From early morning, caffeine begins to circulate through the coffee pots until it reaches the body of people who wake up alone until they take that first sip of coffee and involuntarily exhale an “ahhhh” that fogs their sleep and sometimes their glasses.

Although it is the second most consumed beverage after water, there are so many forms that it can become complicated to choose one.

One after the other options are scattered in specialized stores, supermarkets, and coffee shops. The doubt is all around the cups with different origins, labeling, roasting levels and etcetera that could very well make us lose sleep.

There is a coffee for every taste, but in the face of this diversity, these are some recommendations to face the question of ¿how to choose a good coffee.

Most common mistakes when choosing a coffee.

There are several aspects to consider when looking for a product:

1. Not knowing its origin

It is crucial to know the characteristics of the coffee that is going to be acquired (traceability):

– Knowing the producer

– Origin

– Height of the coffee

– Type of roasting

– Type of bean

– Roasting date

“This guarantees fair trade and that we consume the best beans from each producer. If it is specialty coffee, you as a consumer have the right to ask for this information” “we must promote ethical coffee consumption.”

2. A bad roasting process.

In the roasting process, a quality score is given; for this reason, we recommend taking great care in the process since the final flavor and properties will be damaged by a product that has been burnt.

In this sense, the flavor depends on whether the roasting is medium or dark.

A badly roasted coffee could leave on the palate notes of charcoal or burnt plastic due to the excess of roasting and lack of attention in the process; in addition, this could be harmful in the long run with consequences such as stomach acidity or gastric diseases.

“The bad roasting or excess can be seen in a bean with a shiny finish and too dark, almost black; while a good roasting, even if it is dark, has a matte finish and the bean still looks brown, it does not feel greasy.

3. Stored for a long time

The roasting date is a relevant aspect, and it is recommended that the roasting of the coffee should not be too long in order to conserve its best flavor and notes.

4. Choosing it by status

Although the price can be a guideline for diverse products, choosing coffee only by its status is not a guarantee of its quality because “you end up buying a brand and not a flavor.”

5. Not everything ‘gourmet’ is good coffee

One of the most common options on the market comes with the legend ‘gourmet,’ which does not necessarily mean that it is organic and artisanal. In this aspect, here we make a distinction:

– Specialty coffee: it has traceability; that is to say, its entire process from the field to the cup is known; in addition, it does not cause gastritis.

– Gourmet coffee: it can even be flavored, but sometimes it leaves aside the original production of the coffee; it is considered that this denomination “many times is more of a marketing strategy.”

6. Not distinguishing its flavors

It is also a mistake to “think that all coffee tastes the same” since there is a sea of possibilities in flavors and notes that can be distinguished in the cup.

It is important to respect people’s tastes since “each palate is a world of flavors; for example, if as a child we drank coffee with our family, that taste will be stored in our memory and palate and predetermine the type of coffee that we like.”

In addition, it is also risky “to become elitist of flavors without understanding that each palate is adapted to its cultural conditions.

How much does a good coffee cost?

The price varies a lot, this depends on the type of coffee, the producers, and the places where it is sold, but high-quality coffee can be found between $13 to $50 per pound.

 “with a one-pound bag, you get approximately up to 23 full-size cups.”

“Specialty coffee is not as expensive as it sometimes seems” doing the math can be cheaper than the big brands, which do not have fair trade or traceability processes, besides the fact that you invest in your health because it even complements exercise, study, and work