When buying coffee beans in an increasingly broad market, where very different origins, processes, varieties and roasting styles coexist, choosing the right bean and roaster makes a decisive difference in the cup.
At Cafés El Magnífico, we offer you this guide that brings together the essential criteria for selecting good coffee beans. We explain it from the professional perspective of a roaster with decades of experience.
Why buy coffee beans and not ground coffee?
Certainly, coffee begins to deteriorate from the very moment it is ground. The aromatic compounds—responsible for its olfactory and gustatory complexity—are extremely volatile and sensitive to oxygen. That is why buying coffee in bean form is the best way to ensure freshness and preserve the integrity of its sensory profile.
In this way, since the bean is what best preserves aromatic compounds and essential oils, grinding the coffee just before brewing allows for a more controlled, uniform and balanced extraction, especially if you adjust the grind to the method (espresso, filter, French press, etc.). By contrast, pre-ground coffee has a much larger surface area exposed to oxygen. As a result, it oxidises rapidly, loses volatile aromas within hours or days, and typically yields a flatter, less defined cup.
Professional criteria for evaluating good coffee beans
A quality coffee is distinguished by a series of objective elements that may be essential to consider before purchasing.
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Origin and traceability
Remember that origin does not only indicate a country. A quality coffee specifies the region, producer, cooperative or farm, botanical variety and altitude. This information reveals the level of control, traceability and selection applied at the origin.
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Processing method (washed, natural, honey)
Similarly, the coffee processing method has as much influence as the variety.
- Washed: the fruit is pulped and the bean is fermented and washed to remove the mucilage.
This produces cleaner, brighter cups with defined acidity. - Natural: the bean is dried inside the whole cherry before being pulped.
This produces sweeter cups with body and intense fruity notes. - Honey: the fruit is pulped but part of the mucilage is left on during drying.
This offers a balance between sweetness, body and acidity, with more complex aromatic profiles.
Understanding the process is a way of choosing the style of cup you will get.
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Roasting date
This is one of the most important criteria when buying coffee beans. Freshly roasted coffee guarantees that the aroma and structure remain intact.
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Uniformity and appearance of the bean
A high-quality coffee has uniform beans, with no breaks, no colour variations and no visible defects. This indicates rigorous selection and well-executed roasting.
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Get a coffee maker that is suitable for coffee beans
This tip is not trivial! If you decide to buy coffee beans, it is essential to have a suitable coffee maker that allows you to grind the beans just before preparing your drink. You can choose between different types of coffee makers: super-automatic, which include a grinder, or you can purchase a separate grinder if you use Italian, filter or French press coffee makers.
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Buy the right amount.
To ensure freshness, avoid buying large quantities if you won’t be using them soon.
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Choose specialist suppliers
If you want to ensure the highest quality, buy your coffee beans from specialist shops that are experts in this product. At the Cafés El Magnífico online shop, you will find a range of options to suit every taste, all freshly roasted and with comprehensive information on their origin, processing and sensory characteristics.
What to avoid when buying coffee beans
Just as there are a number of basic considerations when buying quality coffee beans, it is also important to be aware of the mistakes that can be made.
Remember to avoid the following:
- Coffees without a roasting date
It is impossible to know how fresh they really are. - Incomplete or non-existent traceability
This usually indicates low-quality coffee. - Roasted
The sugar added during roasting masks defects and produces a very harsh cup. - Oily beans
A sign of over-roasting and coffee degradation.
Buy coffee beans at Cafés El Magnífico
Buying coffee beans may seem complicated at first. But once you learn about the varieties, origin, processes, freshness and type of roast, you will be able to anticipate the result in your cup and choose more accurately. The goal is not just to purchase a product, but to ensure a complete sensory experience that is consistent with your preferences and the method you use.
If you are looking to take the quality of your coffee to the next level, starting with the beans is the best choice. Take a look at the options available at Cafés El Magnífico and buy coffee beans of extraordinary quality.