Which variety of ground coffee to choose?

Coffee is a water-based beverage known throughout the world. While there are many varieties of coffee, such as Arabica and Robusta, it is important to look at these two types of ground coffee to see which one suits your taste best. If price is an important element in the choice of a coffee, other criteria must also be taken into consideration. The origin of the coffee, the way the beans are harvested, the way it is roasted, the intensity of the aroma notes, the flavor of the coffee, all these elements are indeed decisive in order to be able to enjoy a coffee to one's taste.

If ground coffee is the most consumed, it is still necessary to know how to select it. Also, how to choose ground coffee? Here is some information on the different varieties of ground coffee to make the right choice.

The different varieties of coffee for a ground coffee

Coffee comes in two major varieties, which are distinguished by :

their caffeine levels;
their place of cultivation, at more or less high altitude;
the territory of the plantations (Africa, Asia or South America);
the characteristics of the soils on which the trees grow (dry or wet, volcanic or not, more or less rich in minerals).

Given these different parameters, it is possible to choose between several varieties of coffee. The main ones are :

Arabica ground coffees;
Robusta ground coffee.

Note that it is also possible to opt for ground coffees called blends. These consist of combining Arabica and Robusta coffees in a variable proportion from one coffee to another, in order to obtain a blend that meets specific requirements.

Arabica ground coffee

In terms of ground coffee, Arabica represents one of the two major coffee varieties. The characteristics of Arabica type coffees are mainly:

to offer particularly strong aromas;
have a low caffeine content, which can vary from 0.8 to 1.4%.

There are other important elements that distinguish Arabica coffee. It should be noted that this type of coffee is grown on the three main coffee-producing continents, namely :

Africa;
America, especially the southern part;
Asia.

Given the diversity of the continents where Arabica coffee originates, it is not surprising that there are so many varieties of Arabica coffee available. Each of them is then distinguished by specific aromas and other criteria that can be noticed during the tasting phase.

Note that roasting is a crucial step. When the coffee is still green, it is the roasting, i.e. the action of cooking, that will make it suitable for consumption.

Robusta ground coffees

To choose your coffee, it is interesting to look at the varieties of Robusta ground coffees. These remain the other leading category of coffees in the world. Robusta coffee differs from Arabica coffee, especially in terms of :

aromas, not very present, because erased by the bitterness;
percentages of caffeine, with a content of 2 to 2. 5%;
plantations, absent in South America, which make this coffee come from Africa or Asia.

In addition, whether it is Arabica or Robusta coffee, it is important to take into consideration the variety of trees grown. These are numerous and also have a direct influence on the coffee produced, as is the case of the soil on which the coffee trees are grown, or the altitude of the plantation fields and the way the beans are sorted.

In addition to these elements, it is again the type of roasting used and various other parameters, such as the way in which the coffee is processed to wash it, that influence the quality of a coffee as well as its taste.

Blended ground coffees, the combination of Arabica and Robusta

Because the advantages of Arabica and Robusta coffees are different, but can be complementary, it is also possible to turn to so-called blends. These offer a mixture between Arabica and Robusta, to provide an appropriate dosage between the caffeine content, the power of coffee and the strength of the aromas.

Different types of blends are marketed and make it possible to find associations adapted to each palate. The interest of a ground coffee blend can be to bring flavors to a Robusta or to reinforce the bitterness of an Arabica.

The advantages and disadvantages of ground coffee

Ground coffee, which comes in several varieties, is the most popular form of coffee in the world. This success can be explained by many advantages, but is accompanied by some defects. Here is a look at the specificities of ground coffee.

The strengths of ground coffee

One of the main advantages of coffee, when it is marketed as ground, is its price. It is indeed one of the most interesting quality-price ratio, since the price of ground coffee per kilogram is much lower than that of coffee beans.

Another element that is favored by ground coffee lovers is its ease of consumption. Unlike coffee beans, there is no need for an appliance, which saves time. Whether it's a grinder or a mill, grinding the beans adds a step, which can take a few moments to grind the beans. It is also by avoiding the noise of these devices that ground coffee brings greater comfort to coffee lovers.

Weaknesses of ground coffee

If the quality-price ratio of ground coffee is among the most interesting between the different types of coffee, the quality of ground coffee is inferior to that of coffee beans. The aromas are less enhanced. However, ground coffee is much more qualitative than soluble coffees.

However, ground coffee is not the easiest type of coffee to store. Unlike coffee beans, soluble coffee or pods and other capsules, ground coffee is sensitive to changes in air temperature. It is therefore important to be careful about how it is stored.

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Everything you need to know to choose the right variety of ground coffee