The subtleties of choosing the perfect coffee - a review of the best brands

The range of coffee products is incredibly large. Therefore, choosing the best coffee is difficult even for experts. Every year new brands appear on the market offering single varieties, blends, and instant products. It’s worth figuring out what criteria to consider when purchasing and studying the list of trusted brands. Thanks to this, you will be able to purchase quality products.

How to choose the right coffee

By following a number of tips for choosing coffee products, you will be able to make a successful purchase. Attention is paid to the following points:

• package. No defects are allowed. The coffee must be sealed airtight. In addition, the manufacturer is obliged to indicate comprehensive information about the product on the packaging;
• best before date. There are no difficulties with the soluble version. You just need to make sure it hasn't expired. When purchasing natural beans, you also need to take into account the date of roasting and grinding. The less time has passed from this moment, the tastier and more aromatic the drink will be;
• manufacturer . Preference is given to proven brands.

When purchasing a soluble product, attention is paid to granules. Ideally they should be the same size. You should not buy excessively dark ones. Most likely, they are overcooked, and the drink will be bitter and have an unpleasant burnt aroma.

When choosing whole beans, large grains are preferred. The presence of stains and all kinds of defects is unacceptable. In addition, to choose good coffee, take into account the country where the coffee fruit is grown. Depending on where the plantations are located, the taste of the drink will differ significantly:

• Brazilian. They are distinguished by their strength, pleasant tart taste with a nutty undertone;
• Colombian Characterized by the presence of unobtrusive sourness, velvety, balanced taste;
• Costa Rican . A drink based on such grains has a pleasant dense aroma;
• Guatemalan. They are distinguished by the presence of a taste of flowers and spices;
• Indian . Characterized by increased strength. The drink has strong notes of chocolate;
• Kenyan. The varieties are distinguished by high acidity and a fascinating berry aftertaste;
• Ethiopian. The beans are characterized by a pleasant berry flavor and maximum strength.

There are two main varieties of beans – Arabica and Robusta

The first type produces relatively weak coffee with pronounced sourness. To reduce the acidity level and make the drink more rich, blends are created based on Arabica and Robusta. The taste and aroma qualities of the product directly depend on the percentage of these varieties in blends. The more robusta it contains, the worse the characteristics of the resulting drink.

Best Ground Coffee Brands

Ground coffee is a popular product with great taste. It is an average between the first two types - grains and soluble. To prepare a drink from it, you can use a Turk, a machine, or a French press.

There are products that differ in grind size. The degree of strength depends on this. Before purchasing ground coffee, you should find out which one is better and consider reviews of popular companies.

Illy

Illy is an Italian company with 70 years of experience. She won love among connoisseurs and connoisseurs. The brand is used to prepare the drink in expensive restaurants around the world. This is due to the fact that during production the standards and relevant rules are observed, allowing us to obtain products of the highest quality.

The manufacturer uses new equipment. It produces a product with beneficial properties and rich aroma. Illy comes in several varieties - medium and dark roasts, caffeinated or decaffeinated.

Advantages:

• There is a pleasant fruity taste;
• Caffeine-free drink available;
• The product is placed in durable and airtight packaging - a jar with a tin base;
• Excellent quality;
• Has a pleasant chocolate tint.

Flaws:

• High price.

Jockey

Jockey is a popular brand that appeared on the Russian market in 1999. In a short period of existence, it has managed to win the love of true connoisseurs. For production, the manufacturer uses Arabica beans from Brazil, India and Bolivia.

In Jockey stores there are several types - classic, traditional, oriental, Italian, flavored. Each of them has qualities that give an original and alluring aroma.

Advantages:

• Selected raw materials;
• High-quality grinding;
• Using several degrees of roasting;
• Great taste;
• Invigorating aroma;
• Reasonable price.

No deficiencies are found.

Hausbrandt

Hausbrandt is an Italian company with a hundred-year history. During this period, specialists selected recipes and created technologies that ultimately made it possible to obtain products with excellent qualities.

The main feature of Hausbrandt is strict quality control at every production stage. For production, raw materials are used that are purchased in Latin America and Africa. It is fried at reduced temperatures, this preserves its beneficial qualities and nutritional value.

Advantages:

• The base is Arabica or Robusta with different percentages;
• Excellent quality;
• Application of uniform frying;
• It uses unique recipes;
• Strict production control;
• During manufacturing, the emphasis is on preserving quality;
• Sealed packaging.

Flaws:

• Difficult accessibility.

