Tips to Help You Find Your Perfect Cup of Coffee: Coffee Beans

by | Sep 6, 2018 | B2B Coffee | 0 comments

Perfect Cup of Coffee

Number 1: The Beans

Arriving at a conclusion of what is a perfect cup of coffee may be an impossible mission. What is delicious for someone may not be somebody’s else cup of tea, I mean, coffee in this case. However, if you know the factors that will influence how the coffee will taste, you will know what to look for and how to find which one is perfect for you, also, you will know which is the best options to serve in social gatherings and business offices. We will cover everything you need to know in a series of articles. This first one will start, unsurprisingly, at the beginning: the coffee beans. The two main coffee beans are Arabica and Robusta. We will briefly cover the characteristics of each, but most importantly we will tell you what to expect when tasting either of these beans.

Arabica coffee:

Arabica coffee
The first ever type of coffee bean, it is originally from Ethiopia where the Oromo tribe ate the beans, crushed and mixed with fat, as a stimulant. Later, these beans were brought to Arabia, where we can find the first written records of a brew made from roasted coffee beans by the Arabian Scholars who said it helped to prolong their working hours, from there it got the name Arabica. It grows at higher altitudes and takes about seven years to fully mature. Two to four years after planting, some small, white flowers start growing and produces a pleasant smell resembling the sweet smell of Jasmine. Some of the countries producing Arabica Beans are Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Columbia, Ethiopia, Burundi and Brazil, the latter being the largest producer of them all.

What will you taste?

The coffee made from these beans will have a light, sweet and smooth taste. It produces a softer tasting coffee than the second most used beans, Robusta. As a matter of comparison, if we were discussing wines, the Arabica would be the Merlot of the family. A coffee roast made of 100% Arabica will be more expensive and not as widely available, but if your preference is a lightly sweet and smooth tasting espresso that does not carry the accentuated taste of caffeine,  then this is the bean for you.

Robusta Coffee:

Robusta coffee
These beans are cultivated in the eastern hemisphere, mainly in Africa and Asia. It is easier to cultivate, it can be grown in larger amounts and the plantations are less affected by diseases. It only takes ten to eleven months to mature, making it more viable to the producer, consequently making it more plentiful and cheaper. Because it can be grown faster and in larger quantities, it is often seen as inferior, but this is not always the case. It’s just a different type of bean, cultivated in a different climate resulting in the different taste.

What will you taste?

Robusta has 2.2% – 2.7% caffeine against 1.2% – 1.5% found in Arabica beans and the sugar content is generally 3 – 7% for Robusta against 6 -9 % in Arabica. The result is a lot stronger and bitter taste than the former. A high percentage of Robusta is the best option for those who prefer a full-bodied espresso with a crisper but heavier taste of caffeine.

The Best Cup of Coffee for Everyone

The good news is that we don’t need to make a hard choice between bitter or sweet as there is a huge variety of blends to choose from to satisfy most people’s taste.

It is a difficult task to taste the very many available blends, but it is also just as difficult to decide on the most suitable coffee making equipment. Based on our experience in the Irish market we can make some recommendations as to the best coffee blends and coffee machines that match the Irish coffee tastes.

A high-quality capsule coffee machine , with a variety of capsules flavours, can be a great solution for small to medium groups. A bean-to-cup coffee machine using fresh beans and compartments for different types of coffee beans is more suitable for bigger groups.

If you must choose one blend, then you have two options:

1. A medium mix of Robusta and Arabica Coffee Beans, it is cost effective and produces a tasty cup of coffee. As these blends are the most common used by Cafes, it will likely please most of the group.

2. If there are some experienced coffee drinkers in the group, then the 100% Arabica Coffee is most likely a better bet. Amongst coffee lovers, it is seen as being fancier and of better quality.

Choosing the right blend is the first step to ensure you get a great tasting cup of coffee. Keep your eye-out for Article 2, which will cover the next step: transport and packaging.

In the meantime, you can contact B2B Coffee to arrange a demonstration and experience the full coffee experience for yourself.

CONTACT US 01 435 0890