater quantities they produce lesser grade of coffee thanks to the astringent flavouring and higher caffeine content.
- Kona, the smallest and most exclusive variety, is grown mainly in Hawaii. Hawaiian Kona grown in the slopes of Mount Hualalai and Mauna Loa is popular for its powerful aroma which is the reason why Kona is mixed with other drink flavourings.
While Kona, Robusta and Arabica are the most well known and popular varieties of coffee beans available in the markets, there are plenty of other more exclusive flavours like:
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee: Grown in the area between Kingston and Port Maria it has a mild flavour with no hint of bitterness.
Costa Rica Coffee: Coffee beans grown in Pacific coast of Costa Rica possess a mild and sweet taste while those from interior mountainous region of the country have a more heavy fragrant flavour.
Kenya AA: Grown in the volcanic red soil of Mount Kenya this type of coffee has a more acidic and earth flavour with medium body.
Now that you are aware of the different flavors of coffee beans you can easily select the one suiting your taste buds. Remember the flavours of coffee remain locked away in green or raw beans which are released when they are roasted. Roasting process frees the oils and acids that actually give each type of bean its distinctive flavours and taste, but roasting also means that they are vulnerable to loosing flavour quite fast. The fresher the roasted beans the more aromatic and tasty the coffee, so but only freshly roasted beans by asking to see the date of roasting when you visit gourmet coffee shops. Determine the blend and roast you prefer first. Do you like mild or full bodied, acidic or delicate, nutty or fragrant? Would you prefer darkly roasted or light roasted beans? Knowing your preference will help you to make the right selection. However, for those individuals who are not so sure of their distinct preferences, Kolkata coffee shop staff opines buying beans that smell and look appetizing would work out fine.