Julius Meinl

Julius Meinl is a tea and coffee drink produced in Austria. It represents a wide range, it includes products with Arabica and Robusta. During production, different degrees of roasting are used - gentle, which gives soft shades, and dark, suitable for lovers of bright taste.

The product is placed in vacuum packaging with a metallized base. Thanks to it, the taste is preserved for a long time.

Advantages:

• Using several degrees of roasting of beans;
• The base is a combination of Robusta and Arabica;
• Packaging made of durable material;
• Rich taste;
• Invigorating and bright aromatic properties;
• Reasonable price.

Flaws:

• Not sold in jars, this makes storage difficult.

Manuel

When considering which ground coffee is the best, you should pay attention to the Manuel brand. It represents a line of blends of Arabica varieties. During production, the manufacturer separated ground grains for home and professional preparation. Therefore, there are blends on sale that can be used for self-cooking and for coffee shops. The base is Arabica or Robusta with different grinding and degrees of roasting. Everything is placed in a tin can or in vacuum packaging.

Advantages:

• Using different degrees of grinding;
• Several degrees of roasting of beans;
• The presence of additional notes of fruit;
• Wide range;
• Convenient packaging.

Flaws:

• High price.

Coffee rating

It is worth highlighting a number of the world's most popular coffee brands that have earned the trust of coffee lovers. Knowing which brands produce quality products will make the choice much easier.

In beans

True gourmets prefer to purchase natural bean coffee products. To choose good coffee, you should study the rating of the best manufacturers:

• Jardin. Domestic brand. The grains are grown in Indonesia, Guatemala, Colombia and Ethiopia. The products are presented in a wide range. Everyone can choose the appropriate option for themselves, taking into account the strength and degree of roasting;
• Paulig . Produced in Finland. The products have earned popularity due to careful selection of beans and high-quality roasting. When using it, you can get tasty and aromatic coffee;
• Kimbo . Italian brand. The fruits are fried evenly, do not become sour or bitter. The drink is invigorating and has excellent taste;
• Lavazza . Also shipped from Italy. It has a mild taste and moderate strength. Enjoys enormous popularity in Russia;
• Black card . Domestic coffee products, for the production of which beans grown on plantations in South America are used;
• Malongo . French brand. This brand produces a huge amount of coffee with a piquant taste. The drink has fruit, vanilla, chocolate and even caramel shades.

Lavazza

Malongo

Paulig

Black card

Jardin

Kimbo

Soluble

Coffee producers produce instant products in several forms:

• granulated;
• sublimated;
• powdery.

To choose the most delicious coffee, you should give preference to proven brands. The following are popular in Russia:

• Carte Noire. Sublimated products are produced under this brand. The drink has a pleasant, pronounced aroma; characteristic coffee notes with a faintly noticeable bitterness are clearly visible in it;
• Egoiste . In addition to the freeze-dried product, a mixture of instant coffee and ground coffee is also produced. The granules are smooth and light. The drink is strong, balanced, with a pleasant aroma and chocolate aftertaste;
• Bushido . Among the range of products, granules containing gold deserve special attention. The granules are large and dissolve well. Coffee has a rich aroma and refined taste;
• Jardin . Domestic brand. The taste is rich, with unobtrusive bitterness and sourness. The aroma is deep, pronounced;
• Jacobs Monarch . Medium strength drink. The smell is rich, and the taste is sour, but pleasant. The product line includes a mixture of ground coffee and instant coffee.

Jacobs Monarch

Bushido

Carte Noire

Egoiste

Ground

To choose the best ground coffee, you should study the rating of the best manufacturers:

• Hausbrandt . Produced in Italy and is of high quality. This is real coffee, which is suitable for true connoisseurs of coffee drinks. It has unique taste and unsurpassed aroma;
• Jardin . This product is characterized by an excellent taste with almond-chocolate bitterness and a relatively high strength. Several blend options are presented. Thanks to this, it will be possible to choose a blend that suits personal preferences;
• Kimbo. Made using traditional Italian technology. Therefore it is considered one of the best. The unique aroma and exquisite taste do not leave any coffee lover indifferent;
• Live coffee . It is relatively inexpensive, but at the same time it is characterized by excellent taste;
• Illy . An Italian brand that produces high-quality coffee products. The drink contains fruity tones and has a long chocolate aftertaste. The only drawback is the high price.

Hausbrandt

Illy

Kimbo

Live coffee

In capsules

The TOP of the best coffee produced in capsules includes the following brands:

• Tassimo . A high-quality product produced for coffee machines of the same brand. There is a large assortment of capsules. Regardless of the chosen option, you will be able to get the perfect combination of aroma and taste;
• Nescafe . With the help of capsules of this brand you can prepare not only espresso, but also latte and cappuccino. The packages are divided into a couple of parts. One contains a coffee product, and the other contains milk. The line also includes flavored varieties. There are 20 varieties produced under this brand;
• Nespresso . There are 4 types of capsules available. There is even a decaffeinated version. The coffee is rich, dense, incredibly aromatic.

