The Ultimate Guide to Buying Premium Coffee
The history of this country was built upon a cup of premium coffee.
Coffee is the most consumed beverage in America. It is the second most traded commodity in the world and a staple of our culture, economy, and morning routines. For centuries our society has visited coffee shops for stomach-wrenching blind dates, to sign off on business deals, and conduct job interviews. America’s reliance on coffee to fuel our society is unprecedented. And just like every industry, the internet disrupted things. There is an exponential growth in the number of people purchasing premium coffee online.
Coffee Stats
- An average American drinks 3.1 cups of coffee per day.
- More than half of all coffee consumers would rather skip a shower in the morning than skip their coffee.
- There are over 24,000 coffee shops in the United States.
- Approximately 55% of coffee drinkers would rather gain weight than give up drinking coffee.
How has coffee changed over the years?
In recent years there has been a significant rise in consumer expectations when it comes to the quality and preparation style of coffee beans. There are many different preparation methods such as espresso machine, AeroPress, French press, percolator, and drip coffee makers.
Each of these coffee preparation methods provides different pros and cons:
Espresso machines are typically reserved for high-volume coffee shops, but recently high-end manufactures like Breville have developed in-home espresso machines that allow you to quickly – and affordably – stamp and pour your own espresso.
Alan Adler, the maker of Aerobie Frisbee, launched a new and revolutionary coffee preparation product in 2005. The AeroPress is a multi-part coffee maker that uses hot water, freshly roasted and premium ground coffee, and a plunger to apply downward pressure. By doing so the coffee is forced through the filter and into your coffee cup.
The French Press coffee preparation method, invented in 1929, is often argued to be the best and easiest method for brewing premium and pure coffee. It extracts more superior flavors than any other method. In a press pot, gourmet coffee grinds are soaked, steeped and strained in hot water; therefore, coffee’s flavourful essential oils, caffeine and antioxidants are better diffused and preserved leaving the purest flavors of the coffee. It is perfect for coffee addicts that enjoy a flavourful, expressive and complex taste experience.
Percolators work by continually cycling near-boiling water through the premium coffee grinds until the desired strength and flavor profile is reached. These devices were very popular in the 1970s until your standard drip coffee maker made its debut.
The classic drip coffee maker is the most commonly used preparation method. It provides quick, easy and consistent coffee that almost anyone would enjoy. Most stores sell these pieces of equipment for $100 – $300 and they usually last 5+ years. If you’re looking for an affordable alternative to the daily Starbucks run, drip coffee makers are the best option.
Modern-day coffee enthusiasts are now sourcing ethical, gourmet, and premium coffee beans that are freshly roasted. Since most coffee beans are being transported from countries like Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia it is difficult to significantly reduce the time between picking and delivery. While improving transportation times will help create a better cup of joe, it is not the biggest opportunity.
America’s top coffee addicts have now realized the importance of freshly roasted gourmet coffee is what creates a memorable cup of coffee. Most coffee shops cannot afford to lease the space to roast their own coffee since it requires large and expensive industrial equipment that needs 24/7 maintenance and repair teams. So how do all of these coffee addicts get freshly roasted beans? Well, the internet completely disrupted the industry by allowing customers to order online directly to a roasting plantation based in the United States. These suppliers, like That’s Coffee, quickly roast and ship those product orders within the same day. Same-day roasting and order fulfillment has allowed enthusiasts from all over America enjoy bold, flavourful, and freshly roasted coffee.
Online coffee shops 1; in-store coffee 0.
Different types and styles of coffee beans
Thanks to worldwide distribution, America is able to import hundreds of different styles of coffee beans. In fact, That’s Coffee offers its customers over 190 different types of coffee beans. We’re able to provide our loyal coffee-addicted customers with high-quality beans from the top growers in the world.
There are 4 main types of coffee beans. These bean types are Robusta, Liberica, Excelsa, and Arabica. The latter is the most popular, and arguably, the best coffee beans. That’s Coffee specializes in roasting 100% Arabica beans grown in mountain regions along the equator
The main two coffee bean types are Arabica and Robusta.
Arabica is the more superior bean, which has a bolder, more full-bodied taste and less caffeine. Our African coffee beans are high-mountain grown 100% Arabica coffee beans. By growing the beans at a higher altitude it is a bit cooler and thus doesn’t have such a strong “burnt” taste.
Robusta often has flavor profiles similar to that of eating a burnt car tire. And we’re not just saying that in an attempt to sell you on Arabica… The robusta bean has significantly more caffeine than its superior competitor. Because of this, the bean has a much bolder caffeinated taste. In fact, most instant coffees are made using robusta beans, hence why instant coffee is awful.
