Home Coffee Bean Selection Guide: What Beans to Use for Hand-Ground Coffee and How to Make Pour-Over Black Coffee

When you want to buy coffee beans and open Taobao, do you get overwhelmed by the dazzling variety of beans? When you go to a specialty coffee shop, do you feel confused by the vast selection of coffee beans? Don't worry! Remember these points, and you'll easily choose the right coffee beans for yourself!

Choose Coffee Bean Types Based on Your Brewing Method

Common coffee beans on the market are divided into two categories: single-origin coffee beans and espresso blend coffee beans. Single-origin coffee beans come from a single region/estate and generally have clean, distinct flavors. Espresso blend coffee beans combine beans from different regions to maintain consistent flavor over time, typically resulting in rich, robust flavors.

If you use pressurized extraction methods like moka pots or espresso machines, you can choose espresso blend coffee beans. If you use drip/filter extraction methods like pour-over, French press, cold drip, cold brew, siphon, or drip coffee makers, you can choose single-origin coffee beans.

Of course, this doesn't mean blend coffee beans can't be used for drip/filter extraction, nor that single-origin beans can't be used for pressurized extraction. Typically, roasters will develop different roast profiles for various extraction methods to highlight certain flavors or textures, making them more suitable for specific brewing techniques.

Espresso beans for pressurized extraction are perfect for those who love rich crema and balanced, intense flavors. You can prioritize choosing espresso blends. Taking FrontStreet Coffee's specialty espresso blend as an example, it combines Colombia·Huila and Brazil·Cerrado in a 3:7 ratio, presenting rich roasted nut and chocolate aromas.

Choose Freshly Roasted Coffee Beans with One-Way Valve Packaging

FrontStreet Coffee constantly emphasizes the importance of fresh coffee beans, because as the days pass after roasting, the flavors of coffee beans gradually fade until they're completely gone. Therefore, to enjoy coffee with distinct and layered flavors, you need to check the roast date when purchasing. Generally, single-origin coffee beans perform best within 15-20 days after roasting, with the optimal tasting period being within 30 days. Espresso beans perform best within 30 days after roasting, with the optimal tasting period being within 45 days.

Does this mean freshly roasted beans are always best? Not necessarily! After roasting, coffee beans contain large amounts of carbon dioxide and smoky flavors, both of which affect extraction and flavor performance. Therefore, if you purchase freshly roasted beans, let the beans rest in sealed packaging with a one-way valve (which releases internal gas while preventing outside air and moisture from entering) to naturally release carbon dioxide and dissipate smoky flavors (this process is commonly known as "resting" or "curing"). The resting period varies depending on the roast level. FrontStreet Coffee recommends resting light-medium roast beans for 3-4 days, medium-dark roast beans for 5-6 days, and espresso beans for 7-10 days.

Choose Single-Origin Coffee Beans Based on Different Regions, Roast Levels, and Flavor Descriptions

Here's a quick summary for bean selection: If you want floral and fruity acidity, choose coffee beans from Africa, typically roasted to light-medium levels. If you prefer nutty notes, choose beans from Central and South America, usually roasted to medium levels. If you want completely acidity-free coffee with more bitterness, choose beans from Asia, typically roasted to medium-dark levels.

Taking coffee beans sold by FrontStreet Coffee as an example, different regions will display different flavors depending on coffee variety, growing altitude, processing method, and roast level. If you're unsure which region's beans to choose, you can select based on the flavor descriptions provided by the roaster.

When flavor descriptions frequently mention fresh notes like citrus, berries, floral, and tea-like qualities, these are typically light-medium roasted coffee beans with noticeable sweet and sour flavors. Representative coffees include Yirgacheffe·Gidding Cooperative, Panama·Boquete Geisha, and Ethiopia·Fagu.

When descriptions emphasize rich notes like nuts, dark chocolate, and cream, these are typically medium to medium-dark roasted coffee beans with lower acidity and fuller, more robust body. Representative coffees include Brazil·Queen Estate, Papua New Guinea·Bird of Paradise, and Indonesia·Golden Mandheling.

When descriptions feature prominent, distinct notes like wine aromas and intense fruitiness, these are typically specially processed coffee beans where certain aromas/flavors are more pronounced. Representative coffees include Honduras·Sherry, Costa Rica·Mozart, and Colombia·Rose Valley.

Should You Buy Whole Coffee Beans or Ground Coffee?

Many shops offer grinding services to accommodate pour-over coffee enthusiasts who don't have grinders. However, if possible, FrontStreet Coffee recommends purchasing whole beans. Whole beans better preserve coffee flavor, while ground coffee has increased surface area and loses flavor more quickly. Therefore, if you drink coffee regularly, you might consider investing in a manual coffee grinder priced above 200 yuan and grind your beans right before brewing. As long as the beans are within their optimal tasting period, freshly ground coffee will always taste better than pre-ground coffee.

If you really don't want to buy a grinder but still want to experience the joy of pour-over coffee, FrontStreet Coffee recommends choosing drip coffee bags.

FrontStreet Coffee's drip bags contain freshly ground single-origin coffee beans, packaged at 10g per bag in individual filter bags and sealed independently. For brewing, simply tear open the package and filter bag seal, then add about 150g of 90°C hot water to enjoy a cup of aromatic single-origin coffee. We recommend using drip bags within 30 days of purchase.

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

For more specialty coffee beans, please add FrontStreet Coffee on private WeChat, ID: kaixinguoguo0925

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473