The choices regarding our daily products keep growing, and coffee is no exception. While whole bean coffee is making a significant comeback, does this mean we should forget about ground coffee? This article helps you decide!
Advantages of Ground Coffee and Whole Bean Coffee
The primary advantage of whole bean coffee is undoubtedly that it is a raw product; therefore, if consumed freshly after being ground, the flavor on the palate will be unmatched: a more intense and subtle taste.
Indeed, when roasted gradually, whole beans don’t have time to oxidize when exposed to air. All of its aromas are thus preserved. Another benefit of choosing beans is that you can create the coffee that suits you: dosage, grind fineness, blending different beans for more creative flavors… the final result will be unique to you. You only need to know how to choose it to find the one that is right for you.
As for ground coffee, its practicality and cost are definitely a plus. It requires no particular skill since it is ready for use. A definite time-saver for people in a hurry. Also, mostly composed of blends of various beans, it is cheaper to produce and is therefore very economical. The homogenized taste, due to a more precise, industrial grind, will certainly please everyone.
What Are the Differences?
To start with, as you can certainly guess, the preparation of the two forms of coffee differs. Ground coffee can be brewed with a French press or briefly exposed to boiling water with a drip machine. For raw beans, it will be necessary to use a bean machine, like one of these machines to mention a few, which will make the best out of it. The aromas will be released at the moment the bean is ground; you will also have control over the length in the cup and the intensity thanks to a personalized grind. Keep in mind that a more sophisticated machine, however, requires more rigorous maintenance, but if you are a real coffee lover, it will certainly be a very good investment.
In terms of storage, ground coffee does not keep as well as whole bean coffee. Although both require an airtight container and a cool, dry place, ground coffee, having already undergone a transformation, will become bitter more quickly than a coffee in beans, still in its natural state. It is advised to consume a packet of ground coffee quickly once opened, lest its aromas evaporate. Beans, on the other hand, can be stored much longer after roasting without losing their flavor, which will be released after grinding.
As you have gathered, the choice will depend on your expectations. Speed and simplicity? Choose ground coffee without regret. If, on the other hand, subtlety of flavors is essential to you, whole bean coffee is what you need.