Tassimo

Nespresso

Nescafe

Coffee Brand Comparison Chart

For a more clear comparison of the brands presented above, we use a comparison table.

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Which coffee to choose

When choosing coffee products, it is extremely important to consider how the drink will be brewed. Only taking this criterion into account will you be able to make a successful purchase.

For coffee machine

Choosing coffee for a coffee shop or brewing in a coffee machine at home is not difficult. If the unit is equipped with a coffee grinder, preference is given to whole beans. In this case, you should take into account the degree of roasting. The longer the beans are subjected to heat treatment, the stronger the drink based on them will be.

If the coffee machine does not have a bean grinding function, the choice is made with natural coffee powder.

Typically an espresso blend is used. Thanks to its use, it is possible to obtain a drink that is as similar as possible to the one served in Italian cafes.

For Turks

When brewing grains in a cezve, it is better to choose grains that are literally crushed into powder. Thanks to this, you will be able to get a rich, aromatic drink. It is also possible to purchase a grain version. True, achieving such a fine degree of grinding at home is problematic.

How to prepare ground coffee correctly?

There are three main methods that allow you to prepare coffee correctly, without any bitterness or astringency, at home.

1. Immediately in the cup. First, warm the bottom and walls of the mug. This can be done by rinsing the dishes with boiling water. Then pour in ground coffee, the structure of which should be as fine as dust. Fill with hot water, cover the cup with a saucer or a special lid and leave to infuse. Two or three minutes will be enough. During this time, the grounds will completely settle. At the end, add sugar to taste.
2. Using a French press. This method is the easiest and fastest. First, rinse the container again, in this case a glass glass. For a volume of 0.5 liters, add 1-2 teaspoons of ground coffee. Focus on the desired strength of the drink. Make sure that the mesh inside the French press does not become clogged. Tip: For this method, it is best to use coarsely ground coffee. Fill with water and mix everything thoroughly using a plunger. This way you get a richer aroma. Leave the drink for three minutes, pour into cups, add sugar if necessary and enjoy.
3. In Turk. This method of preparing ground coffee is considered the most difficult, but also the most correct. First, warm the Turk over the fire, this will take about 2 minutes. Then add 1 or 1.5 tablespoons of powder and sugar to taste. Pour cold, highly purified water into the resulting mixture. The worse the water, the worse the taste of the drink - remember this. Then put the Turk on low heat and warm it up. Do not let the coffee boil over. Control the formation of foam and bubbles. As soon as they appear on the surface and edges, the coffee is ready.

Another secret that professional baristas use is water temperature. Do not bring it to a boil; a temperature of 95-97 degrees is more than enough. The boiling process spoils the taste of coffee.

Additionally, you can add a whisper of nutmeg, cinnamon or cocoa to your coffee. This will not spoil the taste of the drink, but on the contrary, it will reveal it in a completely new way.

What is the best coffee in the world?

It is simply impossible to name the best coffee in the world. Everyone's taste preferences are different. Therefore, it will not be possible to choose one single correct option. Nevertheless, the following varieties deserve attention:

• Santos;
• Bourbon;
• Bahia;
• Typica;
• Maragogyp;
• Elephant Beans;
• Costa Rica.

Among the unusual species, it is worth noting Kopi Luwak. To obtain the finished product, coffee fruits are fed to musang animals. They pass through the gastrointestinal tract of animals and are eliminated naturally. After this, the resulting grains are washed and dried.

Considering the specifics of the variety’s production, not everyone will say that this is the most delicious coffee. Although gourmets claim that the drink turns out to be delicate, multifaceted and refined.

Which coffee is better to drink?

Natural coffee is considered the best. When choosing coffee products, it is recommended to purchase this option. It is not only tastier than instant, but also healthier. The main thing is to observe moderation. Consume no more than three servings per day.

It is also worth considering the caffeine concentration. You should choose beans that are medium roasted. The drink based on them turns out to be relatively weak. In addition, the alkaloid content is affected by the duration of extraction. The less water comes into contact with coffee powder, the less natural stimulant will be in the finished drink.

Coffee lovers often find it difficult to choose coffee products. Its range is incredibly large. True, coping with this task is not as difficult as it initially seems. All you have to do is study the ratings of reputable brands and follow a number of recommendations.