Online trade is booming. This is not a secret. Today, many of us order groceries online and have them conveniently delivered to our homes. Coffee is no exception. But what exactly should we look for when buying? Does expensive always equal better quality? And which roast has the best aroma? We bring light into the darkness.
What to look for when buying coffee online
Today, there are many ways to buy good coffee. Whether it’s in the supermarket, local roasteries or the internet. The offer seems unlimited. But especially in times of pandemic, we like to increasingly use online trade to get our beloved beans. The disadvantage of this is that we can unfortunately neither hold the goods in our hands nor smell or taste them. In addition, some roasts are not cheap. Understandably, this can lead to uncertainty.
Drum roasting vs. hot air roasting
You may have heard of the different roasting methods used to refine raw coffee beans. In large industrial roasting plants, so-called hot air roasting is usually used, while smaller roasting plants tend to rely on traditional drum roasting. At this point, we would like to go directly into the advantages and disadvantages of the different processes. In industrial hot-air roasting, large quantities of beans can be processed simultaneously and, above all, quickly. Some roasting systems can process up to half a tonne of beans in two minutes. Unfortunately, important aromas often get lost in this roasting process. There is also the risk that unpleasant acids (chlorogenic acids) cannot be completely eliminated. In contrast, with drum roasting, considerably fewer beans can be processed (approx. 85kg in 25 minutes). The big advantage, however, is the preservation of the aroma as well as the extensive degradation of unpleasant acids. Drum roasting is therefore by far the gentler process. By the way, our delicious Caferino beans are also refined exclusively in the traditional drum roasting process.
And another little note: even if the big brands don’t portray it that way in TV commercials, we can be sure that their beans are roasted in large machines. Unfortunately, the advertising industry likes to play with our romantic idea of coffee beans roasted by hand. We rely on a traditional family business from the surrounding area of our system headquarters for our roasting.
Expensive vs. low-priced
In addition to the processing, the price is an important purchase criterion for many consumers. At this point we would like to say that the prices at which coffee is usually offered in supermarkets are competitive prices. Coffee is a complex product with a long supply and processing chain. With an average price per kilo of 5 euros, only a fraction of the revenue remains for each of the parties involved (farmer, importer, roaster, etc.). Doesn’t sound fair, does it? The big losers here are usually the coffee farmers, who depend on a decent wage to feed themselves, their families, and their employees.
Coffee is a luxury food. If you don’t want to do without good quality and a fair product, you should be prepared to pay 10-15 euros for half a kilo of coffee. Then you have not only done something good for the environment and fair trade, but you can also enjoy your coffee without worrying or having a guilty conscience.
You can find out what we pay particular attention to in our organic Caferino beans here. If you’re now in the mood for aromatic coffee, take a look at our online shop. You are guaranteed not to take any risks with our Caferino beans. By the way: we donate 10 cents to the aid organisation terre des hommes – help for children in need – for every packet of beans sold.
