Types of Coffee Drinks and How to Choose the Best for You

Coffee is a special part of our culture. We brew or buy a cup as morning boost, drink it after dinner, grab it as a refreshment with friends, and more. Plus, there are so many different types of coffee drinks, roasts, and origins to choose from. Have you found the type that’s best for you?

Below is a breakdown of the different types of coffee out there and why they matter. The more you know about the type and quality of coffee, the better you can make an informed decision and choose your favorite.

Consider the Quality that Matters to You

If you care about where your coffee comes from and the quality of how it’s made, here are some terms to know:

Fair Trade Certification Label

If a coffee contains the Fair Trade certification label, it means the coffee was farmed using sustainable agriculture practices like disposing of hazardous wastes, minimizing water usage, and conserving soil.

Fair Trade also requires the farm meet certain labor standards, such as paying workers a minimum wage and ensuring safety and health standards.

Rainforest Alliance Certification Label

This certification comes from the non-profit organization Rainforest Alliance and is given when the coffee is made under certain standards protecting the environment and workers’ rights.

For example, farmers of Rainforest Alliance certified coffee aren’t allowed to change natural water courses, traffick wild animals, or dump untreated wastewater, among other environmentally harmful practices.

Rainforest Alliance farms must also meet local laws for minimum wages and maximum work weeks, not employ children under 15 (or those under 18 without their parents’ permission), and they must provide protective equipment and training to workers who handle dangerous materials.

Organic

You probably already know the importance of choosing organic fruits, vegetables, and more, but are you using the same standards for your daily coffee?

If you’re concerned about pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers in your coffee, organic coffee options are the best choice.

If coffee has the organic label, it must contain at least 95 percent beans grown in organic conditions—without synthetic ingredients or additives.

Types of Coffee Beans

There are two main species of coffee beans produced:

• Robusta
• Arabica

Most of the coffee made and sold is from Arabica beans.

Robusta beans are also common and tend to have a stronger and more bitter taste. They’re used in strong coffees and espressos.

Choosing the Best Taste: Region, Roast, and Flavoring

Besides the ethics of how the coffee was made, there are several details that determine how the coffee tastes as well. Here are some factors to help you find the best taste for you.

Roast Location

The flavor of a coffee often depends on the region where the coffee was produced. These are the most common regions you’ll see:

• Coffee from Central America tends to have a traditional coffee flavor with hints of chocolate, sweetness, and nuttiness.
• Coffee from Asia tends to be more bitter, richer, and earthier.
• Colombian coffee is a popular option that’s lighter, flavorful, bittersweet, and slightly floral.
• Coffees from Arabia or East Africa are more fruity with lightly sweet undertones.
• Indonesian coffee is more spicy and bitter with earthy flavors.

Single Origin Vs Blended Origin

If you drink black coffee (no added milks, creams, or sugars), choose coffee from one city or country. These will have the best, most distinct flavors. For example, American, Columbian, African, or Indonesian coffees are single origin.

If you prefer your coffee with milk, cream, or sweetener, coffees with blended origins or a mix of different beans are fine. The flavors will be less distinct or strong, but it doesn’t matter so much when you add things to it.

Examples of blended coffee beans would be Central American blends, breakfast blends, or espresso blends.

Light, Medium, or Dark Roast

The amount a coffee has been roasted makes a big difference in its flavor and boldness.

• Light roasts tend to be more sour and lighter in flavor.
• Medium roasts are typically the sweetest and preserve the best flavor.
• Dark roasts are more bittersweet with less of their original flavor but the most boldness.

Roast varies widely depending on your tastes. Some people like the less-intense but flavorful lighter roasts while others enjoy the bold, black taste of darker roasts.

Added Flavoring

Some coffees are also lightly flavored, meaning natural or artificial flavorings are added after the beans have been roasted and cooled before packaging.

Common flavorings include:

• Vanilla or french vanilla
• Chocolate
• Caramel
• Hazelnut
• Cinnamon
• Toffee nut

Natural flavoring is extracted from sources like cocoa beans, vanilla beans, berries, nuts, or spices like clove or cinnamon.

Artificial flavoring is made from a varieties of blended chemicals mixed in the lab. They can range from anywhere from 9-80 different chemical compounds in one type of coffee. Yikes!

For this reason, the healthiest choice is to buy coffee made with only natural flavorings or no added flavorings at all.

Caffeine Content

Many people believe caffeine content is higher depending on the roast. But this is mostly a myth, although light roasts do tend to have slightly more caffeine if measured in scoops. The coffee’s roast and origin matters more.

If you want minimal or no caffeine, opt for decaf coffees or natural coffee substitutes like Teeccino that come in a variety of flavors.

With so many types of coffee available, the best coffee is highly individual based on what you like best. Have fun experimenting with different types, choose all-natural and/or organic as much as possible, and take time to savor the experience.

At Nature’s Ideal, we have a large variety of all-natural coffees, including organic and Fair Trade, iced coffees, Bulletproof coffees, and instant coffees to choose from. Browse here to find your favorite!

Disclaimer: Statements made have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.