The Best Fresh Coffee Beans

If you're looking to have the best coffee, purchase whole beans from an area coffee roaster or shop. A retailer that has a variety of blends is also a good idea.

Koffee Kult's Thunder Bolt is a dark French roast that has a distinctly delicious flavor. It's a little more expensive however it's organic1, fair-trade2 and has no added ingredients.

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe

It is renowned for its delicate scent and citrusy taste, the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe is one of the most sought-after coffee beans around the world. It's also a fantastic source of antioxidants. It's best brewed with no milk and sugar to maintain its unique flavor profile. It's great with food items that are savory to balance the sweet-salty. It's an excellent afternoon pick-me up.

Ethiopia is often referred to as the birthplace of coffee. According to the story, the goatherder Kaldi noticed that his flock was more active after eating berries of red that were growing near his home. He tried the berries himself and noticed they had a significant effect on the energy levels of his body. The herder then spread the berry among his family, and that's the beginning of coffee's popularity.

In the Yirgacheffe region of Sidamo, Ethiopia, coffee is often "washed" or wet processed. This helps eliminate sour tastes and create the fresh, bright taste. In the mid-2000s coffee prices rose to levels that were unsustainable for many farmers across the globe, including Ethiopia. However, the Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (YCFCU) was capable of helping the farmers stay in business through their fair trade initiatives and the ability to bargain with the market. This led to the creation of a new era of single-origin Ethiopian coffees that have fruity flavors and are referred to as "new naturals". Today everyone is enjoying the distinctive floral and citrusy taste of the Yirgacheffe beans.

Geisha

Geisha is among the most expensive coffee beans available. It has a subtle tea-like flavor, with hints mango, peach and raspberry. It also has a smooth mouthfeel that is similar to black tea. But can the price really justify it?

The Geisha variety was first discovered in the highland region of Gesha (it was misspelled throughout the process) in Western Ethiopia in the 1930s by a British consul. The seeds were later introduced to CATIE in Costa Rica, and finally to Panama by the late Francisco Serracin, known as Don Pachi. When the Peterson family began to experiment with it at their Hacienda Esmeralda farm, they discovered that it was producing extraordinary flavors that were balanced and smooth.

Geisha is more than just a great cup of coffee. It has a profound impact on the communities that produce it. It allows farmers to invest their profits into improving farming practices and processes. This leads to a better quality of all the coffee varieties that they grow.

However, many regular coffee drinkers do not want to give it a go due to the hefty price tag. This is a pity, since Geisha coffee is definitely worth it. The sakura season is the best time to enjoy it so do yourself a favor and buy some now!

Ethiopian Harrar

It is often regarded as one of the most excellent coffee beans in the world, the Ethiopian Harrar is full-bodied and exotic. It is a dry processed (natural) arabica, and comes from the Oromia region, formerly Harrar, in southern Ethiopia at an elevation of between 4,500 and 6,300 feet. It has a distinct fruity, wine-like acidity and mocha taste.

The coffee is picked and dried in the spring. The coffee is then fermented, and released its aromas and flavors. This coffee is free of chemicals and low in calories, compared to other commercial coffees. It has numerous health benefits, for instance reducing the risk of Alzheimer's. It is rich in antioxidants, and contains many other nutrients. It is recommended to drink a cup of tea on an empty stomach to reap the most benefits.

Ethiopian Harrar is among the world's most prized coffees, comes from the easternmost region of Ethiopia. It is located at the highest altitudes in the region, just near the walled city that was once a part of Harrar. This coffee is a distinct blend that can be enjoyed as espresso or Latte.

The coffee is hand-sorted and then harvested, and finally sun-dried using traditional cloth bags. This method preserves aromas as well as enhances the flavor. This is a more sustainable way of making coffee. It can be brewed using any brewing method however it is most suited to a French Press or Pour Over.

Monsooned Malabar

One of the most unique and well-known varieties of coffee around the globe Monsooned Malabar is a chocolatey woody and nutty coffee with a low acidity. Its name is derived due to a process known as "monsooning," as well as its origin the most humid region of India in the mountainous region of Malabar which encompasses Karnataka and Kerala with protected geographical indication status.

The history behind this coffee is believed to be apocryphal. In the British Raj period, large wooden vessels were used to transport raw coffee to Europe. During the voyage humidity and wind caused the beans to naturally dry and develop a light off white color. Upon arrival in Europe they were found to have a distinctive and desirable flavor character.

This unique and highly specialized coffee processing, also referred to as monsooning, is still being practiced to this day in Keezhanthoor which is a hamlet with a high-end range cocooned in the Western Ghats and surrounded by small-scale, traditional tribal community farmers who are committed to delivering the highest quality beans. They produce a full-bodied, aromatic, smooth coffee that is scented with baker's cocoa, syrupy sweetness, filtercoffeemachine and a hint of vanilla.

It's great on its own or mixed with more fruity varieties, and it also stands up to milk well making it an excellent espresso or cafe creme coffee. Pour-overs like those found in Bialetti Moka Pot, for instance Bialetti Moka Pot, are also very popular. Due to its lower acidity, Monsooned Malabar can stand up to the heat, filtercoffeemachine too.