Everything about Coffee

Arabica beans generally have a softer, more aromatic flavour and grow in higher, cooler regions. Robusta beans are stronger, more bitter and contain more caffeine, thriving better in warmer, lower areas. These differences make arabica beans more expensive and robust in flavour.

The correct grind size depends on the brewing method you use. For example, a fine grind is ideal for an espresso, while a coarse grind is better suited for a French press. The grind size influences how quickly water flows through the coffee and therefore the extraction and flavour of your coffee. Want to know more about choosing the best grind size? Visit our page about coffee grinds for a detailed overview and tips for each brewing method.

Light, medium and dark roasting mainly differ in the duration and intensity of the roasting process, which affects the taste and aroma. With a light roast, the beans retain much of their original flavours and have a light acidity. Medium roast provides a balanced profile with more body and milder acidity, while dark roast delivers a more intense flavour and a fuller mouthfeel, often with notes of chocolate and nuts. Would you like to know more about the different roast levels? Then visit our page about coffee roasting.

Brewing methods such as espresso, French press, and filter coffee each offer a different taste experience. Espresso delivers a concentrated flavour, while French press provides a richer, fuller body. Filter coffee offers a clean, bright taste. Choose the brewing method that suits your taste preference.

Some coffees are certified, such as organic or Fairtrade. This is clearly stated on the relevant product pages.

The best coffee for you depends on your taste preferences and brewing method. If you enjoy a rich, powerful flavour, dark roasts are often a good choice. For a more refined, fruity taste, it’s better to opt for lighter roasts or single origin coffees. The grind size and brewing method, such as espresso or filter coffee, also play a part in finding your ideal cup. Would you like some help choosing? Take a look at our coffee selection guide for an overview to help you make the right choice.

For a fully automatic coffee machine (such as Jura, De'Longhi, Siemens), we recommend medium to dark roasted beans that are not too oily (greasy). Very oily beans can cause the grinder unit to get dirty more quickly. Our Madrugador and most Café du Jour blends are perfectly suited for fully automatic machines. Do you have a specific machine? Contact our customer service for personalised advice.

It is completely normal for our bags of coffee beans to appear inflated. This is not a sign of a problem or spoilage, but a natural process that takes place after the coffee beans have been roasted. Below, we explain why this happens and why it is actually good for the freshness of your coffee. Coffee beans release CO₂ after roasting After roasting, coffee beans release a small amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂). This process, known as 'degassing', is a natural by-product of roasting. The released CO₂ can cause the bag to become inflated at times. One-way valve preserves freshness Our coffee bags are fitted with a one-way valve on the front. This valve allows CO₂ to escape from the bag but prevents oxygen and other air from entering. Oxygen is the biggest enemy of fresh coffee; it accelerates the oxidation process and diminishes the flavour. The valve helps the coffee stay fresh for longer. Why does the bag sometimes remain inflated? On some bags, the valve is slightly tighter, which means the CO₂ is released more slowly. This can cause the bag to stay inflated. This does not affect the quality or freshness of the coffee. In fact, the remaining CO₂ in the bag helps to protect the beans from oxygen and keeps them fresher for longer. Conclusion: no reason for concern! An inflated bag of coffee beans simply means the coffee is fresh and still releasing CO₂. This process is completely natural and a sign of quality. Open the bag as usual and enjoy the delicious taste of our freshly roasted coffee beans! Do you have any further questions? Please feel free to contact us!

1. Are coffee beans vacuum packed? No, coffee beans are not vacuum packed. Instead, bags with a one-way valve are used. This valve allows gas (mainly CO₂) to escape, but prevents oxygen and moisture from entering. 2. Why can coffee beans not be vacuum packed? After roasting, coffee beans continue to release carbon dioxide. If they were in vacuum packaging, that gas would have nowhere to go. The pressure in the bag would therefore increase, causing the packaging to swell or even burst open. That is why coffee beans are packed in valve bags that allow the gas to escape without letting air in. 3. Why do some coffee bags look vacuum packed? Some bags, especially those at the bottom of a pallet, appear tight or vacuum-sealed. This is due to: Cooling: when the temperature drops, the air in the bag contracts, making the packaging appear tight. Pressure differences: the valve allows gas to escape, resulting in slightly less pressure inside the bag than outside. Weight: the bags at the bottom are compressed by the layers above. It may look vacuum packed, but it is not. 4. Is ground coffee vacuum packed? Yes, sometimes it is. Ground coffee has already released most of its gas, so no pressure builds up in the packaging. This means it can be safely vacuum packed without the bag swelling.

