Have you ever wanted to know the difference between robusta and arabica coffee beans? Whether you’re thinking about trying out a new blend or want to start roasting your own beans, it really helps to know the difference between the two major varieties available to work with.

A bean is not just a bean – arabica and robusta both have distinct pros, cons, and popular uses.

Two Beans: Two Personalities

Robusta beans are the less flavorful of the two varieties, although coffee brewed from robusta is still very tasty to the average coffee drinker. These beans are cheap to grow, produce a higher yield, have double the caffeine of arabica, and produce a nice creamy layer of crema on espresso.

Because of the economical advantages, robusta has become popular as filler in commercial ground brands. The vast majority of coffee drinkers never even notice the difference.

Arabica coffee beans are the “higher quality” ones that choosy consumers crave. Those who want complete control over their brew often choose green arabica coffee beans and roast them at home, while others choose to buy a specific region – or cultivar-specific variety to buy either green or pre-roasted.

Every coffee drinker has a different opinion about which varieties are the best arabica coffee beans, but in the end, it usually comes down to freshness.

Since arabica coffee beans are so much more difficult to cultivate the prices can run extremely high for exotic varieties like Jamaican Blue Mountain or Panama.

Yes, there are major differences between the two types of coffee beans and the plants that grow them – but they both have very important uses in the coffee world. In the end, it doesn’t really matter if your blend contains robusta or arabica coffee beans – what matters is if you like it!

It doesn’t matter whether you’re reading the labels at the supermarket or the menu at a premiere coffee shop – the phrase “gourmet coffee beans” is sure to come up. But what is it that really makes a coffee bean “gourmet”? Are these beans really any better?

It may come as a slight surprise, but gourmet doesn’t mean anything in the marketing world; this adjective is used and abused by even the crummiest brands. Thankfully, if you want a high quality brew there is still a way to ensure that you get it – by knowing what makes true gourmet coffee beans so much tastier.

How to Find Real Gourmet Coffee Beans

A mix of arabica and robusta beans makes up the vast majority of “regular strength” stuff traditionally sold on the cheap as pre-ground blends.

If you’re seeking out gourmet coffee beans because you want to try a brew with a slightly different, slightly richer flavor consider going with a special cultivar of arabica, grown in an area known for quality beans like Bourbon or Panama.

Want to go extravagant? Try some ultra-expensive and unique Civet beans, or try your luck with specialty flavored gourmet coffee beans online (chocolate, anybody?)

Be aware, however, that imported brands – no matter how delectable – still may not be considered gourmet coffee beans by connoisseur standards.

Selective coffee drinkers usually judge the best gourmet coffee beans according to freshness. Freshly roasted, freshly ground beans have the best flavor, and often earn the title of gourmet without any doubt or argument.

There is certainly a huge variety to choose from! Are you interested in trying out something new for your morning cup of joe? Nothing beats flavorful gourmet coffee beans – of course, provided that you’re buying the “real thing”!

If you’re looking to perfect your cup by roasting your own, you have to start with the right green coffee beans. Although it’s easy to buy unroasted beans at the supermarket or over the Internet you never know what you’re getting until the package actually arrives.

In order to spare yourself the chances of getting ripped off, ask for a small sample before spending any money. Once you receive the sample, have a look at the checklist below to see how your green coffee beans score in terms of quality and taste!

The Characteristics of High-Quality Green Coffee Beans

1. Age and Freshness

Some consumers prefer the taste of aged green coffee beans, but others want their product to be relatively fresh. Tastes differ, but make sure you ask the distributor how long the beans have been aged if you prefer a fresh cup. It is recommended that beans are brewed before they reach 8 years of age, others say that the upper limit is closer to 3.

2. Cultivar / Variety

Although the question of where to buy different types of coffee beans is extremely important, there is one even more important concern that your distributor needs to address: where did the beans come from, and which variety are they?

High-quality beans are separated by both geographic region and cultivar; unfortunately, many consumers are sold mixed batches without even knowing.

3. Size and Shape

Sizes and shapes of the green coffee beans should be as similar as possible. Mixed sizes result in an uneven roast, and dissimilar shapes can be a hint that you were sold a mixed batch. Even organic coffee beans, although they undergo a more natural treatment, should still be uniform.

4. Color of Green Coffee Beans

Uneven coloring may be an indication that the drying process did not go as planned – this includes those “dull” beans in the bunch. Discoloration can also be a sign of poor storage or lack of humidity control. Be aware! Fresh arabica beans should be bright and evenly colored.

5. Texture and Feel

Fragile, crumbly green coffee beans have usually been over-dried. Soft, squishy beans indicate too much moisture. Although these defects are at two opposite ends of the spectrum, both are detrimental to flavor and quality.

Do you feel like a coffee-shopping pro now?

These are just the basics – there infinite details and qualifications that coffee connoisseurs use to “grade” their beans. Nevertheless, you don’t have to follow anybody else’s standards – half of the fun is experimenting with your own green coffee beans.

Chocolate coffee beans are a delectable treat – chocked with the rich bitterness of coffee laid against a smooth contrasting overtone of sweet chocolate… Yum!

Has anything ever sounded so delicious? If you’re an avid coffee drinker, then you just HAVE to try this quick and simple recipe for delicious chocolate coffee beans:

1. Choose and prepare your favorite bean variety.

Chocolate covered coffee beans are all about the quality of the bean. Don’t cheap out! Many commercial brands use dark-roasted arabica coffee beans – but you can use any kind you would like.

With a little searching, you should even be able to find plain beans in a chocolate flavor, to make the job of masking bitterness a little bit easier. Hundreds of varieties of arabica coffee bean leaves you with limitless possibilities – you’ll never know your favorite until you experiment!

2. Choose and prepare your favorite dipping chocolate.

To do this step, you need to ask yourself one very important question: which flavor is more important, the chocolate or the coffee?

Milk chocolate is a great flavor for those with milder preferences, because it masks a portion of the bean’s bitterness. Darker chocolate is bitter on its own – so pair it with a subdued bean to bring out the flavor, or else be prepared for some very powerful dark chocolate coffee beans. Milk chocolate is a great alternative for those who want something in between.

Please be aware that you will need to buy chocolate made especially for dipping unless you know how to thicken the mixture yourself. Making chocolate coffee beans is easy, but creating the dipping sauce is an art.

3. Dip those beans!

Toss a couple of your roasted beans into the bottom of the pan containing the dipping chocolate. There is no need to let them sit – just pull them out with a spoon or ladle and quickly move the beans past a fan (blowing cool air) and lay the beans, separated, onto a piece of wax paper. If the coating is not thick enough, just double or even triple-dip your yummy chocolate coffee beans. Watch out for burns!

4. Make them fancy.

There are endless options for creativity.

If you catch the beans before they dry you can roll them in chocolate powder, almond shavings, crushed nuts, colorful sprinkles, or anything else your heart (and mouth!) desires.

If your bean treats don’t turn out right the first time, just try a different roast or variety. Remember that the key to a great tasting coffee candy is the quality of the ingredients; high quality chocolate and beans will often produce a richer, softer flavor.

These chocolate coffee beans will put a zip in your step and a smile on your face – so don’t forget to share the joy with others!