Since there are so many different types of beans from all over the world it can be difficult to narrow down on which beans to try. Most grocery stores offer very few choices since they’re just trying to accommodate the masses with inexpensive low-quality brands. At That’s Coffee, our team curates the leading Arabica coffee beans from around the world and offers a huge selection of styles. We’re often asking our loyal customers what they think of the latest beans and ensuring the quality matches their tastes. While our selection is massive, it’s focus is narrow and well researched.
Another point for online coffee shops? I think so!
What are the benefits of ordering coffee online?
- Huge selection of brands and styles
- Same day roasting and order fulfilment
- Freshly roasted (most coffee beans sit on shelves for months)
- Endless supply (most stores only hold a few of each style)
- Recurring automated processes (know what you like? Setup a recurring order)
- Tips on how to prepare your coffee from real-life coffee enthusiasts
- Save! No need to buy $5 coffees every morning
What are some of the best coffee recipes?
Gingerbread Coffee
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 cups hot brewed gingerbread coffee
- 1 cup half-and-half cream
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 1/2 cups sweetened whipped cream
Irish Cream Coffee
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 3 tablespoons sweetened whipped cream
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons Irish Whisky
- 1 Cup freshly brewed Irish coffee
- Sprinkle nutmeg (optional)
Iced Coffee
- 4 cups of cold dark roast coffee
- 2 tablespoons cream
- 2 cups of ice
What are the main types of coffee roasts?
There are three primary coffee roasts; Light, Medium, and Dark. The darker the roast the more bold and earthy the flavor profile will be. The longer the coffee beans are roasted the more you will taste the bitterness of the bean. So if you do not like bitter coffee you should lean towards a light roast.
Light roast beans are often referred to as blonde roasts. They’re cooked at about 350 – 400 fahrenheit and removed once the first crack is heard. These beans have almost no oil on the surface and are often a great starting brew from beginners looking to ease themselves in.
Medium, as you could have guessed, falls between light and dark. It is the most common roast type because it offers a bold and slightly bitter taste, without being too overpowering. According to a study in 2019, 53% of respondents reported preferring medium roast over light and dark. For avid coffee drinkers looking to buy premium coffee online we recommend they purchase one of our many medium roast options.
Dark roast beans have a very bitter and earthy note. Most coffee enthusiasts would consider themselves dark roast drinkers. They prefer their coffee being roasted to hire temperatures with a variety of cracks in the bean. Our team has been experimenting with dark roast blends a lot and have found some wonderful options.
Who should buy premium coffee online?
While anyone and everyone can easily order and receive top-tier premium coffee online it is highly recommended for a few specific industries. Most of these industries deal with high volumes of coffee and need the convenience and quality that only online roasteries can provide.
Coffee connoisseurs who love trying new blends. You search day and night trying to find the finest quality beans to satisfy your caffeine-craving. Our team regularly reviews and tests each batch to ensure consistent quality each and every time.
Corporate offices looking for high-quality coffee that can be easily distributed between multiple offices and remove the need for multiple vendors. By reducing the number of vendors you can eliminate a lot of administrative costs and focus on what actually drives revenue to your business.
Vacation rentals have exploded in popularity over the last ten years. If you’re thinking about launching an Airbnb then you should highly consider purchasing high-grade coffee for your listing. Studies show that guest who receives quality coffee at their hotel is vastly more satisfied with their stay. Most vacation rental managers are searching for easy-to-use and scalable vendors to ensure their properties are always stocked. Your guests expect high-quality coffee each and every morning and you need a supplier who can deliver on-time and on budget.
Coffee shops that are sourcing a unique supplier that offers excellent pricing, fast turnarounds, and scalable growth. Your customers are passionate about high-grade coffee that is freshly roasted for them every morning. That’s why we offer outstanding service for our coffee shop retailers. Are you getting ready to open up your own coffee shop and need a supplier of freshly roasted coffee? We can help! Your success is our success!
Where should you order gourmet coffee from?
Obviously, you can order your gourmet coffee from anywhere that you want. That being said, online stores provide that most selection and best pricing if you’re looking for high-quality coffee. That’s Coffee has been satisfying our caffeine-addicted customers for the last decade and continues to exceed our customer expectations!
Whether you choose to purchase your premium coffee online or in-store depends on what you need whether you can wait a few days or not. Typically, we can have coffee shipped and delivered in 2-5 days from when the order was placed.
79% of Americans prepare coffee at home.
View 190+ Different Coffees from 31 countries around the World.
