Ethical Coffee: Are Coffee Farmers Paid a Livable Wage?
The phrase ethical coffee has become increasingly common in recent years. But is it just another empty buzzword like “being in the top 1% of
If you’ve ever wanted to roast coffee at home, there are a few things you need to figure out. How to roast them, what style of roasting to do, and of course, where to buy green coffee beans.
Alternatively, you may be asking yourself what are green coffee beans?
Green coffee beans are simply coffee beans that haven’t been roasted yet. They’re the raw ingredient every coffee roaster starts with before developing the flavors and aromas that eventually end up in your morning (or afternoon/evening) cup.
That’s not to say all green coffee beans are the same quality or flavor. Far from it.
As home coffee roasting has become increasingly popular, coffee lovers have been experimenting with different roasting levels and techniques. But it all starts with the beans. Certain types of green coffee beans can compliment certain roasts. And choosing poor quality beans can ruin your roast before it even begins.
If you’re new to roasting, it might all seem a bit overwhelming. We understand. We’ve been there ourselves. And that’s why today, we want to go beyond the question of where to buy green coffee beans. It starts with understanding what exactly makes green coffee beans unique.
Despite the name, green coffee beans aren’t vegetables. Sometimes they’re not even particularly green.
They’re simply coffee beans in their natural state before roasting.
Technically speaking, they’re actually seeds. Coffee beans are the seeds of coffee cherries, which are a fruit. Confused yet? Let’s break it down further.
There is a plant called coffea. This plant produces fruit called coffee cherries. In case you’re wondering, yes, you can eat coffee cherries. Typically, however, the fruit is stripped away, leaving behind the seeds. These seeds are what we call coffee beans.
Most coffee cherries contain two seeds.
Once the fruit is removed, the seeds are washed, processed, and dried. The end product of this process is green coffee beans.
These beans are dense, hard, and have very little of the aroma most people associate with coffee. That’s because roasting is what transforms hundreds of the bean’s natural compounds into the familiar flavors and fragrances we love.
A light roast, medium roast, and dark roast may all come from the exact same green coffee beans. By roasting the beans at different temperatures and/or for different lengths of time, different flavors can be brought forward and enhanced.
To achieve these different flavors, however, you need a quality green coffee bean.
Origin, elevation, processing method, and farming practices all influence the flavor locked inside each bean. Starting with high-quality coffee gives you the best opportunity to produce an exceptional roast, whether you’re using a dedicated coffee roaster or a simple stovetop method.
For most coffee drinkers, buying roasted coffee is the easiest option. All you need to do is grind the bean, run some water through it, and you have your coffee.
With green coffee beans, you need to roast them first. Technically, you could grind and brew them as is, but we don’t recommend that (and we’ll tell you why in a moment).
Chances are, if you’re buying green coffee beans, it’s because you’re planning on roasting them. This gives you full control over the type of coffee they become.
You can decide exactly how light or dark you want your coffee to be. You can stop the roast early to preserve bright fruit notes or continue developing deeper caramel, chocolate, and smoky flavors.
For many home roasters, it’s all about experimentation.
Trying different origins, roast profiles, and brewing methods becomes part of the hobby. The smallest adjustments can produce noticeably different flavors from the same coffee. It takes some work, and you’ll likely have a few batches that don’t turn out like you were hoping, but over time, you start to understand how to achieve the flavors you love.
From there, it’s all about refinement and developing consistency.
Purchasing and roasting your own green coffee beans allows you to enjoy the freshest coffee possible. Not only will it taste fresher when you first have it, but it will last a little longer than the roasted coffee you’d buy elsewhere.
Coffee is at its peak 5-7 days after roasting, depending on roast level and type of bean. By roasting only what you need, you can enjoy exceptionally fresh coffee whenever you want instead of purchasing beans that may have been roasted months earlier.
Ultimately, purchasing and roasting green coffee also builds a deeper understanding of coffee as a whole.
Through this journey, you will better understand how origin, processing, and roast development work together to create the coffee in your cup. It’s a rewarding experience that builds a greater appreciation for the work farmers and roasters put into every harvest.
