When you search How to choose a specialty coffee, It's easy to find yourself with a bag full of information: origin, variety, process, altitude, tasting notes, roasting date… and end up wondering what all that means and what you should really be looking at.
The good news is that Choosing a good coffee doesn't have to be complicated.. You don't need to know about coffee tasting or become a barista to make a good decision. You just need to learn to recognize some key information and relate it to something much simpler: your own tastes.
Because the best coffee isn't necessarily the most expensive or the one with the most sophisticated description. It's the one you enjoy making and want to drink again and again.
How to choose a specialty coffee?
Before deciding which specialty coffee to buy, There are seven aspects worth reviewing: origin, producer, variety, process, sensory profile, roast and freshness.
Each one tells a part of the story of the bean. When you learn to read them, buying specialty coffee stops being just about choosing a pretty bag and becomes a much more conscious decision.
Start by learning about the origin
The place where coffee grows influences the characteristics it can develop.
Altitude, climate, soils, the variety cultivated, and production practices are all part of what we later find in the cup.
That's why there's a difference between simply knowing that you're buying Colombian coffee and learn more about its origin.
A coffee can come from Colombia, but it can also have a much more specific history: a department, a municipality, a farm, and a producer.
When you're looking for specialty coffee, check if the bag indicates:
- Country of origin
- Region or department
- Municipality
- Estate
- Altitude
- Coffee producer or grower
- Variety
This information provides traceability and it allows you to get to know better what you're bringing home.
In the case of a Colombian specialty coffee, knowing its region of origin can also help you discover the diversity that exists within the same country.
Colombia doesn't taste like just one thing.
Coffee grown in Quindío, for example, is part of a territory with a long coffee tradition and particular conditions that are part of the identity of our cup.
Look who's behind the coffee
A good bag of coffee counts for more than a brand name.
It can also tell you who grew the grain.
The work of a coffee farmer begins long before we think about preparing a cup. It involves tending the crops, waiting for the right moment of ripeness, selecting the cherries, and making decisions about processing and drying.
Therefore, when a brand shares information about the producer or the farm, we are looking at a coffee with a higher level of quality. traceability and transparency.
This doesn't mean one bag is automatically better than another. But it does give you something important: the ability to know the origin of what you're buying.
At Valía Coffee, we believe that story deserves to stay close to the coffee. Behind every bean is a piece of land, a coffee-growing family, and many hours of work.
The process can completely change the experience
If you're just starting to learn about specialty coffee, you'll probably come across three words frequently:
washed, natural and honey.
These are different ways of processing coffee after harvesting and can influence the profile we find in the cup.
What is washed coffee?
In the washed process, the cherry pulp is removed and the coffee goes through stages of fermentation, washing and drying.
If done correctly, this process can favor a higher cup of greater cleanliness, balance and clarity, allowing the characteristics of the coffee to be easily recognized.
What is natural coffee?
In the natural process, the cherries dry with the fruit around the pit before removing it.
This type of process is usually associated with more fruity profiles and a particular aromatic expression.
What is a honey coffee?
In honey processes, part of the mucilage is preserved around the grain during drying.
Depending on how the process is carried out, it can provide a different sensation of sweetness and texture.
No process is best for everyone.
The question that really matters is:
What kind of coffee do you enjoy drinking?
If you want to learn more about this topic, the washed process deserves a special look because it is an important part of our coffee's history.
Learn to read tasting notes without complicating things
This is one of the parts that generates the most doubts when someone starts buying specialty coffee.
If a bag says it has notes of chocolate, caramel, citrus or red berries, This does not mean that those ingredients were added to the coffee.
These are descriptors we use to communicate the aromas and flavors we can perceive when tasting it.
For example, you can find references to:
- Chocolate
- Candy
- Panela
- Honey
- Walnuts
- Citrus fruits
- Red berries
- Ripe fruits
- Flowers
Think of these notes as a guide.
If you like sweet coffees
Look for profiles that mention:
chocolate, caramel, panela, honey or ripe fruits.
If you prefer fruity coffees
You can search:
citrus fruits, red berries, tropical fruits or floral notes.
If you're looking for balance
Look for cafes where the following stand out:
sweetness, balanced acidity and medium body.
And remember something important: you don't have to find exactly "chocolate flavor" just because the bag says so.
Tasting notes are a reference to help you understand the coffee's profile, but the experience will always be personal.
Don't ignore the type of roast
Roasting transforms the bean and has a significant influence on what ultimately ends up in your cup.
In general, we can talk about lighter, medium, or developed roasts.
A lighter roast It can allow characteristics of the origin to be expressed more clearly, such as fruity or floral notes or a more perceptible acidity.
A medium roast It can offer an interesting balance between sweetness, body, and expression of origin.
