Unique flavored beans originate from different countries in warm climates. Some beans will only flourish in certain countries. While it can be claimed the roasting process is important for the brewing of the best dark roast, the quality and origin of the bean is equally important. Read until the end to find out which countries beans are best for dark roast and which countries farmers need to smell the coffee – if any.
Do you know there are more than 1,000 varieties of coffee? The difference in taste, aroma and appearance between different types of coffee is attributable to the variety of bean used, where and how it was grown and how it was roasted. For example, a light roast has more acidity than a darker one. In fact, the roasting process increases the sugar content and reduces the acidity of the coffee bean by around 30%.
You can tell how roasted your coffee is by the smell. If you’ve ever spent time around a roastery, you’ll know that roasted coffee beans have an unmistakable aroma. But did you know that the type of roast you choose determines how your coffee will smell? Once your coffee beans have been roasted, they will continue to release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. These VOCs are what give roasted coffee its distinct aromas, which are different depending on the type of roast.
As a rule, light roast coffees will have a fruity scent, while dark roasts will have a
more caramelized, toasted aroma. The type of roast you choose will affect not only the taste of your coffee but also its smell.
Coffee is the most popular beverage in the world, with an estimated 2.25 billion cups being consumed every day.
Good beans should be aromatic and taste good on their own You’ve probably heard the saying that you can’t judge a book by its cover. But the same can’t be said for
coffee beans. You should always be careful about what beans you buy, but especially if you’re buying them online. You don’t want to buy something that looks good but has no flavor.
If they’re good, they should taste good on their own. If they taste bitter or woody, they’re probably not the best beans to buy.If they’re good, they should taste good on their own. If they taste bitter or woody, they’re probably not the best beans to buy.
When buying coffee beans, look for ones that are fragrant, have a nice color and are oily in texture. The beans should also feel dense and heavy for their size. And don’t forget to taste the beans before buying them.
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What is a Dark Roast?
A dark roast coffee is a coffee that has been roasted for longer than a light roast. A dark roast can range from very dark (almost black) to very light, depending on the roasting process. When coffee beans are roasted, oils and gases are released from the beans. As the roasting time increases, these oils and gases are released at higher temperatures, which creates a very burnt or bitter taste. When roasted for a short period of time, these compounds are released at lower temperatures, creating a lighter roasted coffee with notes of nuts, caramel, and/or chocolate.
The brewing method you choose can have just as much of an effect on the flavor of your coffee as the beans you opt for. An espresso machine with 15 and above bars per pressure will extract oils and flavors of beans better than a drip machine in some cases.
Which Countries Beans are Best for Dark Roast?
Colombian Supremo From Colombia
While the world has become very familiar with the taste of arabica coffee beans and their famous brew, there are several other lesser known subspecies of coffee, each with its own unique flavor profile. One such variety is the almendro or “almond tree” bean, a sort of second cousin to the more widely cultivated Arabica (and Robusta) varieties.
This lesser-known variety of arabica is grown almost exclusively in Colombia and Venezuela—a fact which may be one reason why it’s so little known outside those countries. But while it remains an obscure coffee species, we think you’ll agree that there’s nothing ordinary about Colombian Supremo as a coffee blend (Read about the Colombian coffee industry at Wikipedia)
Colombian Supremo: A Rich And Smooth Taste, With No Bitter Aftertaste
The beans in this coffee are roasted to a very dark brown color. This means that they’re roasted longer than other beans, and at a higher temperature. You’ll notice that there’s no coffee “dust” in your coffee filter when you pour hot water over it. That’s because all the coffee grounds have been completely dissolved into the water.
The flavor of the coffee is a rich and smooth taste, with no unpleasant bitter aftertaste. In fact, this coffee is so full of flavor it almost seems to melt in your mouth. These flavorsome qualities may just keep you coming back for more, if you are a coffee connoisseur, or if you’re just starting to learn about different types of coffee. You can drink it hot or iced and it is good with or without milk froth.
Yirgacheffe Coffee of Ethiopia
Aromatic and acidic, yirgacheffe coffee has a completely different flavor than the traditional arabica variety. This Ethiopian coffee is more reminiscent of berries than any other type of fruit or beverage. Yirgacheffe coffee is a type of coffee bean that is grown in southwestern Ethiopia.
Yirgacheffe has a distinct taste that is noticeably different from other coffee beans. This is due to the unique growing conditions of Ethiopia, as well as the processing methods used to make the coffee. Yirgacheffe is a washed coffee coffee variety. This means that coffee cherries are picked, then they are placed in pools of water to remove the sticky fruit called the “pulp.”
The pulp is then dried to make coffee beans. Yirgacheffe beans are small and have a light brown color with a floral aroma. This coffee is grown at high altitudes, and it is one of the rarest types of coffee in the world. For that reason the exclusive and esteemed Yirgacheffe is typically among the priciest coffees in the world.
Mandheling – Sumatra
There are several different types of speciality coffee, but none quite like Sumatra Mandheling. Specifically recommended for those who enjoy brewing coffee using a plunger, filter, drip and pour-over method, the original (now it’s cultivated in different corners of the globe) is an extremely sought after type of coffee from the volcanic island of Sumatra in Indonesia.
It’s an extremely rare, high-end variety of arabica coffee grown on the volcanic slopes of
the North Minahasa region in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The name “Mandheling” is derived from the local word for red pandanus fruit that grows abundantly in this area, which was used as a marker by early Dutch traders to identify the location where they could find these unique beans.
- Recommended brewing guidelines per serving: 10g coffee for every 100ml hot water
Why is Sumatran Mandheling So Rare?
The first reason why Sumatra Mandheling is so rare is that it is extremely difficult to grow. The volcanic soils in which these beans are grown are very nutrient poor, so the plants must be carefully tended or they will come up short in their production of beans. This also means that harvesting is a much more involved process. Farmers must go through the fields that are as tall as themselves and meticulously pick every individual bean by hand.
Is Sumatra Mandhelling Worth the Price?
Due to the fact that the production of Sumatra Mandheling is so labour intensive, it is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. This is one of the reasons why it is not very popular among farmers. However, there is no denying that this coffee is worth the price.
When tasting the dark Mandhelling it strikes a chord as a great rich dessert coffee. The coffee has a strong, earthy flavour that is both sweet and fruity at the same time. You can expect to pay about $75 for a pound of Sumatra Mandheling, which is about 10 times the price of a normal bag of coffee.
Tanzania Peaberry Dark Roast
Tanzania is the third largest coffee producer in Africa, and is known around the world for producing dark beans with fruity, tart notes.
Peaberry beans are a rare variety of coffee bean that grow inside a single coffee cherry. Most coffee beans come from the “Sulawesi” variety of cherry, which has two beans inside. However, the “Ethiopian Heirloom” variety of cherry only produces one bean inside. When the cherries are harvested and the red fruit is removed, the single bean is known as a peaberry. These beans are rare because they are usually broken in the harvesting process.
When roasted, peaberry beans produce a rich, bold coffee with a slightly fruitier taste than the “Sulawesi” variety. This makes peaberry beans great for darker roast coffees, where you want to taste the roasted flavors of the beans. Peaberry beans are grown in the highlands of Tanzania, with some of the highest quality beans coming from the Kilimanjaro region.
Final Words
Which Countries Beans are Best for Dark Roast? Arguably, Colombia, Tanzania, Indonesia and Ethiopia can boast to produce the best. For me the Sumatran Mandhelling bean lives up to all its hype with its earthy, spicy flavor and unmatched flavor-profile.
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