Do your homework on coffee beans

by Kathy
(Boise, ID)

I agree, it is important to do your homework. The choice of a supplier is important and once found, that supplier is found can do the legwork for you in finding the best beans. I don't think everyone has the ability to talk directly with experts in agriculture, so find that supplier and use their expertise.

The most important concern beyond the actual type of coffee you're buying is freshness. If you're shopping in supermarkets and checking bag dates, you're doing it all wrong. Find a supplier that roasts daily and consume whatever amount of beans you buy within a few weeks. Beans reach their optimum quality at the nine day mark, but the two week window will be a good one to follow. Many beans in grocery stores and retailers like Starbucks have been packaged months and even years in advance of hitting the shelves. So do yourself a service and find those fresh, good quality beans. Not everyone has access to good local suppliers. I order directly from Intelligentsia in Chicago, in quantities of ten or more pounds and split orders with a few coffee loving friends. We love the fresh, high quality beans they sell.