When the roasting process is more advanced, intense, bitter, toasted flavors become more pronounced.
In specialty coffee, the goal shouldn't simply be "dark roasting." The real work lies in finding the right point where the coffee retains and expresses its best characteristics.
Therefore, when comparing different coffees, don't just look at the color of the bean. Also consider what sensory profile the roaster is trying to highlight.
Check the roasting date
If you want to learn How to tell if a coffee is good, Start by looking at the information that appears on the stock exchange.
And among all the data, there is one that often goes unnoticed: the roasting date.
After roasting, coffee continues to release gases and over time loses some of its aromatic compounds.
This doesn't mean that coffee goes bad overnight. It means that freshness plays an important role in the experience.
Therefore, we recommend:
- Find a clear roasting date.
- Buy quantities that you can consume in a reasonable time.
- Keep the coffee protected from air, humidity, light, and heat.
- Avoid buying much more coffee than you are actually going to consume.
At Valía we roast in small batches to ensure freshness and we strive to ensure that the coffee reaches you ready to become a great cup.
Whole bean coffee or ground coffee?
This decision depends mainly on how you prepare your coffee.
If you have a mill at home, the coffee beans It allows you to grind right before brewing. This helps to better preserve the aromas and also allows you to adjust the grind size according to the method.
But if you don't have a grinder yet, it doesn't mean you have to give up on specialty coffee.
He ground coffee It can be a practical option as long as it is ground according to the method you use and stored properly.
What grinding method is required?
As a starting point:
- French press: coarse grinding.
- Chemex: medium to medium-coarse grinding.
- V60: Medium grind, with adjustments according to the coffee and the recipe.
- Italian coffee maker: medium-fine grinding.
- Espresso: fine grinding.
These references are not absolute rules.
The grind may need slight adjustments depending on the coffee, grinder, water, and recipe you are using.
If your cup is too bitter, you may need to check the grind and other extraction parameters.
If it's too thin or acidic, it's also worth making adjustments.
The best grind is the one that works for your coffee, your method, and your way of preparing it.
How do you know which specialty coffee is right for you?
After reviewing these seven points, there is one question that can help you more than any other:
What do you want to feel when you drink your coffee?
If you're looking for a sweet and comforting cup, you'll probably enjoy profiles with chocolate, caramel, panela, or ripe fruit.
If you prefer a fresher and more vibrant cup, you can explore coffees with citrus, fruity, or floral notes.
If you like balanced coffees, look for a good balance between sweetness, acidity, and body.
And if you still don't know what you prefer, that's okay.
One of the best parts of specialty coffee is precisely discovering it.
An easy way to find your coffee profile
The next time you buy coffee, take note of these seven things:
- Origin: Where does it come from?
- Producer: Who cultivated it?
- Variety: What variety is it?
- Process: Washed, natural, or honey?
- Tasting notes: What flavors does it describe?
- Roast: What level of roasting does it have?
- Date: When was it toasted?
Then prepare a cup and pay attention.
Did it taste sweet to you?
Did you find the acidity pleasant?
Did she have a big or small body?
Did the notes described on the bag help you recognize anything?
You don't need to have the right answer.
You just need to start recognizing what do you enjoy.
Frequently asked questions about how to choose a good coffee
What is the best specialty coffee?
There is no single coffee that is best for everyone.
The coffee you will enjoy the most depends on your preferences, the brewing method you use, and the sensory profile you are looking for.
Therefore, before asking which one is the best, it's worth asking yourself:
What kind of coffee do I like to drink?
Is it better to buy whole bean coffee or ground coffee?
Whole bean coffee is an excellent option if you have a grinder and want to grind right before brewing.
Ground coffee, on the other hand, offers greater convenience and can work very well when the grind is adapted to your method.
The choice depends on your routine.
If you enjoy the ritual and have a mill, choose whole grain. If you're looking for convenience, choose pre-ground.
How can you tell if a coffee is good?
Check its origin, producer, variety, process, roasting date and sensory profile.
A brand that shares this information allows you to better understand the coffee you are buying.
Then there is another criterion that does not appear written on any bag:
I hope you like it.
Quality is also found in the experience you have when you finally try the cup.
Choosing coffee is also about getting to know yourself
You don't need to know everything to start enjoying specialty coffee.
You can start by reading about its origin, understanding the process, discovering which notes you like, and paying attention to the roast date. With each cup, you'll recognize a little more of what you're looking for.
At Valía Coffee, we believe that knowing the story behind coffee makes enjoying it a whole new experience. Because when you know where it comes from, who grew it, and how it was processed, that cup in front of you is more than just coffee.
Now that you know what to look for, find the Valía coffee that best suits your preference. Choose between whole bean or ground coffee and take home a specialty coffee born in Colombia.
Discover our online store and choose your next Valía Coffee. ☕
