With so many different types of coffee available on the market from so many different producers, it can be difficult to know exactly where to start when it comes to choosing coffee beans for brewing a decent cup of Java in a bean-to-cup coffee machine.
For a simple way to whittle down the choices, however, you could start by considering what type of coffee machine you’ve got and then research which beans will work best for it.
What to look for
The first thing to do is choose which type of bean you want to use in your Coffee Bean to Cup Coffee Machine. Bean-to-cup machines are excellent at extracting maximum flavour with minimal effort, so it’s worth selecting quality coffee beans for the perfect cup of coffee.
Arabica is widely considered to be the best variety of bean as it produces a well-rounded, smooth-tasting drink. Robusta is another kind of coffee bean that you may be familiar with; it’s known for producing an excellent golden crema, so if this is important to you a mix of 80/20 Arabica/Robusta could well be the best way to go.
A bag of 100% Robusta coffee beans is probably best avoided, however; this is usually only to be found in instant coffee these days and it isn’t very well suited to bean-to-cup machines – unless you’re craving a burnt, rubbery or bitter coffee, that is!
There is one important exception here: Robusta beans of the very best quality, which can taste delicious. These are usually expensive and difficult to find, unless you’re familiar with a coffee specialist who can source high quality Robusta beans.
Single origin or blend?
It would be foolish to discount blended coffee altogether. The blend of beans is often put together by coffee enthusiasts who have spent many years tasting and testing coffee beans in various quantities to come up with the best way to show off individual qualities and flavours. We recommend looking for a flavour profile that fits your tastes, whether that’s chocolatey and nutty, or bergamot- and citrus-based
Single origin beans make for a wonderful way to sample the coffee of a particular country or region. So, if you know you like Brazilian coffees or you have a preference for Ethiopian beans, you might like to have some single origin beans on hand for use at home in your bean-to-cup coffee machines. The beauty of these machines is that you can keep all your favourites on hand and have barista-level coffee at the push of a button, no matter what the time of day.
Texture for quality
For those who may have been grabbing any old bag of pre-ground coffee off the supermarket shelves or forking out for pods for a Nespresso or Tassimo machine, a just-roasted bag of whole beans may be a little daunting. This is what bean-to-cup coffee machines need though, so you’ll likely need to take that step at some point if you want to get the most out of your new purchase!
Bean-to-cup coffee machines produce a shot of espresso for use in whichever type of coffee drink you prefer. As such, an espresso blend makes for a reliable choice as the grind is finer, meaning the hot water hits a larger surface area of coffee and produces a rich, velvety brew in a matter of just seconds.
If you’d prefer to opt for a different choice of coffee bean, just ensure your bean-to-cup coffee machines grind it to the required texture. This may be something to experiment with, as everyone’s tastes are different!
The darker the roast
Another aspect you should consider in your hunt for the ideal coffee bean is that of the roast. A greener bean will produce an acidic cup of coffee, while a medium to dark roast will give a much smoother cup. Bean-to-cup coffee machines are suitable for dark roast, which is also how most espresso coffee beans are sold.
However, if you prefer a full-bodied, less intense cup of coffee, a medium or light roast may be the way to go. Bean-to-cup coffee machines are excellent at extracting the optimum flavour notes from the coffee beans that get put into them, so this is something a dedicated coffee drinker could really play around with. If you especially love your coffee, you can try a subscription and have it delivered monthly to your house so that you can try new flavours every month until you find your perfect one.
If you’re avoiding caffeine, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s actually entirely possible to brew a lovely decaffeinated coffee in your bean-to-cup coffee machine. As most machines are automatic, they’ll simply produce the best possible cup of coffee from the beans you provide it with.
In truth, you can use just about any coffee bean in bean-to-cup coffee machines, so don’t be worried about getting it wrong. A safe option is to start with espresso roasts and see how you get on; when you’re more comfortable or feeling more experimental, it can be very enjoyable to start playing around with lighter roasts and artisan coffee blends. As you can see, it’s hard to go far wrong with bean to cup coffee machines!
Do you own a bean-to-cup coffee machine? Can you think of any other tips on how to choose the right beans for it? Comment below to share your thoughts with me.