I know what you’re thinking: what is the difference between roasted and unroasted coffee beans? Well, there are many different health benefits as they contain similar if not higher levels of acids, protein, sugars, and caffeine than roasted beans. How do you find the best unroasted coffee beans? Well, roasting your own coffee beans can be worth the time for those who value freshness and flavor. When roasting your coffee beans, they are the most flavorful after the first week, so roasting at home means you always get to enjoy your coffee at its best. Try some of the best unroasted coffee beans to make a difference in your coffee routine.
Using the Beans for Your Morning Brew
Many people tend to get a bit intimidated by roasting their own coffee as it is tedious and a bit more elaborate than just brewing your own coffee. There are many different pans and appliances that are used to roast your own coffee beans, but the simplest way to do it is right in an ordinary pan. If you’re new to roasting beans, try starting off with a small batch to experiment and to get it the way you prefer, so that you can achieve the best unroasted coffee beans. The coffee roasting process has a number of stages and it is important to be careful not to over roast them.
First, your beans will turn a bit yellow and will release an earthy and grassy aroma. Once the yellow color starts to appear, the beans will begin to release steam. Suddenly, you will hear the beans first crack. Hooray! This means that the sugars stored inside of the coffee beans are beginning to caramelize. Water will escape from the beans and the smell of coffee will fill your kitchen. After you hear the first crack, you can stop roasting if you prefer. Stopping here means you will achieve the city roast.
Continue roasting the beans and watch as they become darker. You may start to hear more cracking noises as they will be louder and more distinct. The smoke emitting from the beans will be darker in color the longer you roast them. After you hear the second cracks, you have achieved the level of a French Roast! If you have reached this stage, it is recommended that you stop here to ensure that you do not burn the beans.
Storing the Beans Properly
If you are thinking about learning how to roast your beans, it is very essential to make sure you know how to store them properly. Something you should know first is that you need to keep moisture away from your coffee beans. It is critical as moisture can affect the texture and even the roasting process.
Plastic containers will become your best friend when storing your favorite unroasted coffee beans. Make sure the containers that they are in are airtight and/or sealed. Containers that are airtight will prevent moisture from getting anywhere close to the beans. This will also retain the acidity, aroma and flavor as naturally as possible.
Temperature is also something to consider when keeping your unroasted beans fresh as possible. Storing the beans at room temperature is okay, but not recommended. Do not store your beans in the refrigerator at all as it will make the container too moist. There is a higher risk of moisture getting inside the container this way. The best way to store your coffee beans, temperature wise, is outside in a cupboard. If you do not have access to that, then a dry, cool environment should be okay for your coffee beans.
Unroasted coffee beans are known to last six months to a year. Keep an eye out for your packages roasting date and also it’s arrival date. Be mindful to check the seal and the packaging before buying or when you receive your beans. Do what you can to ensure that your beans are safe, healthy and mold-free so that you can have an enjoyable and unforgettable experience.
Top 16 Unroasted Coffee Beans
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1. Central American Guatemala Unroasted Arabica Green Coffee Beans
[amazon box=”B00LV2PLBY” description=” ” rating=”4.7″]
These beans will have your tastebuds thanking you. The flavorful notes that come with these coffee beans leave you with sweet mouth-watering flavors. Dark Chocolate, butter, cinnamon, toasted nuts, and raisins…what else could you ask for in a coffee bean? Farm Finca Nueva Granada also uses its own clear spring water for pulping and milling to achieve sustainability. Not to mention, one pound of these bad boys comes at an incredibly low cost.
Sample Customer Review… “I’ve had some hit or miss experiences buying green coffee on Amazon, but I’ve been very impressed with this purchase! I’m almost through my 10lb bag and have only had a few ‘unfit’ beans, and haven’t come across a single stone or other debris. The beans themselves roast evenly and have a versatile flavor profile for different roasts. I usually prefer my roasts on the lighter side, however, I find that these beans really excel more toward City+ to Full City (medium-dark to dark). They’re a bit too bright for me roasted light, but maintain/expose a lot of flavors further into the roast. The value for the 10lbs is great, especially for the quality of beans received! The burlap sack is a cute touch as well, though it sheds quite a bit (I’d still rather have it than not).”
