Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide for its great taste and inherent health benefits. Unlike tea which has a straightforward preparation method, coffee is prepared via several methods.
From the roasting, which varies in darkness, to the method of extraction, there are several ways of getting the best from your coffee beans.
Whole bean coffee favors certain preparation methods, especially when a very fine ground is required. You may need whole bean coffee to achieve this. However, when choosing between pre-ground or whole bean coffee, we discuss convenience and the preparation method.
Ground coffee, meanwhile, is best for most standard home coffee makers and is believed to be more convenient, especially for those pressed for time.
There are many things to consider when choosing between whole bean vs. ground coffee. You want to look at how quickly you consume coffee and how much time you have to prepare your cup each morning.
It should be noted, however, that heavy coffee drinkers prefer whole bean coffee because they can make it however they like, and it comes with longer freshness. In contrast, people who take less coffee may want to stay with the pre-ground option as it is more straightforward to make. Most people who choose ground coffee do so because of its convenience.
Nevertheless, the benefits and drawbacks of both choices are not that straightforward. We’ll look at them closely. But first, a brief overview of the two.
Whole bean coffee
Whole bean coffee is simply roasted coffee in the bean, yet-to-be-grounded form. That means it has gone through all the processing except grinding.
Coffee may be sold as raw beans as well. In that case, it is not yet roasted. This allows the consumer to roast the beans to the appropriate level. But raw beans are not the same as whole beans and are not as common as well.
Of course, no one makes coffee with whole beans, even if it is roasted to the right level. You still have to grind it. So if you still have to grind it, why not go for already-ground coffee? The answer is in the freshness that whole beans provide.
It is believed that the best way of getting the freshest coffee is to brew it as you grind it. We can summarize whole bean coffee this way: it offers the benefit of having the freshest cup every time you brew. So, who wouldn’t want that? Well, maybe because it’s not as straightforward as it sounds. The process of coffee production is very delicate. You want to retain as many flavors as possible when the cup is ready. That’s the greatest advantage of whole bean coffee.
With whole beans, you will need to grind your coffee yourself. You need your grinder, and that means more time goes into production. But, it is worth it since grinding doesn’t take all day (you’ll need less than a minute if you know how to do it). So you have greater options in the process of production.
Whole bean coffee allows you to achieve different levels of grind. The size of the grind is essential in determining the type of coffee you’ll get, although we know that whole bean coffee is excellent for various drinks. Using whole bean coffee also requires trying different grind sizes and offering different types of cups. The method of brewing should determine the level of grinding. You’ll need to achieve fine ground if you’re using an espresso machine. You need coarser grounds if you want to make French Press coffee.
The primary reason people who use whole bean coffee prefer it, despite the added stress, is its freshness. Before making the switch, you need to know that its freshness is not guaranteed if you don’t preserve it adequately. Yes, ground coffee gets stale faster, regardless of how well you preserve it, yet it may also lose freshness without keeping your whole beans in an airtight container. It should also be stored away from light or moisture.
Let’s highlight the pros and cons of whole bean coffee.
Pros
- The beans are known to stay fresher for longer.
- You can achieve different levels of grind to make different types of cups
- You can make super adjustments when grinding for greater extraction
Cons
- It is less convenient as it is more challenging to make
- You run the risk of grinding your beans inappropriately for the required cup
- It requires an additional expense of a grinder
- It also requires a level of preservation to keep freshness.
Ground coffee
Ground coffee is the more popular of the two. And that is for obvious reasons. First, ground coffee has already been grounded, so it is straightforward to make. All you need is a preferable brewing method. But as we will see, ground coffee is not very significant in retaining freshness.
Once you roast the coffee, it is no longer in its natural state and begins to deteriorate. In simple terms, it means atmospheric oxygen begins to react with the many compounds in the coffee, causing it to lose its flavor and taste. Ground coffee goes stale faster because it has a greater surface area than whole roasted beans, and the oxidation process is achieved faster.
However, if you can store your ground coffee, it shouldn’t go bland too quickly, but with time, no matter how well you try, it will lose its taste and flavor if not consumed on time.
We must make a distinction between instant coffee and ground coffee. The difference is that instant coffee is already brewed, and if you want to ditch whole bean coffee because of time constraints, then you may try out instant coffee. Since it has already been brewed and then dried, you practically can make it in seconds. However, instant coffee isn’t as popular as ground coffee despite that advantage.
Let’s look at some of the advantages of ground coffee.
