Whole Coffee Beans

Choosing your next coffee bean: 3 things to consider

One of the joys of going whole bean is the wide variety of coffee you can now try. At Coffee Direct, for example, we offer over 100 different speciality whole bean coffees, each freshly roasted to order.

With so much variety available to you, below we've listed some key questions that will help lead you to your next coffee bean.

Are you looking to try a single-origin or blend?

Unlike blends, single-origin beans are produced from one geographical location. Single-origin beans are a great way to experience the distinct tastes of different areas and plantations, particularly if you’re looking to compare different coffees from around the world.

Blended coffee combines two or more single-origin beans to produce brand new flavours. Our roasters have over 30 years’ experience producing blended coffee beans, including our very own secret blends. Each of our blended bean combinations is created through countless taste tests to ensure we only offer up the finest coffee blends on the market.

Do you want to go light, medium or dark?

When a green coffee bean is roasted, it is transformed from a comparatively tasteless component to a compact, flavour-packed powerhouse. How long your roaster decides to roast the beans, significantly influences their colour, acidity and taste.

There are three main types of roast you can choose from - light, medium and dark. Light roasts are pale brown in colour, higher in acidity and tend to produce diverse, floral flavours with vibrant aromas. Medium roasts are rich brown in colour, and due to a longer roasting period (which caramelises the sugars inside the bean), they create slightly sweeter and smoother flavours. Dark roasts have a darker brown colouring, and you’ll also notice a slight oil coating on the beans. With less acidity than a light or medium roast, dark roasts are full-bodied and serve up deep, rich flavours and bold aromas.

Where in the world do you want your coffee from?

Each coffee-growing region around the world will produce coffee unique to the area’s growing conditions and harvesting process. A machine-harvested coffee from Brazil will taste completely different from a foraged Kopi Luwak coffee from Indonesia.

From Australia to Zimbabwe via the likes of Honduras, India, Kenya, Peru and Tanzania, Coffee Direct customers can taste their way through our global offering.

How do you brew whole bean coffee?

Another great benefit of buying whole beans is that you’re then able to grind your beans to the exact brewing method you wish to use. This gives you variation in the brewing methods you can use for one single packet of coffee. One day you could choose to have filter coffee, the next espresso, and another you could reach for your French Press.

A common question we see on coffee forums is 'Do you have to grind whole bean coffee?'. The answer is a resounding ‘yes’. If you simply brew your coffee beans, you will end up with an incredibly weak and tasteless cup of coffee. To extract the flavour of your coffee beans, you must grind them to the exact size requirements of your chosen brew method. If you don’t, you’ll risk making over-extracted or under-extracted coffee, and you’ll ultimately compromise your brew’s taste.

The below guide should help you work out your grind size. Remember there’s no universal setting for grind size, and we advise a quick Google search to check if your grounds are sized correctly.

Mastering the art of grinding is made easier when you have the right tools. There are loads of cost-effective and efficient options for a manual or electric whole bean coffee grinder.

One tip we give our customers is to go for a burr grinder over a blade grinder. Blade grinders tend to smash particles together clumsily, creating an inconsistent grind size. In contrast, burr grinders help you achieve a precise and consistent grind size - whether you're going superfine for espresso or extra coarse for cold brew.

You can find two of our favourite manual burr grinders in the Brewing Equipment section on our site.

FAQs

Is it cheaper to buy whole coffee beans?

No. At Coffee Direct you will not find whole beans for coffee at a higher price or lower price than pre-ground coffee. All our grinds cost the same price. Where price does vary, is when you wish to buy a different amount of coffee.

Do you get more coffee with whole beans?

No. All our coffees are weighed, so you receive the exact same amount.

Can you brew coffee with whole beans?

Yes, as long as you grind your whole coffee beans, you can brew them any way you choose - whether drip machine, espresso maker, french press or your filter device of choice. Drip machine and espresso maker models will vary per appliance so remember to read your drip machine/espresso device manual before you start brewing.

Do whole beans make great coffee for espresso-based brewing?

Yes. For an espresso, coffee beans should be ground super-fine. This can be done manually or by your machine, so always check the appliance manual. For our recommended espresso coffee beans, check out our espresso machine coffee page.

Is whole bean coffee better?

There are benefits to both whole beans coffee and pre-ground coffee products, so neither are technically better. However, many coffee connoisseurs point out that whole coffee beans allow you to create the freshest cup of coffee possible. Whole beans also go stale less quickly and enable you to experience the joys of grinding.

Where can I buy wholesale coffee beans?

Coffee bean wholesale purchases can be made via our Trade Enquiries page.