It may happen that the intensity on the packaging is displayed differently than on our website, or than on packaging you have previously received. This is because coffee brands use different packaging and intensity scales per country. For example, some packaging uses a scale from 1 to 5, while others show a scale from 1 to 10. The design, language and graphical presentation may also differ per market. Is the coffee different then? No. The coffee itself is the same. The composition and flavour profile of a specific variant remain identical. The difference is only in marketing, language and the presentation of the packaging. Why do customers receive different packaging? We work with European distribution channels. Within the European market, products may be traded freely, meaning packaging from different countries can be supplied interchangeably. This is permitted and has no impact on the product. Does this affect taste or quality? No. Packaging differences have no effect on quality, freshness, taste or authenticity. How can I be sure I have received the correct variant? Check whether the product name and item code match your order. The variant name is decisive, even when the intensity scale on the packaging is displayed differently. What can I do if I’m unsure? Please feel free to contact our customer service and, if possible, include your order number and a photo of the product received. We will be happy to take a look with you.

Vacuum-packed coffee blocks can lose their vacuum during transport. This usually happens because differences in pressure and movement create a microscopic hole in one of the corners of the block, the weakest point of the film. This hole is virtually impossible to see with the naked eye, but it is enough to let the vacuum slowly disappear. It is a common occurrence with ground coffee in vacuum packaging, even when it is shipped in the original factory packaging. The packaging remains completely sealed and the coffee can still be used as normal. Is the coffee still OK if the vacuum is gone? Yes. The packaging has remained sealed, so the coffee is safe and suitable for use. The best-before date on the packaging remains valid. Does it affect the taste? As long as the packaging remains unopened, the effect on taste is negligible. For the best flavour experience, as with all freshly ground coffee, we recommend using the coffee within a few weeks after opening. Why does this happen specifically at the corners? The film of a vacuum block is folded several times at the corners to achieve the tight shape. This means the corners are, microscopically speaking, the thinnest and most stressed parts of the packaging. During transport, pressure differences occur, for example due to temperature fluctuations or changes in altitude, and parcels move against each other. A corner pressing against the side or corner of another block creates point pressure on precisely that weak spot, and that is enough to cause an extremely small hole through which air can be drawn. Can I return the pack or get a replacement? Because this is inherent to the packaging method and has no impact on the usability of the coffee, we do not normally replace the pack for this. If you still have doubts about your order or something is clearly wrong, please contact our customer service team and we will be happy to take a look with you. Does this also happen with coffee beans? Coffee beans are generally not vacuum packed at all. Bean bags are soft packages with an aroma valve: a one-way valve that allows CO2 (which freshly roasted beans continue to release) to escape slowly, without letting oxygen in. A bean bag should therefore always feel a little soft or airy; this is not vacuum loss but actually a sign that the packaging is working properly. Do you do anything yourselves to prevent this? Yes, we pack orders carefully with cushioning material and try to shield the packs from each other as much as possible. Unfortunately, we cannot always prevent vacuum loss, because it can also be caused by pressure differences during transport itself.

If you order ground coffee, you can choose at the product which brewing method we should grind the coffee for. The right choice depends on your machine, not on the type of coffee.

• Espresso machine with a portafilter, or a bean-to-cup machine: fine espresso grind.
• Moka pot or percolator: in between espresso and filter, so medium-fine.
• Filter coffee machine with a paper filter: fast filter grind.
• Hario V60, Chemex and other hand pour-overs: medium to medium-coarse.
• French press or cafetière: coarse.
• Turkish coffee: extra fine, almost powdery.

Rule of thumb: the shorter the water is in contact with the coffee, the finer the grind. Go too fine for your machine and the coffee runs through slowly and tastes bitter. Go too coarse and it runs through too quickly, leaving the coffee watery or sour.

You'll find a detailed overview of all our grinds on the coffee grind size page. Not sure? Let us know the make and model of your machine in the chat and we'll work it out together.

There are several ways of removing caffeine from coffee beans, and which one has been used differs from coffee to coffee. The method is therefore always stated on the product page of the decaffeinated coffee in question. Have a look there under the product information and you'll know exactly where you stand.

Why do decaffeinated beans look darker and shinier? A lot of people notice this. During decaffeination the bean takes up moisture and its cell structure changes. That makes the bean look darker and shinier after roasting than an ordinary bean. It doesn't mean the coffee has been roasted too dark or is extra oily, and it's no problem for your bean-to-cup machine.

Not sure about a particular coffee, or looking for a decaf with a certain flavour profile? Do ask in the chat and we'll look it up for you.