Green Coffee Beans (Unroasted)

What are Green Coffee Beans?

Green coffee beans are simply unroasted coffee beans that have not gone through the roasting process. They are harvested from the coffee plant and have a greenish color, hence the name. Unlike roasted beans, green coffee beans are not used for making coffee. In fact, if you tried making your morning cup of Joe with green unroasted coffee beans, you’d be in for a very unpleasant surprise. It’s actually during the roasting process that the various flavors of a coffee bean are brought out.

Tips for Buying the Best Green Coffee Beans (Unroasted Coffee Beans)

There are a number of factor to consider when shopping for the best green coffee beans. If you’re buying these coffee beans online, you may obviously be unable to inspect the beans yourself. As such, we recommend contacting the supplier and using the checklist below as a way to ascertain the quality of the green coffee beans.

1. Look for size consistency. The beans should be relatively the same size, shape, and color
2. Ensure the coffee beans were sourced from the same geographical area.
3. Unless you’re going for a specifically more bitter flavor, go with the Arabica varietal as opposed to the Robusta varietal. Robusta beans are less sweet and contain twice the amount of caffeine. Meanwhile, Arabica beans are sweeter and more refined in flavor. To learn more, check out our article on the differences between Arabica and Robusta beans.
4. Inquire about the drying conditions of the coffee beans before purchasing them
5. The manner in which the coffee beans were processed is very important as well. The processing greatly influences the green coffee bean’s flavor.
6.  When shopping the best coffee beans, be sure you only buy from reputable sources. Aim for specialty-grade coffee companies that maintain a high standard for their beans.

Learning more about Green Coffee Beans

Roasting coffee beans is a process that involves applying heat to the beans for an extended period of time. The different roasting levels are typically classified as light, medium, and dark. The longer that a raw coffee bean is exposed to heat, the darker the final color of the bean. These beans take on many different flavor characteristics during the roasting process.

Light roasts are the least roasted and have a mild, floral flavor, while dark roasts are heavily roasted and have a bold, smoky flavor.

Learn more about the different roasting levels and how they effect the flavor of a coffee bean.

Health Benefits of Green Coffee Beans

Green coffee beans are a rich source of antioxidants, which help to protect the body from free radical damage. Additionally, they have been shown to have a positive effect on blood sugar levels, which may be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes.

Green coffee beans also have higher levels of chlorogenic acid, a compound that has been linked to several health benefits.

Some studies have also suggested that green coffee beans may help with weight loss by reducing the absorption of carbohydrates.

As such, an entire industry of green coffee extracts, powders, and gelcaps  has been birthed.

Interesting Facts about Green Coffee Beans

• The first coffee plant was discovered in Ethiopia in the 9th century.
• Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world, after oil.
• The flavor of coffee is influenced by factors such as altitude, soil type, and weather conditions.
• The world’s most expensive coffee is made from beans that have been partially digested and excreted by a civet, a small mammal found in Asia. This coffee is known as civet coffee or Kopi Luwak coffee.
• Coffee beans are actually the pits of the fruit of the coffee plant.