How to choose the right coffee bean

No Italian meal is complete without the opening cup of coffee and the traditional dessert and espresso to end the meal! Italians typically enjoy a short, rich cup of espresso or cappuccino with delightful desserts like gelato, tiramisu, or just plain pie. But how can you select the right coffee bean to perfectly compliment your menu? To learn the secret, you need to know a little bit about the different types of espresso beans available, which will help you achieve the perfect flavor!

It goes without saying that you should buy your espresso beans whole, and use a burr grinder at home to achieve the perfect grind for espresso and cappuccino. Check the bag to make sure the beans are whole, and that they are roasted with espresso and cappuccino in mind. Also, check the brand to make sure the quality is good, like Kimbo coffee beans.

Beyond that, there are two types of coffee beans in the world: arabica, which is the most popular, and robusto. Only about one quarter of the coffee sold in the world is robusto. Arabica beans are of slightly higher quality, they are typically more expensive, and the reason is clear: they have a lighter flavor than robusto. Robusto beans are richer and darker in flavor. Luckily for the Italian cook, robusto beans, with their heavy texture and flavor, provide the perfect compliment to sweets. Arabica beans lend themselves well to opening a meal or accompanying breakfast.

Now that you know the basics, the next question is: where to buy the beans? Your local grocer should have an adequate selection of beans. But if you are looking for something really special, you may want to go online or to a specialty store to purchase your beans. What you are looking for is the roaster's skill and creativity, and most of all, their familiarity with Italian espresso methods!