Gourmet Coffee Corner

Now that you have a thorough understanding of the roasting systems and the flavors of the different beans, blended coffees will likely make more sense. Producers blend coffee for two reasons. The one that is the main benefit to the customer is the creation of unique flavor profiles. By combining beans from differing regions and varying acidities, coffee makers can offer their customers a unique and high-quality product.

The other blends—and these are the ones to stay away from—are created to save money. For example, a manufacturer will mix some mild, dark roasted Arabica beans with some light Robusta in order to cut costs while still being able to market Arabicas. Be sure to have an eye out for these subpar blends when looking for something new to put in your cappuccino makers. And avoid flavored coffees, which are usually low-quality beans infused with low-quality flavoring.