Oh well, are you trying to set up your coffee shop? Well, congratulations on that. However, do not be shocked as this is one of the most competitive industries across the world. That shouldn’t dissuade you as you are about to set up another financially and personally rewarding level.
Your main questions to succeed in the business should be about your coffee beans because that is the essence of your business.
This article would be explaining the things you need to know concerning your new coffee business. How to choose coffee beans, where to get coffee beans in wholesales and other things you need to know about your coffee business.
Choosing The Best Coffee Beans for a Coffee Shop
Buying coffee beans as a wholesaler might look so easy, but there are a lot of things that go into the process.
Know Your Beans
Firstly, you need to know the type of beans you want. Understand that all coffee beans are not the same. There are usually two main types of coffee beans;
Arabica Coffee Beans
Arabica coffee is indisputably the most popular coffee type in the world. Alone, it takes 60% of the coffee production in the world as a whole.
Arabica originally comes from Ethiopia, and its high quality grows mainly in the African countries and Latin America. These countries are; Rwanda, Mexico, Ethiopia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, India, and Burundi, with Brazil being the largest producer of Arabica beans in the world.
There are different Arabica bean types, in case you want to know.
Features of Arabica Coffee Beans
- It is one of the smoothest grains to process
- It is a highly consumed coffee by 80% of the world’s coffee-drinkers.
- It is the most accessible mass-produced bean in the world.
Robusta Coffee Beans
Robusta coffee beans, on the other side, grow only in the Eastern Hemisphere, mainly in Indonesia and Africa, with Vietnam holding 40% of the world’s production as the largest producer and exporter of Robusta coffee.
This coffee bean type has less sugar and less caffeine, tastes harsher and is more potent than Arabica. They are also easier to deal with as a plant and cost less.
Features of Robusta Coffee
- Its caffeine quantity is greater than all other grains in the market.
- It is very dense and highly rich in flavour
- It is cheap, but still of excellent quality
- It is helpful as a natural antioxidant, diuretic and stimulant.
If you want to stand out with the taste of your coffee, you can try the blend of both Arabica and Robusta together. This ‘mixture’ has become somewhat popular among coffee sellers who want to be distinct.
Coffee Beans Origin
Where your coffee comes from is another thing you should seriously consider because regions play a vital role in how coffee tastes. Different geographic areas produce different flavours with other characteristics.
Brazil, for example, has darker beans that are best for espresso, Hawaii-sourced coffees have a milder and sweeter taste, and Columbia-based coffees are well known among Americans to have just the right amount of acidity.
Coffee Beans Roasting Process
Another pivotal aspect of choosing coffee beans for your coffee shop is to ask your providers about their roasting process.
Firstly, be sure the ‘toaster’ is someone who has professional training to do so, ask for the Roasting type, and check the bean colour thoroughly.
The more roasted a coffee bean is, the less acidic and sweeter it becomes, and the less time a coffee bean is roasted for, the more cutting and bitter it gets.
Coffee Beans Quality
Coffee beans do have grades too. Grains are often classified into different classes based on their quality. Speciality Coffee Association, also known as the SCA, has a particular method for comparing coffee based on quality. According to their grading, coffee beans may be on;
- Grade 1
This grade is also known as the “speciality grade coffee beans” and is of the highest quality.
- Grade 2
Coffee beans on this level are known as the “Premium grade coffee beans.”
- Grade 3
The coffee bean type placed at this level is called “Exchange grade coffee beans.”
- Grade 4
This level is the “Standard grade coffee beans
- Grade 5
Known as “off-grade coffee beans”, this is a type of coffee beans that are already graded.
Note; After knowing these grades as the standard for coffee quality, companies still need to keep up with the responsibility of making an exclusive certification, such as in the case of “organic coffees”
Choosing The Best Coffee Bean Supplier
After having detailed knowledge about the type of coffee you want to invest in, the next thing is to look for a reliable coffee supplier you want to buy from.
You may decide to source directly from the farm or get familiar with Coffee importers.
Sourcing Coffee Beans Directly From The Farm
If you decide to deal directly with farms, you would have to pay frequent visits, or in a situation where you have established trust, maintain a good line of communication.
For this process, there will be an opportunity to build first-hand relationships with the farmers, get lower prices, and get a reasonable level of business transparency.
A not-so-little challenge about this process is the means of transporting your beans.
Involving Importers In Coffee Bean Supply
Importer’s role is a well-known process in the coffee world. The main deal is to have intermediaries distribute green coffee beans to roasters.
By this, you are relieved of the stress of inspecting the profile and quality of your beans, which is the importer’s job.
The only seemingly challenge with this process is the higher price of beans, compared to getting it firstly from the farm.
FAQS on How to Choose Coffee Beans for Coffee Shops
What are the four primary varieties of coffee beans?
The four basic types of coffee are; Arabica, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsa.
What Is The Best Coffee for a Coffee Shop?
After you have thoroughly gone through all the nitty-gritty of things you need and want to consider for your coffee business, as explained above, it is left to you to decide what coffee best suits your goal.
A lot of the coffee that stands out in coffee shops is carefully and adequately taken care of from the business research stage. Just be intentional about every process!
How Do You Judge The Quality of Coffee Beans?
There are ways to detect the quality of coffee beans. These include; aroma, taste, and freshness.
In addition, make sure to check the origin of the coffee beans, check the roast date, try to purchase directly from the farm, buy whole coffee beans, and buy coffee in properly sealed packaging.
Final Words
The best cup of coffee starts from the wholesaler’s shop. To have a successful business as a coffee shop owner, you should take cognisance of the type of beans you are buying, how you are buying, where you are buying from, and the defining features of the beans you are getting. Getting all these right and, by extension, with a tweak of creativity will make you distinct in the big world of the coffee business.
Related Articles
Where Are Starbucks Coffee Beans From?