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2. Unroasted Green Coffee Bean Sampler Pack
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For many coffee lovers that want diversity in their daily cup of coffee, this will be your best option. These packs include 4 one-pound packs of caffeinated Colombian, Ethiopian, Guatemalan, Brazilian and Indonesian roasts. Whether you enjoy drinking light, medium, or dark roasts, Martini Coffee beans offer a unique approach to sampling and tasting premium products at a great value. This pack of samplers can also be a great gift for any coffee roasting enthusiast. Put this in a gift basket and make sure to tell them that they made the list of the best unroasted coffee beans!
Sample Customer Review… “Great sample for beginner roasters or the experienced roaster looking to experiment in new methods or tastes. I have ordered this item three times now and have not had any trouble with stones or insect-damaged beans. I have been very pleased with the company and the product. Still, a novice at roasting this has been an excellent premium quality bean to learn on and not have pebble or stone or other contaminates in the batch. The taste, when roasted properly, is also very representative of the region according to taste comments for the ultra snooty coffee connoisseur. I just like a good cup of coffee. Good product, good packaging for use, or gift presentation. Very pleased and highly recommended.”
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3. Green Unroasted Brazilian Cerrado Coffee Beans
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These beans are ideal for our coffee lovers that may be following a Kosher or vegan diet. Because they are high-quality and sustainably sourced, there are no additives, artificial flavors, or preservatives at all. Roast these beans right and you’ll get a smooth body with a slightly nutty taste of cocoa and walnut. But it’s not just the well-proportioned flavor that you’ll devote your taste buds to, it’s genuine Colombian coffee beans are packed with a highly rich aroma too. Simply, one of the best unroasted coffee beans.
Sample Customer Review… “I’ve purchased several times from this brand. This one and the Papau version. They roast very well, with less chaff than other beans. I usually like a medium-dark to dark roast but not as dark as espresso. The smell and taste are incredible. So much better than any coffee I’ve purchased at the store. I always look forward to roasting these. So worth taking the time to get great coffee. I will continue to purchase from this seller.”
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4. Single Origin Unroasted Green Coffee Beans
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These coffee beans are known for the rich sweetness and gentle profile, it is a well-balanced, smooth coffee. Its sweetness is complimented by unique citrus acidity and pleasing cacao notes. They are strictly high grown under shade trees and harvested by hand. As they are European prepared, they are also fully washed and naturally dried. Primos Coffee produces the beans sustainably with the highest standards and natural resources to achieve the perfect cup of joe.
Sample Customer Review… “This coffee makes a nice flavored coffee that I think will fully satisfy most (85%+), but not all, people. It is definitely coffee you want to fully roast, as it made a better full bold roast than when I did a medium ‘lighter’ roast. Its bold dark roast did not taste at all bitter, but very smooth, richer, kinda fruity, with cocoa and caramel notes. I found this coffee to not be very acidic which is how I like it. 3lbs is a lot of coffee, but the price is outstanding, I can easily see why this is a best seller.”
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5. Single Estate Nicaragua Unroasted Green Coffee Beans
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Looking for the best unroasted coffee beans that are considered premium coffee? You came to the right place. You can’t go wrong with CoCoffe’s 100% premium specialty-grade Arabica beans. They are grown at high altitudes and in shaded areas to unleash the rich and dense flavor. If you’re new at roasting your own coffee beans, this could be the one for you as it has a wide range of roasting levels, making it easy for you to enjoy the lightest roast to the darkest.
Sample Customer Review… “I was very pleased with these as a beginner to home roasting. The flavor is good, nothing too complex to overwhelm somebody just starting to learn how to roast their own coffee. If you undercook or burn a few batches, it won’t put you in the poor house. If you want a standard tasting coffee, but just want it fresher than you could get from the store or even your average coffee shop, this will certainly do that job.”
