A Good Rant About Coffee Beans
The Best Fresh Coffee Beans
A whole bean purchase from a local coffee shop or roaster is a surefire way to enjoy the freshest and most delicious brew. Shopping with a retailer which offers a broad selection of blends is an excellent idea.
Thunder Bolt by Koffee Kult is a dark French Roast with a delicious, rich flavor. It's a little more expensive but it's organic1, fair-trade2 and has no added ingredients.
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
Famous for its delicate aroma and citrusy taste, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe is among the most sought-after coffee beans around the world. It's also an excellent source of antioxidants. It is best brewed without sugar and milk to preserve its distinctive flavor profile. It is great with food items that are savory to balance the sweet-salty. It's also a great option for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Ethiopia is often referred to as the birthplace of coffee. According to the story, an Ethiopian goatherder named Kaldi noticed that his flock seemed more active after eating berries of red which were growing near his house. He tried the berries himself and realized that they had a significant effect on his energy levels. The herder then shared the berry with his family and that was the way coffee was first made popular.
In the Yirgacheffe area of Sidamo, Ethiopia, coffee is often "washed" or processed wet. This helps eliminate bitter taste and to create the fresh, bright taste. In the mid-2000s, global coffee prices reached unsustainable levels, which impacted many farmers in Ethiopia. The Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union was able keep the farmers in business by making them bargain on the market and taking fair trade initiatives. This helped to usher in a wave of fruit-flavored single-origin Ethiopian coffees that are referred to as the "new naturals." Today, the world is once again savoring the unique fresh, floral, and citrusy taste of the Yirgacheffe bean.
Geisha
Geisha is one of the most expensive coffee beans on the planet. It has a delicate tea flavor with hints mango, peach, and raspberry. It also has a silky mouthfeel that is similar to black tea. But does it really merit the price tag?
A British consul in London discovered the Geisha variety in the 1930s in the highland area of Gesha in Western Ethiopia. The seeds were later transported to CATIE in Costa Rica, and finally to Panama by late Francisco Serracin, known as Don Pachi. The Peterson family experimented with it on their Hacienda Esmeralda Farm and found that it gave flavors with balance and fineness.
Geisha is not just an excellent cup of coffee. It has a profound impact on the communities who produce it. It allows farmers to reinvest their profits into improving their farming practices and processes. This leads to a better quality of all the coffee varieties that they grow.
Despite this, many everyday coffee drinkers refuse to give it a go due to the price. Geisha coffee is worth the price. The Sakura season is the best time to drink it so do yourself an favor and buy some now!
Ethiopian Harrar
Often considered one of the finest coffee beans in world The Ethiopian Harrar is full-bodied and exotic. This coffee is a dry processed (natural) arabica that comes from the Oromia region, previously Harrar in southern Ethiopia at elevations between 4,500 and 6,300 feet. It is characterized by its acidity that is fruity and wine-like as well as a mocha flavor.
The coffee is harvested and dried in the spring. It is then fermented, and released its aromas and flavors. In contrast to most commercial coffees this coffee is free of chemicals and is low in calories. It offers numerous health benefits, for instance reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's. It is also a great source of antioxidants and a host of other nutrients. coffee beans types Coffeee is recommended to drink a cup Ethiopian Harrar on an empty stomach to maximize the benefits.
Ethiopian Harrar, one of the most sought-after coffees in the world originates from the region's easternmost part of Ethiopia. It is grown close to the old town walled by Harrar which is situated at the highest altitudes. It is a unique blend that can be enjoyed as an espresso or Latte.
The coffee is hand-sorted and then harvested, and finally dried in the sun 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
Monsooned Malabar is one of the world's most renowned and distinctive coffees, is a chocolatey coffee with an nutty, woody flavor and almost no acidity. Its name is derived from a process known as "monsooning," as well as the region it comes from the wettest region in India in the mountainous region of Malabar which encompasses Karnataka and Kerala with protected geographical indication status.

The story behind this coffee is apocryphal. During the British Raj period, large wooden ships were used to transport raw coffee to Europe. During the voyage the wind and humidity caused the beans to naturally weather, resulting in a pale off white color. When they arrived in Europe the beans were found to have a distinct and highly desired flavor characteristic.
This unique and specialized coffee processing, also referred to as monsooning, is still being practiced to today in Keezhanthoor, a hamlet of high-end quality cocooned in the Western Ghats and surrounded by small-scale tribal farmers who are committed to the highest quality of beans. They produce a rich, aromatic, smooth coffee that is scented with baker's cocoa, syrupy sweetness and a mild vanilla.
This coffee is great alone or mixed with fruitier varieties. It can also stand up to milk well making it a perfect espresso or cafe cream coffee. Pour-overs, such in a Bialetti Moka Pot, are also popular. Monsooned Malabar is also resistant to heat due to its lower acidity.