Like food, wine, and spirits, coffee culture is now enjoying its time in the sun. The world has come a long way since the ‘Cup of Joe’ days, where strong and flavorless instant coffee was guzzled by tired office workers.
People have started to realize just how incredible coffee is. Like a fine wine, coffee can take on endless subtle flavors and complexities based on how it is grown and the soil that it grows in. This means that if you decide to buy green coffee beans, you’ll be rewarded with the ultimate taste and flavor experience.
If you want to take your coffee flavors to the next level, you should seriously consider whether you should buy green coffee beans as well.
To find out more about these delicious beans and why you should be buying green, please read on.
What Exactly Are Green Coffee Beans?
Many people think that green coffee beans are some sort of different variety of coffee, different from the famous brown beans seen more frequently. This isn’t actually correct, however.
Green coffee beans and brown ones are in fact exactly the same thing. The difference is that brown beans have already been roasted, whereas green coffee beans are completely raw.
As it is toasted, coffee takes on the distinctive dark color that it is so well known for. Most coffee you will have come across in your life up to this point is brown because the roasting has been done for you.
Instant coffee, for example, is roasted and ready to go straight away with the addition of water.
Home Roasting Your Beans
The key question that people will ask is, why should you go through the effort of roasting your beans if they are available pre-roasted so much of the time.
The answer is simple. Control.
When you select a pre-roasted variety of coffee, someone else has taken the decision on the amount of time that the beans have been roasted for.
This may be okay for home drinkers when they just want a quick instant coffee. But if you are running a high-end brewhouse, or you’re importing beans to sell on to the most discerning of baristas, green beans are the best options.
When you use green beans, you are in full control of the roasting process. This means that you can decide exactly how much (or little) you want the beans to be toasted.
This is a huge advantage compared to the pre-roasted variety.
With a great selection of varieties available, you can truly create a bespoke coffee taste to match your vision for what coffee should be.
Types of Coffee Beans
There are two distinct species of coffee bean available. They are arabica and robusta beans. There are actually a few more than this, but these are two of the most famous variations.
Robusta beans are much more common. The plants that the beans grow on are common at much lower elevations.
Because they possess a larger amount of caffeine on average than arabica beans, and also due to their lower price, robusta beans are popular with commercial coffee. The vast majority of instant coffee and beans you find in convenience stores is made using robusta beans.
Arabica beans are what you’d consider ‘high end’ coffee beans. They are used in many of the more artisan coffee shops around the world.
They grow only at higher altitudes of 3000 feet above sea level. Arabica beans are considered to have a superior taste to robustas, with greater subtlety and range to them.
Roasting at Home
You shouldn’t be intimidated by the prospect of roasting your own coffee beans at home. There was a time when this could have been seen as very intimidating, but with the right kit, it doesn’t have to be.
Before you roast your beans, let them sit in a dry bowl, uncovered, for between 2 and 3 days. This will get them ready to produce their flavor by allowing them to give off some of the gas which built up during storage.
If you are not ready to commit to buying a countertop roasting device, we have a little trick for you. You can actually use a standard popcorn popper to do the job.
After you get your first taste of the delicious subtleties you have created for yourself, you’ll decide to treat yourself to the real roaster though.
Set your coffee into the roaster, and then keep a close eye on the color. Your beans will slowly transform from green to brown. It’s up to you to decide how far to let them go.
Once you’re happy with your beans, they’re ready to be ground down and enjoyed. Get ready to change your perceptions of coffee forever!
You’ll improve with some practice, but you can find some more tips and tricks to roasting green coffee beans.
Help Out The Farmers
One of the best reasons to buy green coffee beans is that it really goes a long way to supporting the farmers who toil to grow the beans the end up in your cup.
Located in Africa, Caribbean countries like Jamaica and in Latin America, coffee farmers do not have it easy.
They must contend with unsupportive governments, crime and other factors. And that is before the wages of their workforce are even taken into consideration.
Despite this, they deliver the most flavorful, tasty coffee beans available anywhere on the planet.
On our website, you’ll find a full range of information about each of the different coffee growing regions, and how they differ. We even offer in-depth reports on our visits to the farms, to keep you up to date with the situation on the ground.
Buy Green Coffee Beans
Once you have made the decision to buy green coffee beans, you will have changed your perceptions of coffee forever. The superior flavors and the control that you will give yourself is simply unbeatable.
The fact that it will also allow you to give back to the farmers and help them out is the noblest of added bonuses as well.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the green coffee beans we have available, please check back in on our blends, as they change throughout the year.
Answers to Common Questions
What equipment is necessary for roasting green coffee beans at home, and how does one get started?
To start roasting green coffee beans at home, you’ll need a few key pieces of equipment. A simple method is using a popcorn popper, as mentioned in the article. However, for more consistent and professional results, a dedicated coffee roaster is ideal. These range from small, simple machines to larger, more advanced models with precise temperature controls and timers. Additionally, a cooling tray to cool beans quickly after roasting and a scale to measure the bean quantity accurately are useful. To begin, you would measure out your green beans, heat your roaster, and then add the beans when the roaster reaches the desired temperature. Monitoring the color and aroma, you’ll roast the beans until they achieve your preferred level of roast, then cool them off to stop the roasting process.
What are the specific flavor differences between Arabica and Robusta beans when roasted at home?
Arabica and Robusta beans have distinct flavor profiles that can become even more pronounced depending on how they are roasted. Arabica beans generally have a wider range of flavors and can include notes of fruits, berries, and nuts with a higher acidity, providing a sweeter, more complex cup of coffee. Robusta beans, on the other hand, tend to be more bitter and harsh with a stronger, earthier taste. They often have a higher caffeine content and less sugar than Arabica beans, which can result in a less acidic brew. When roasted at home, the nuances of these beans can be tailored to personal taste, allowing for a lighter roast to highlight Arabica’s subtle flavors or a darker roast to mitigate some of Robusta’s bitterness.
How does purchasing green coffee beans directly support coffee farmers?
Purchasing green coffee beans, especially from fair trade or direct trade sources, significantly supports coffee farmers by providing them with a higher proportion of the profits. This direct purchasing reduces the number of middlemen, which often results in farmers receiving a better price for their beans. Additionally, when consumers choose to buy green beans, they are often participating in programs that emphasize sustainable agriculture and fair labor practices. This can lead to improved working conditions and more sustainable farming methods. Supporting these practices not only helps improve the quality of life for farmers but also contributes to the overall sustainability of the coffee industry.