Buying The Best Coffee Beans Online

Buying a fresh bag of coffee beans is a treat for any coffee lover and buying them online opens up an entire world of possibility. However, there is one downside; you can't smell or sample the beans like you would be able to in stores.

Luckily, most online coffee roasters and stores offer detailed information about their coffee beans, including roast level, origin, flavor profile, and more.

With this simple guide, our goal is to help you find the best coffee beans online. We'll discuss the key factors to look out for, like small-batch roasting, high elevation beans, single-origin vs. blend, and roast type.

Pick Your Roast Level

The roast level of coffee beans is one of the most important factors to consider when making your purchase. The roast level is how long the coffee beans have been roasted, and it will affect the flavor profile, body, acidity, and sweetness of the cup. There are 3 primary roast levels: light, medium, and dark.

• Light roast has been roasted for the least amount of time. This helps the bean retain the flavors from its place of origin, resulting in an earthy, nutty, and sometimes fruity taste.
• Medium roast is roasted a little longer, allowing the sugars to develop, resulting in a cocoa or caramel flavor. The acidity levels are more balanced, and the brew tends to have a fuller body than a light roast.
• Dark roasts have been roasted the longest, giving them a more smokey and bittersweet flavor. They have much lower acidity levels, and a much heavier body feel, meaning they'll retain more of their flavor even after adding milk or cream.

There are also medium-dark roasts, which are a nice balance between the two.

Single-Origin or Blend?

Another critical factor to consider is the origin of your coffee beans. Single-origin coffee is best if you want a very pronounced and unique flavor profile from one particular region or country. While no two batches are the same, they do offer a unique experience and robust flavors. A blend is best if you're looking for a more consistent flavor profile. Blends can include coffee beans from different regions, countries, and even continents to create a unique flavor profile that is best described as complex and balanced.

Look For High Elevation Beans

If you want to be sure you're getting the best coffee beans online, look for high elevation. This means that the plant was grown at an elevation of around 2000 feet or more above sea level. Higher elevations offer a colder growing environment, resulting in denser (more flavorful) beans with greater sweetness.

Small-Batch Roasting Matters

When buying the best coffee beans, small-scale roasting is key. This means that the coffee beans have been roasted in small batches, allowing for greater precision and quality control while maintaining freshness and flavor.

Where to Buy the Best Coffee Beans Online

Now that you know what to look for, it's time to start shopping! At General Warfield's Coffee, we've taken all of these factors into account when selecting our coffee beans. We only work with small-batch, artisanal roasters who focus on quality and flavor above all else.

We are proud to announce we will be adding new roasts to offer this year, beginning with a shade grown, fair trade & organic certified, whole bean, Peruvian option this summer. This single-origin medium roast carries an SCA cupping score of 90+. We are growing and expanding our options to offer a wider selection of beans from various sustainable exotic farms, so you can find the perfect cup for your desired taste.

We think you're going to love this one. 

Visit our online store today to learn more.