If you’ve made the move to a home office — or just want to save the time and money a stop at your favorite coffee shop requires — brewing your java at home can be incredibly appealing. At least, that’s true until you take a sip and find that what you’ve made doesn’t come close to the quality you’re used to. What gives?
There are a few factors that can impact your coffee’s quality, starting with your beans. Not only do you want fresh, high-quality coffee beans (which need to be stored properly, since like produce, coffee beans are perishable), but you want the right beans, roasted the right way. Beans from Colombia, for example, have a mild flavor and balanced acidity, while beans from Kona, Hawaii, have a rich aroma and texture, so you may strongly prefer one over the other. The roast matters, too, both in terms of flavor and caffeine content. Read more about the characteristics of each type of bean and learn to understand the roasts in the infographic below.
