that whole bean coffee is definitely the way to go. Whole bean coffee stays
fresh much longer, and if you brew it right after grinding it you get a flavour
you simply can't get from pre-ground coffee that's been sitting around for a
short time. Even only mediocre whole bean coffee brands taste pretty good if
brewed right after grinding.One can find some of the best whole bean coffee in
Costa Rica. As an area well-known for its coffee, I was keen to try some genuine
Costa Rican brews during my visit there last year and I was totally blown away
when I did. Despite the fact that I wanted to make the experience last as long
as possible, I obviously carried as much coffee back with me as I could fit in
my suit case. Knowing for a fact that the freshness is much better preserved
when the beans are yet to be ground, I only brought back whole bean coffee to
make it last longer. When I got home, I quickly put three of the four bags I had
bought into the freezer, and left the other out for immediate use. Whenever I
crushed that whole bean coffee it transported me right back to Costa Rica, and I
was in a coffee-drinkers haven for the next couple of months. It's a good thing
I didn't bring back already ground coffee; it would have lost a lot of its
unique flavour.At the same time the problem with whole bean coffee is that you
have to grind it, which means you need to buy a coffee grinder. Moreover, coffee
grinders can be a pain to clean, and it's just an extra step you have to take
before enjoying your coffee. If the flavour isn't really that important to you,
and/or you are running out of time or patience, whole bean coffee probably won't
appeal to you that much. The majority coffee drinkers I know don't even have a
coffee grinder; scooping out coffee ‘powder' into a machine and pushing a button
is the extent of their coffee making experience. Of course, there is something
nice about just being able to add some already ground coffee in a machine and
having a pot brewed in just a couple of minutes with not much effort. For this
reason, I usually keep both whole bean coffee and already ground coffee on hand.
For times when I'm in a rush, I use the ground coffee, and if I've got time to
relax I'll grind up some fresh whole bean coffee to savor its taste.