How to Find the Perfect Coffee for Your Taste

The taste of coffee is influenced by many factors. The perfect coffee is determined not only by the type of coffee, but above all by the growing area, preparation of the beans and finally the roast.

Sergey Walter

Feb 20, 2023

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Would you like to find out what your perfect coffee is? Just answer four questions and discover the ideal choice for your Coffee Annan subscription. Give it a try and let us convince you!

Try the Coffee Annan coffee finder! We are absolutely certain that you will find your new favorite! And if you want your employees and colleagues to enjoy this benefit too, simply share the link and l receive a 15% discount on your order!

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Some Brief Background Information About Coffee

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We all love our aromatic morning wake-up call and yet most of us know shockingly little about the exotic bean. Let's take a plunge into the complex world of the popular hot beverage.

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The History of the Coffee Bean

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According to a legend, the world’s current most popular drink was discovered in 900 AD by a shepherd in Ethiopia, who observed the invigorating effect of the small red cherries on his goats after they had snacked on them. The goats seemed to burst with energy and simply didn’t get tired at all.

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And so the world’s first coffee bush was cultivated in Ethiopia. From there, the little bean with the big energy-kick started its triumphal procession around the world. First Stop: the Ottoman Empire, courtesy of Arab traders.

Modern Varieties

Today, there are 124 known types of coffee worldwide, although two in particular have succeeded in becoming very well established - the Arabica bean and the Robusta bean. The two most popular types account for about 99% of the world market, and almost all varieties available are made from one or both of them.

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Yet the variety of flavors is endless. What’s more to your taste: Nutty, floral or fruity? Do you prefer a hint of caramel, chocolate or dried berries? The tiny bean offers all of these and many other nuances of taste.

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The type of coffee plays an important role when it comes to flavor: Arabica coffee tastes more nuanced and milder than the strong Robusta coffee. But as with wine, the area of cultivation, climatic fluctuations, soil conditions and further processing of the beans also determine the taste of the end product.

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Growing Regions

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The exotic bush thrives exclusively between the 23rd parallel north and the 25th parallel south along the equator - the so-called "coffee belt".

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The original species, Arabica, is still the most important type, economically speaking. However, the demands on its cultivation area are anything but modest.

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Coffea Arabica thrives only at high altitudes of 800 m above sea level, therefore it is also known as "mountain coffee". The higher the altitude, the better the quality. Arabica coffee is mainly grown in Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala and Kenya.

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The fast growing Robusta plant is much more resilient than its popular brother. Fungi, pests, heat and rain simply don’t bother it. The main areas of Robusta cultivation are in western Africa, Vietnam, Indonesia and India.

Coffee as a Cultural Asset

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A cup of joe tastes good, invigorates people and brings them together. In almost every country and region of the world, the hot beverage with that special kick has its own tradition and culture.

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In Ethiopia, the country of origin, coffee is literally celebrated in meetings and people tend to consume three cups of the jet-black brew in succession.

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The strong Turkish brew is drunk mainly to stimulate the senses early in the morning and then again in the afternoon, often accompanied by dried fruit or confectionery.

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In Greece, it appears that any time is coffee time. It is either consumed in its traditional form, which strongly resembles the velvety Turkish variety, or as a cold frappé, the preferred drink of the younger generation.

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In Italy, espresso reigns supreme; short, strong and sweet. It is usually drunk standing up, but always in company. Cappuccino, on the other hand, is strictly a morning drink. God forbid that anybody should order one after lunchtime! Espresso or café lungo, on the other hand, is drunk after every meal, even late at night.

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Coffee and cake is a quintessentially German tradition. Germans love their Sunday ritual, preferably with a homemade piece of cake and for the older generation, a Sunday afternoon without it is simply unimaginable.

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No matter in which form you prefer to enjoy your wake-up drink, there is a perfect coffee for every taste. We'll be happy to tell you how to prepare your favorite one.

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How to Find the Perfect Coffee for Your Taste?

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Do you love cappuccino, or is black the only option for you? Short and strong or good old filter coffee?

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But which of these is the perfect coffee?

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Coffee is one of the most popular beverages of all, so it's no surprise that there are countless ways of preparing it. To find your own personal favorite, it's a good idea to be adventurous and explore your options. Let's see what else is out there ...

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The Italian specialties espresso essentials, including café latte and cappuccino have long since rivaled grandma's traditional filter coffee, but are you also familiar with plunger coffee or with café au lait, single-origin, moka or green coffee?

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What kind of coffee do you have in your office? Chances are that it’s a rather generic one, intended to suit all tastes. And possibly quality is not a great concern either. And yet in many countries, people consume the majority of their intake at work. A cup of Joe is not only an effective wake-up call, a shared coffee break also fosters the team spirit in the office. A fragrant cup of java during a well-deserved break is wonderful, and, of course, it’s even better when it tastes especially good.

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Why not organize a tasting session in the office? You could explore exotic brewing methods and different beans, grinds and roasts.

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Ask your employees what their favorite caffeine fix is and encourage them to play barista for a day. A cup of joe tastes good and brings people together. Why not benefit from that in the office, as well?

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Which Coffee Is Particularly Easy on The Stomach?

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Sadly some people are forced to forgo the tasty energy boost. Stomach cramps, digestive problems or heartburn can be unpleasant side effects for some. Do you also suffer from coffee intolerance or have you simply been drinking the wrong coffee?

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The acidity and caffeine content are the deciding factors, when it comes to digestibility. Arabica beans are particularly digestible, as they contain significantly less acid and half the caffeine content of Robusta.

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Roasting is also a crucial factor: The slower drum roasting method is mainly used for high-quality coffee. During the gentle roasting process, the beans have time to fully develop their aroma. In addition, acids are broken down and thus create a coffee that is gentle on the stomach.

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You might be surprised to learn that Espresso, prepared the proper way, is especially easy on the stomach. Due to the extremely short extraction time, fewer acids are extracted.

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How to Recognize Sustainable Coffee

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Fairtrade marks are easy for consumers to recognize. This mark of approval guarantees sustainable, social production conditions and fair pay for the farmers. It's best to go for a brand of organic java. In this way, you don’t only help the farmers, but also make a contribution to environmental protection.

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Direct trade coffee is also particularly reliable. Direct trade with local producers ensures that the price for each bean actually finds its way into the farmer’s pocket. Direct Trade also supports long-term relationships so that farmers and traders can work together on quality, sustainability and fair prices. Coffee Annan is not only concerned about financial justice, but also about better living conditions, health care and social security for farmers and their families.

Sustainable cultivation and environmental protection are our top priorities. Our supply chain is transparent and traceable: 90% of the money goes directly to the farms, while the other 10% goes to sustainable social projects in the community. It helps to provide clean water, build roads and schools.

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Here’s what we think: The perfect coffee is fair trade coffee!

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The Bottom Line

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The perfect coffee might mean something different for everyone. As we all know, there’s no accounting for taste. But one thing is clear: a cup of joe tastes best in good company. With our Coffee Finder, you can easily discover your favorite. Once you have established this, simply send the link to your employees, find the coffee that everyone in the office likes and enjoy your 15% discount.

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