Do you know how to choose coffee?

Many people wonder how to choose a quality coffee , and that's why today we're going to help you choose the coffee that each of you will like the most, and for that we need to understand the label.

Within specialty coffee we will generally find 5 most important points of information:

1. ORIGIN: The place in the world where coffee is produced will produce very different flavors.
2. ALTITUDE : Refers to the height above sea level. This information goes hand in hand with the origin and the region where the coffee was grown. Higher altitudes generally determine the most sought-after coffees, often of higher quality. Why is this? Plants found in high-altitude mountains receive less oxygen and lower temperatures, especially at night, due to this elevation. This lengthens the ripening time of the fruit, developing more complex flavors that we will later savor. But this doesn't mean that coffees from lower altitudes aren't of higher quality; they will simply generally present a more rounded profile with more chocolatey or nutty notes. Ultimately, it all depends on personal tastes and the flavors you enjoy in your coffee.
3. VARIETY : Indicates the type of coffee plant. There are different plants with different shapes and colors in their fruits, and inside them we find the seeds, which are what we call coffee beans. These different varieties produce different flavors in the final cup of coffee. However, they are quite subtle, so it's not the main characteristic we suggest looking for when buying coffee. Furthermore, there are hundreds of varieties.
4. PROCESS : is the processing that the fruits go through once they are collected.

There are three main processes: washed, natural, and honey . The most popular is washed, where the fruits are separated from the seeds through water and fermentation, and then dried. The result is a cleaner, brighter cup. In the natural process, the harvested fruits are dried directly without separating them from the seed. This allows the sugars in the fruit pulp to transfer to the coffee seeds, producing a moderate body and intense fruit flavors. In between, we have the honey process. Before drying, the pulp and part of a thin layer that covers the seeds, called mucilage, are separated. More or less of this mucilage can be left behind. The beans are then dried until the coffee is sticky. Hence the name honey. This process achieves the flavors and fermentation of the natural coffee, but is slightly cleaner and brighter, like the washed process. The process is one of the characteristics that most influences the profile of the coffee cup.

5. TASTING NOTES : This is where we see all the characteristics reflected. All the information will be included here, as well as the roasting profile of the beans.

And how do you know which one you like best? Try, try, try different coffees, from different origins, with different processes, varietals, and altitudes, and little by little you'll develop a profile that you like. Or maybe you'll like them all, and that's great too.

If you have any further questions about what type of coffee you'd like to try first, don't hesitate to contact us, and we'll be happy to guide you through the best experience on your journey to choosing the best coffee for you.