Roasting your own coffee might sound like a very complicated process, and it certainly can be. But it can also be surprisingly simple to get started. Commercial coffee roasters use sophisticated equipment capable of producing highly consistent results in large quantities.
As a beginner, however, you don’t need thousands of dollars of machinery to get started.
You just need some green coffee beans, a heat source, and a little patience.
Many first-time home roasters begin with simple methods like popcorn poppers or stove top pans. You can even use an air fryer, if you want. If you plan to roast your own coffee long term, you may want to invest in a simple countertop roaster. These can range from around $100 to over $1000.
Regardless of the equipment you choose, the basic process is essentially the same.
Green coffee beans are heated until they begin changing color from pale green/yellow to tan, and eventually the rich brown color you expect. As moisture escapes and natural sugars develop, the beans go through what’s known as the “first crack.” This is a popping sound similar to popcorn. From there, the roast can continue toward darker flavor profiles before reaching the “second crack.”
The timing of when you stop the roast has a dramatic effect on the flavor of the finished coffee.
If you’re completely new to home roasting, don’t worry about achieving perfection on your first batch. Like any skill, roasting improves with practice. And as long as you don’t outright burn the coffee, you should have something that’s at least drinkable, even if it’s not the flavor profile you were going for.
From there, it’s all about experimenting, discovering, and refining.
If you want enjoyable coffee, yes.
Green coffee beans are not meant to be brewed straight from the bag.
Because they haven’t been roasted, they’re extremely hard and lack the flavors and aromas most people associate with coffee. Brewing green coffee beans like regular coffee will result in a grassy, earthy drink that bears little resemblance to the coffee you’re used to.
Roasting is what unlocks the bean’s full flavor potential.
As heat transforms the bean, hundreds of chemical reactions occur that create the rich notes of chocolate, caramel, berries, citrus, nuts, spice, and countless other flavors found in specialty coffee.
If your goal is making traditional brewed coffee, roasting is an essential step.
Fortunately, learning to roast at home is both approachable and rewarding. Once you’ve roasted a few batches, you’ll quickly begin recognizing how different roast levels influence flavor and discover your own personal preferences.
If you’re investing the time and effort to roast coffee yourself, don’t overlook the importance of starting with quality beans.
The best roasting equipment and techniques can’t turn poor-quality coffee beans into an exceptional cup.
It all starts with the source of the green coffee beans.
At Brew North Roasters, we’ve always believed that great coffee begins long before roasting. That’s why we work with trusted suppliers who prioritize quality and sustainability. The coffee beans we roast come from coffee farmers who are paid livable wages, resulting in a better product and a better future for the coffee industry.
These beans have allowed us to develop our roasts that are enjoyed by people across the country (and beyond).
And now, we want to offer those same beans to other coffee enthusiasts. Brew North Roasters is now selling high-quality, ethically sourced green coffee beans to anyone who’s interested in roasting them.
Whether you’re experimenting with your first roast or refining your favorite profile, you’ll find premium green coffee beans from some of the world’s most respected coffee-growing regions, including:
While the roasting process arguably has the biggest impact on the end product’s taste, a coffee bean’s origin offers its own unique character.
Ethiopian coffees are often known for bright fruit and floral notes, while Sumatran coffees are prized for their earthy richness and full body. Colombian and Guatemalan coffees frequently provide exceptional balance, Peru offers smooth sweetness, and Papua New Guinea delivers complex flavors that reward careful roasting.
Not sure where to begin? Feel free to reach out and ask us for our thoughts. We love helping people find their coffee, even if they’re roasting it themselves.
No matter which origin you choose, you’ll be starting with the same high-quality, organically-sourced coffee beans that reflect Brew North’s commitment to building a sustainable future for coffee.
If you’ve been wondering where to buy green coffee beans, you’ve found a source that’s committed to quality every step of the way. Get started visiting our contact page here and filling out the form.
If you prefer to buy coffee that’s already roasted, you can find that on our store page here.
Happy roasting and as always, stay grounded.
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