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6. Brazil Adrano Volcano Coffee, Green Unroasted Coffee Beans
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For anyone who is a coffee connoisseur, you should know about this one. Awaken your senses with this dry processed mixture of Yellow Catuai and Red Mundo Novo. This award-winning coffee is grown in the volcanic microclimate of Poços de Caldas on a farm that is certified safe and sustainable in Brazil. The smooth body and buttery aroma create the perfect mixture for the ripened taste profile. These dark roast and highly caffeinated beans do not go unrecognized in their unique growing region.
Sample Customer Review… “This coffee roasted to medium in about 12 1/2 minutes at 450, far less time than many other beans. The beans are small, like peaberry beans. I LOVE this coffee, it has become my favorite flavor when roasted medium. I find that the subtle nuances of different types of beans are lost when roasted dark. Freshly roasted beans have superior flavor and don’t need dark roasting to give you good coffee. I roast in the mornings and start to use the beans 2 days later for the best flavor. This coffee came in a strong bag and I could NOT find any stones or debris.”
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7. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Green Unroasted Coffee Beans
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Ethiopia Yirgacheffe will have you stunned by the diversity of flavor that coffee can have. The flavor notes of these beans are unbeatable. The herbaceous floral essence blends very well with the subtle signs of fruit. Each flavorful, complex cup offers zesty citrus acidity and a slight flavor of hazelnut to look forward to. When you leave these beans in your roaster long enough, they turn lusciously deep brown and even the aroma is quite satisfying.
Sample Customer Review… “Rating a coffee in some ways is like rating a flower: if you like flowers they are all pretty nice, just some you like better than others. I liked this coffee just fine! It’s taken me a while to post a review because it took a while to learn to roast. I tried the air popper method and ’twas a total bust for me. Not that the popper is a bad method, just didn’t work for me. I went pioneer style and pulled out my cast iron skillet. That’s when things got fun! The first two roasts I aimed for and got a gorgeous city roast. Alas, the flavor was vaguely grassy. Not unpleasant, just not what I wanted. Finally, grabbing courage against the fear of burning coffee and getting that familiar sb over-cooked flavor, I left beans in long enough to achieve a dark roast. Cue the angelic choir..! Beans were luscious deep brown (see photo) and the aroma was intoxicating! FYI, I prefer cooked coffee aka no pour-over, no pour through, straight up cooked for 1-2 minutes, so take that into consideration as you eval this coffee. I roasted, rested, and prepped beans and had an excellent cup of coffee! It was a pure, rich, smooth coffee flavor with no hint of bitterness. Yes, yes, yes! Totally worth the effort. One warning though, these beans are ca-ca-ca-caffeinated!! I almost busted out a moonwalk, kick-ball-chain, finish with a ninja turtle flair right there in the kitchen after a half-cup of that dark brew. Yessir, that’s a fine coffee. I do recommend it.”
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8. Colombian Supremo Unroasted Green Raw Coffee Beans
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Since 2009, Stone Street Coffee Company has been living by the slogan, ‘NO SLEEP ‘TIL BROOKLYN.’ This specialty small-batch roaster located in Brooklyn, NYC, offers high-quality and delicious flavors. These beans are paired with the strong aroma and intense flavor of Colombian arabica, making them rank pretty high on our list of the best unroasted coffee beans. A recommendation for these extra-large beans is to ensure that roasting levels are light to medium.
Sample Customer Review… “Very fast shipping. Roasted 1 lb well in my Behmor 1600. It took about 14 minutes to reach 1st crack and another 3 to hit 2nd crack, at which point I started the cooling cycle. I let it rest for 3 days. I brewed some at work using about 6 tablespoons in a 6 cup french press. I let it steep for about 5-6 minutes. It had a slightly sweet/fruity flavor and was very smooth. I shared a cup with my coworker and he enjoyed it very much.”
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9. Green Unroasted Whole Bean Coffee
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These large sweet-tasting beans consist of a very versatile roast factor. Whether you prefer the middle ground of French or light roast, you can achieve the most delicious taste with Coffee Bean Direct. The flavor consists of a full-body, rich, and premium taste paired with a beautiful aroma making them one of the best-unroasted coffee beans. Consider these beans simple, but very high quality for your daily coffee needs.
