Did you know that the average American adult drinks around three cups of coffee every single day? For most people, coffee is a staple caffeinated beverage for starting the day and getting through that afternoon slump.
If you brew coffee regularly, you may be wondering what the difference is between whole beans and ground coffee to get your caffeine fix. Here are some of the explanations for how you can use each for your cup of joe every morning to enjoy some delicious coffee.
Level of Freshness
Using any type of coffee will help you get your caffeine fix, but the freshness of the beans can alter the caffeine content and the flavor. In general, whole bean coffee that you grind right before you brew is the freshest and will offer the boldest tasting notes in your cup of joe.
Because whole coffee beans are slower to go bad, they emit less of the fumes that result in stale coffee. When coffee is pre-ground, it tends to go stale faster unless properly stored.
However, as long as you have a sealed container for your regular ground coffee, it can be equally delicious. Many small-batch roasters can give you freshly ground coffee and a certain date to enjoy it by. You will not have to invest in a coffee grinder and you can still drink your morning cup of joe as the roaster intended.
Convenience
When it comes to the ease of adding a cup of joe to your morning routine, ground coffee wins this round. No matter what brewing method you use, having pre-ground coffee is as easy as scooping it into a filter and brewing right then and there.
Whole bean coffee aficionados recommend grinding immediately before you brew your coffee, but that can be inconvenient if you have a busy morning routine or you do not want to wake up your children. You could also grind your coffee the night before and it will still be fresh.
You can also find more variety of ground coffee at your local grocery store than whole bean. If you need to make a late-night coffee run so you have fuel for the next morning, you will not need to spend as much time searching for whole bean coffee.
Coarseness
When you grind coffee, you have the unique advantage of altering its coarseness. The coarseness of the coffee works with different brewing methods, and can even change the flavor and strength of your morning cup of joe.
For instance, if you use a French press as your brewing method, then you need to grind your own beans for a coarse ground coffee. However, most drip brewers are perfectly fine with a medium grind, which is the standard for many ground coffees. A Moka pot takes a fine grind.
With a coffee grinder at home, you have ultimate control over the coarseness of the grind. If you buy your coffee from a local roaster or gourmet coffee shop, they may even grind it for you at no extra cost. That way, you can get the exact grind that you desire without having to buy a coffee grinder.
Cost of Coffee
Overall, whole bean coffee tends to be more expensive than pre-ground coffee. This is because the whole beans are generally fresher than pre-ground. In addition, you will spend more money on your coffee grinder set up to achieve the results you need if you want freshly ground coffee every morning.
The quality of coffee that you buy can also impact your overall spending. For instance, chain brands that come in big buckets may be more value for your dollar. However, if you like fair trade coffee like these coffee brands, then you may spend more money for quality and fair labor practices involved in harvesting and producing the coffee.
You can make the best cup of joe with any budget to get your caffeine fix. As long as you have a brew method and a coffee that you love, you can enjoy the taste as part of your morning routine.
Brewing Methods
Whether you get ground coffee or whole bean also depends on your brewing method. Most brewing methods work well with a medium grind. This is the grind typically found in grocery store and even fair trade coffee brands.
Drip brewing, single serve coffee machines, and pour over methods all produce the best morning cup of joe with medium ground coffee. This usually creates a great balance of acidity and strength that is pleasing to most palates.
A coarse or extra-coarse grind is ideal for methods such as the French press and cold brew. This is because these take out much of the acidity of coffee and create a more balanced, sweeter flavor.
If you are faithful to one brewing method, such as drip coffee, then there may be no need to invest in a coffee grinder. You can buy freshly ground coffee or even coffee from the grocery store and save your dollar.
Type of Roast
You may have seen the words dark, medium, and light on your coffee beans or ground coffee, but what do they actually mean? Dark coffee tends to be more bold in flavor and taste strong and bitter.
Medium roast is a popular blend because it captures the traditional coffee flavor, with a good balance between bitterness, smoothness, and acidity. Light roast tends to have fruitier notes and provide more acidity for a lighter cup overall.
Craft the Perfect Cup of Joe
If you want the best cup of joe every morning, you should not have to spend a lot of money on a fancy machine or go to a coffee shop. With these benefits of both ground coffee and whole coffee beans, you can enjoy your morning cup of joe with breakfast foods for a wholesome routine.
Want to learn more about how you can improve your life through food and drink? Take a look around our website for more tips, tricks, and inspiration.
