Which Coffee Beans are the Best? How to Choose Delicious Coffee Beans

If you’re brewing more coffee at home, you’ve likely encountered the challenge of buying coffee—where do you start?
Coffee flavor depends on five variables: variety, region, roast, grind and storage.
Follow this guide to choose the right coffee beans to brew into your perfect cup of morning deliciousness.

Channeling your inner barista and making a fresh pot of coffee at home can be a great money-saving technique, but it also raises the question of, “Which coffee beans are the best?”

If you want to make good coffee at home, you have options. It all boils down to the beans and preference. From variety and region to roast and grind, here’s a breakdown of the factors to help you buy coffee beans that will make the perfect cup of coffee, whether you’re shopping online or at the grocery store.

What are the different types of coffee beans?

There are as many varieties of coffee beans as there are wine grapes. To make it easy on us, the coffee industry depends mostly on varietals that fall into two categories — Arabica and Robusta.

Arabica has the delicate flavor and low acidity of coffee you’ll find at most coffee shops. For an easy-drinking everyday brew, go with Arabica beans. You’ll find this information on the coffee packaging.
Robusta beans can be grown in harsher climates with less water, which makes them more economical to grow. That said, these beans also have a more acidic and bitter flavor — not what you want in your perfect cup.

Where is the coffee grown?

If you’ve tasted a variety of coffee, you know that different coffee regions deliver wildly different flavors. When you’re buying coffee, the flavor will depend largely on where it was grown.

Here are some characteristic flavor notes of the broader coffee-growing regions:

Central America

Smooth
Fruity
Subtly nutty
Bright, acidic (not sour)

South America

Slight sweetness
Mellow
Hints of caramel and honey (especially Colombian coffee)

Asia

Woody
Earthy
Low-acidity

Africa

Hints of wine, berry
Fruity, floral
Ethiopia’s trademark is its strong blueberry flavor

Single-origin coffees with a light to medium roast will allow the coffee’s unique regional characteristics to shine through.

Another consideration when choosing the perfect coffee bean is elevation. Read the package and look for coffee grown at high altitudes, which develops a richer and fuller flavor than coffee grown closer to sea level.

How do you choose a coffee roast?

It’s a common misconception that the darker and more bitter your coffee is, the more caffeine it has. That’s not true. Roasting burns off caffeine, so light roasts pack more of a punch than dark roasts. One roast isn’t necessarily better than the other — it all comes down to preference.

Light

Light roast means the coffee beans were exposed to heat for the least amount of time, and the finished product is light brown in color. Coffee beans pop at around 380°F to 400°F, known as “first crack,” then again between 435°F and 450°F, “second crack.” Roasters remove light roasts from heat just past the first crack.

Light roasts retain the regional characteristics of the bean. The flavor profile is smooth, bright and not bitter at all, as long as brewing temperatures stay below 205°F. A light roast also delivers the highest acidity, which in coffee speak isn’t the same as sourness.

Start your day right with Bulletproof Breakfast Blend, the light roast sure to satisfy all coffee drinkers.

Medium

Roasters remove coffee beans from the heat source just before the second crack to get a medium roast. Medium roasts lose a bit of acidity and take on a more roasty-toasty flavor. This flavor overpowers some of the regional notes, although the regional characteristics still come through to a degree.

Your mug is begging to be filled with Bulletproof Original Coffee.

Dark

To achieve a dark roast, coffee roasters heat beans to a second crack and then some. High temperatures extract a lot of the natural oils, so beans take on a shiny, dark brown character. People who appreciate the roasted quality over subtle regional flavors will favor dark roasts over light or medium.

For dark roast lovers, you can’t go wrong with Bulletproof French Kick.

Other coffee considerations

In addition to how your coffee tastes, there are other considerations you should keep in mind when choosing which coffee beans to buy.

Coffee bean form: You’ve found your favorite flavor, but do you go whole bean or ground? If you have time to pull out your coffee grinder and grind your beans fresh every morning, choose whole bean coffee.
Organic coffee: Organic certification is a great way to get quality beans.
Brewing method: Whether you’re using a coffee maker or French press, you can usually get away with any type of bean you like.

What about Bulletproof Coffee Beans?

Bulletproof Coffee Beans are 100% Arabica beans, available in four different roasts: light, medium, medium-dark and dark. They’re tested for toxins, which is a big deal when you are a coffee lover.

With your new coffee knowledge, you’ll know what to look for when you’re shopping for coffee beans. Ultimately, which coffee beans are the best boils down to trying different roasts until you find one that suits your palate the best.

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