Quality coffee beans

Where does coffee come from?

The quality and taste of coffee beans start at their origin. Most likely, your coffee beans come from one of the 70 countries around the equator where the coffee plant is grown. This area is also known as the 'coffee belt'. The coffee-producing countries within this belt are excellent for growing quality coffee, partly due to the suitable climate for the coffee plant to grow. A climate with little wind, plenty of rain, and not too hot is the ideal match for coffee.

High-quality coffee beans

Coffee experts therefore claim that quality beans come from African countries. If there is a country known for its high-quality coffee products, it is, for example, Kenya. The government here is very involved in the country's coffee production. By rewarding growers with higher prices for higher quality, they ensure that only the best of the best is produced by the country. In addition, the high altitude of the plantations (sometimes up to 2,100 meters) ensures that the beans are of high quality. The quality of the beans here is linked to their size, with Kenya having its own assessment system to classify the beans.

The character of the coffee bean

Coffee varieties from a specific place, plantation, or area often say something about the distinctive character and quality of the coffee. The coffee plant species also plays a major role in this. For example, the Arabica bean is the coffee connoisseur's favorite. The plant grows best at high altitudes, and the slow-growing, hard beans generally have more flavor than the easier-growing Robusta beans. Even more specifically, older varieties (coffee plant species) of the Arabica plant, such as Bourbon, are very worthwhile and are often rated as high quality.

Roasting and blending coffee

Once the beans are picked and dried, they are exported as green beans. These are sent in large (jute) bags all over the world and eventually arrive at the coffee roaster. The specialist roasts the coffee beans, bringing out their subtle flavors. During this process, oils are released, which form the secret of the delicious taste. After the roasting process, the coffee beans have various colors: from light brown to medium brown to very dark beans. Lightly roasted beans have a soft, slightly aromatic taste, medium roasted beans are slightly stronger, and dark roasted beans (from dark brown to almost black) produce wonderfully bitter, sharp flavors. Subsequently, different coffee beans can be blended. The art of blending (mixing different beans) is to bring together different beans and thus find a harmonious balance of flavors, acidity, and body. The taste of coffee beans can vary per batch, per year from the same plantation. The coffee roaster must anticipate this and continuously taste to ensure the flavor.

Quality coffee beans

The quality therefore depends on the origin but certainly also on the coffee roaster who must bring out the right flavors in the beans. With Kaldi's coffees, the quality is guaranteed regarding origin around the coffee belt, the character of the bean, and the roasting process. The roasting process of Kaldi's coffee beans is led by one of the nine certified Q-Graders in the Netherlands. This is proof of coffee quality and craftsmanship.

It is often asked what the best coffee beans are. However, there is no single answer to this question. It is a matter of taste, what is your personal preference? There are a number of guidelines you can pay attention to when buying coffee beans, so you can make the coffee that best suits your taste preferences.