Pros
- Ground coffee is easier to make
- The process is not time-consuming
- It saves you more money as you don’t have to purchase a grinder
- You have a consistent grind size, unlike what you may achieve when you grind it yourself
Cons
- Ground coffee is known to lose freshness more easily and quickly
- You have a limited choice of types of coffee you can make
- You can’t change the grind size
Comparison
Comparing whole bean coffee and ground coffee is very interesting. Let’s look at the two based on factors such as expiration, flavor convenience, and price.
Expiration
Does coffee expire? Yes. And we’re not talking about the expiration date on the package.
Coffee can be said to have “expired” when it loses most of its flavor and taste. Or, what is coffee without the unique great flavors it offers? So, which of Whole Bean Vs. Ground Coffee is better, or which type of coffee loses its flavors (and taste) faster?
When coffee is in its natural state, it retains most of its natural flavors. When the seed is roasted, it undergoes a chemical change through the action of heat. Coffee has many compounds and oils responsible for the taste and flavors.
However, once it is roasted, those flavors are released and are ready to be explored. The best way to enjoy coffee is to roast, grind and brew for maximum freshness. But that may be too much to ask for a cup.
Once the seeds are roasted, they react with atmospheric oxygen, which leads to a chemical process called oxidation. The process (oxidation) changes the taste of coffee and interferes with its flavors. That’s why coffee is always stored in airtight containers. But because ground coffee has a higher surface area than whole beans, it loses taste and expires faster.
Unopened, ground coffee lasts up to five months. Once it is opened, it lasts a maximum of three. Whereas roast coffee beans last up to nine months when sealed, and once opened, lasts up to six. However, the more its exposure to air, the quicker it expires.
We should add that while expiration means that coffee loses its taste, it may still be consumed as it has no adverse health effects.
Flavor
In terms of flavors, there’s also one winner between the whole bean vs. ground coffee battle: Whole bean. The reason is that coffee as a seed contains many chemicals and oils. When roasted, these oils are primarily retained on the skin. Roasting releases them.
However, once you grind them, with time, the oil evaporates. That’s why freshly ground coffee beans produce more flavor than the already ground coffee. Also, because it has a lower shelf life, it is more difficult for oxidation to take away most of its flavors.
This is also reflected in the aroma produced. Freshly ground coffee would produce a lot more aroma than already grounded coffee. However, a lot depends on the storage.
If whole beans aren’t stored properly and exposed to air, they also lose flavor. Well-preserved ground coffee may even have more flavor than poorly preserved whole beans. But if all things stay equal, then whole bean coffee produces a better taste and flavor than ground coffee.
Convenience
The world continuously evolves to produce easier options. That’s why you have instant coffee that can be made in seconds. Between the whole bean vs. ground coffee, the winner in the convenience becomes pretty easy, especially if you have a busy day ahead of you.
To make coffee from whole beans, you still need to grind it, a procedure that makes it even more cumbersome. Since the grinder also has different levels of coarseness, you need to find out which settings are best for the type of coffee you want to make. You may end up with the wrong level of coarseness.
However, with ground coffee, the procedure is very straightforward. You already have your coffee grounded to an even fineness and have no problem making your cup.
Nevertheless, if you’re a coffee-lover, there are chances you won’t find the grinding process cumbersome. You may even count it as fun!
Price
Ground coffee is cheaper than whole bean coffee. That doesn’t seem to make sense since it costs more to produce ground coffee. Well, you’re right. But it’s all down to the power of demand and supply. The higher the demand…, you know the rest!
Whole bean coffee is more expensive because it tastes better when brewed (of course, after grinding!). If there’s still doubt about who wins the whole bean vs. ground coffee, the pricing settles it.
Conclusion
Although many people choose ground coffee simply for its ease of preparation, everyone agrees that whole bean coffee produces a better cup.
The main difference between the two is the freshness, flavor, and scent. If you’re not a coffee expert, you may not care about the difference, but there’s a whole world of difference between coffee brewed after grinding and one stored in a pack.
However, there’s the risk of not grinding your coffee appropriately when you use whole beans.
But if you’re more concerned about convenience when choosing between whole bean and ground coffee, then the latter does. However, in terms of freshness, aroma, and flavor, the difference is clear. Whole bean coffee carries the day.
Reference articles
- Delightedcooking
- Eldoradocoffee
- Koffeekult
- Javapresse
- Roastycoffee
- Roastworks
- Coffee
- Barniescoffee
- Dialupthecoffee
- Blog.equalexchange
Last Updated on July 17, 2022 by Ashok Parmar
