Coffee Bean 101…. Coffee and Espresso Information

What Are The Best Beans For Producing A Great Espresso With

March 1st, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

Today you will find that there are vast arrays of beans out there for making espressos with. However for many they will decide on which coffee beans they use based on where they come from, how much they have been roasted and the way they have been ground. So with so many options to choose from how do you find the best beans for espresso coffee making?

In this article we will look at two particular types of coffee beans that seem to produce a great cup of espresso every time. These are the Arabica and Robusta. But no matter which type of coffee bean you choose you should remember to store it correctly. If you are going to be using your beans regularly then they should be stored in a dark air tight/vacuum sealed container. But others find that they like to keep these stored in the freezer (and only take them out when needed).

Now let us take a look at the two types of coffee beans that are suited to making great espresso coffee.

Robusta
These are much less expensive than Arabica beans as is traditionally grown at much lower elevations in South East Asia, Central Africa or Latin America. It not only has a much more astringent flavor than the Arabica bean but also contains a higher amount of caffeine. This taste can sometimes be quite potent and bitter. Plus this bean produces a much higher yield and is more disease resistant.
Arabica
This type of bean is grown a much higher elevation than the Robusta (usually about 2,400 feet above sea level or higher). It is characterized by is smooth yet slightly acidic taste. It is normally grown either in Easter Africa or Central and South America. Certainly this is a much superior coffee compared to the Robusta and is preferred as a gourmet coffee. It only contains about half the caffeine to be found in the Robusta and has a much more desirable taste to it. Although much of the coffee grown around the world is of the Arabica species, only a fraction of this will meet the standards that have been set by the Specialty Coffee Association of America.

So when considering what is the best coffee beans for espresso it may be worthwhile taking a look at the two shown above. Whether you are looking for an espresso that is smooth or a little more robust then these may be the beans for you.