Which Coffee Beans Are the Best?

When it comes down to choosing a great cup of coffee, the type of beans you choose make all the difference. Each one has a distinct taste that pairs well with a variety of drinks and food recipes.

Panama is the most popular with its unique Geisha beans. These beans are highly assessed in cupping tests and they are also quite expensive coffee beans at auction. But Ethiopia, especially Yirgacheffe beans is close behind.

1. Geisha Beans from Panama

Geisha beans are the most delicious coffee beans you can find around the globe. Geisha beans are prized for their unique aroma and flavor. These rare beans, harvested at high altitudes undergo an unusual process that gives them their distinctive flavor. The result is a cup with a rich, smooth flavor.

Geisha coffee is indigenous to Ethiopia but was introduced into Panama for the first time in 1963. Geisha coffee is known for its excellent taste and flavor. Geisha beans can be costly because of the effort required to grow them. Geisha coffee plants are more difficult to grow because they require higher elevations and unique climate conditions.

Geisha beans are delicate and should be handled with extreme care. They should be sorted with care and carefully prepared to roast. Otherwise, they will turn bitter and acidic.

The beans are cultivated at the Janson Coffee Farm, which is located in Volcan, Panama. The farm is committed to protecting the environment and is a leader in the production of high-quality beans. They utilize solar panels for energy, repurpose waste materials and water, and use enzyme microbes to improve soil. They also plant trees and utilize recycled water to wash. Their coffee is Washed Geisha, which was awarded the highest score at a Panama Coffee Competition.

2. Ethiopian Coffee

Ethiopia is a huge coffee producer with a long track record of producing some of the finest brews. They rank as the 5th largest coffee producer in the world, and their beans are prized because of their unique fresh and fruity flavors. Ethiopians are different from other beans, are best roasting to medium-low. This allows the delicate floral notes to be retained while highlighting their fruity and citrus flavors.

Sidamo beans, famous for their crisp acidity is among the top in the entire world. However, other varieties of coffee such as Yirgacheffe or Harar are equally well-respected. Harar is among the oldest and most well-known varieties of Ethiopian coffee and it comes with distinct mocha and wine flavor profile. Coffees from the Guji zone are also renowned for their distinct terroir and complex flavors.

Another kind of coffee that comes from Ethiopia is called natural process. It is processed dry instead of wet-processing. Wet-processing involves washing coffee beans, which removes some of its fruity and sweet flavor. Natural process Ethiopian coffees were not as well-known as their washed counterparts. They were more commonly used to brighten blends than sold on the specialty market. However, recent technological advancements have allowed for higher-quality natural Ethiopians.

3. Brazilian Coffee

Brazilian coffee bean shop near me is a rich mixture of different types. It is characterized by low acidity and a silky body. It has sweet-toned flavors with the hint of chocolate. The flavors vary depending on where and in which state it is grown. It is also renowned for its nutty and citrus notes. It is ideal for those who like medium-bodied coffee.

Brazil is the biggest coffee exporter and producer in the world. Brazil produces more than 30 percent of the world's coffee beans. It is a huge agricultural industry and Brazil's economy depends heavily on it. The climate is perfect for growing coffee in Brazil and there are 14 major regions for coffee production.

The primary beans that are used in Brazilian coffee are Catuai, Mundo Novo, Obata, and Icatu. These are all varieties of Arabica coffee. There are several hybrids that include Robusta. Robusta is the name of a coffee plant that originated in Sub-Saharan Africa. It's not as delicious as Arabica coffee, however it is easier to grow and harvest.

It is important to realize that slavery continues to exist in the coffee industry. Slaves are exposed in Brazil to long and exhausting work hours, and are often denied adequate housing. The government has taken measures to tackle this issue and has programs to help coffee growers pay their debts.

4. Indonesian Coffee

The finest coffee beans from Indonesia are known for their dark, powerful flavor and earthy taste. The volcanic ash that is mixed into the soil gives them a firm body and low acidity that make them ideal for blending with more acidic beans from Central America and East Africa. They also respond well to roasting that is darker. Indonesian coffees are characterized by a complex and rustic flavor profile and often have notes of leather, tobacco wood, ripe fruit and spices.

Java and Sumatra are the two major coffee producing areas in Indonesia however, some coffee is also cultivated on Sulawesi and Bali. A lot of farms in this region use a wet-hulling process. This is different from the washed process that is used in most expensive coffee beans parts of the world. The coffee cherries are de-pulped and then washed and dried. The hulling process reduces the amount of water in the coffee, which could reduce the effect of rain on the final product.

Mandheling is one of the best-known and highest-quality varieties from Indonesia. It comes from Toraja. It is a rich and full-bodied Organic Coffee Beans that has hints of candied fruit and intense chocolate flavors. Other types of coffee from this region include Gayo and Lintong. They are usually wet-hulled and have a full-bodied, smokey taste.