Sample Customer Review… “Brazil Santos has always and likely will always be a personal favorite of mine. Like any bean personal preference is what’s important. I think of this one as a versatile coffee. At lighter roasts, I can still get some of the darker chocolate-type flavors as well as the bright notes usual in lighter roasts. What I feel this bean doesn’t like is a fast roast. Never ever go faster than 30 degrees a minute. If you have a fresh roast or one of the other small fluid bed roasters, this can be difficult. Stay on top of it and knock the heat down if it’s going too fast. I try to get about 20 degrees a minute and it always comes out nice. I also roast this one well past the second crack for a French dude I work with. He loves it as espresso. Take your time and treat it nice and it will always treat you nice. Oh, and six bucks a pound shipped can’t be beaten, either.”
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10. Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC, Green Unroasted Colombian Supremo Coffee Beans
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This genuine Columbian coffee provides, not just a unique taste, but a rich, well-balanced flavor with notes of both cherry and honey. Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC’s Green Unroasted Colombian Supremo Coffee Beans are free of artificial flavors, preservatives, or harmful additives, and are the perfect choice for someone looking to home roast their coffee.
Sample Customer Review… “In my quest for finding the best coffee, so far this is at the top. If you prefer a pour-over I’d roast to the end of the first crack. If you prefer espresso like me, I’d take the roast well into the second crack where the beans develop a sheen with small spots of oil. This is barely entering dark roast. This produces an amazing Americano with well-developed flavors that are silky smooth and nutty, with a touch of brown sugar. (No bitterness).”
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11. Anthony’s Organic Unroasted Whole Green Coffee Beans
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Grown in the high altitudes of Mexico, in rich fertile volcanic soil, Anthony’s Organic Unroasted Whole Green Coffee Beans bring powerful flavor and unmatched versatility to your morning cup. Its whole bean form allows you to grind and brew to your preference, and partake in that notably acidic zing that comes with every sip.
Sample Customer Review… “I bought a FreshRoast SR540 to start roasting my own coffee. These beans are very good with a medium-dark roast. Good flavor with a hint of chocolate. I use 2 tablespoons per 8oz cup in a french press and my day starts perfectly. The beans are small but plump up when roasted. Nice bean to begin my roasting experience.”
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12. Papua New Guinea Organic Unroasted Green Coffee Beans
[amazon box=”B00U70VCX2″ description=” ” rating=”4.2″]
If you’re looking for wild-grown and organic coffee beans, Papua has your back. These large, elongated Arabica beans will introduce you to the flavors of chocolate and brown sugar. This smooth, mellow cup has great, consistent roasting results with many different roast points from light to dark, to accommodate any preference. Not only is their flavor unique, but their manufacturing process is too. They come from volcanic, rainforest soil that small shareholder farms pick from wild-growing plants with natural shade. It is then flown out of the mountains by a small plane in a humanitarian 3-way trade.
Sample Customer Review… “These are very high quality beans. I’ve never actually seen beans in such amazing shape- they’re huge and virtually all the same size. They give you a nice even roast. The profile is quite intense on the cacao side, with a chocolatey sweetness and not very much fruit or ‘brightness.’ I over roasted it the first few times and didn’t like it very much, but then I did a perfect light roast and really tasted the complexity of this wonderful bean. I’m sure that blended with an African or a brighter Guatemalan would be quite delicious indeed. Overall very impressed with this supplier, they definitely care about the quality of their product.”
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13. Ethiopian Sidamo Coffee
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These Sidamo beans are certified 100% organic and high in caffeine. The product is quite popular for its distinctive flavor and its origin. Sidamo is where coffee was first cultivated, impressive, right? These notes give off a mild spicy kick with a wine-like essence and a floral aroma. The eccentric but impressive flavor of these beans is recommended for coffee lovers that like to try something new.
Sample Customer Review… “I gave my home-roasting virginity to this bean. I roasted this bean on a thick skillet for around 17 minutes to a full city roast. Although there were some light roast beans in my batch due to the nature of stovetop roasting，the coffee turned out great. Probably the best coffee I have had so far. The first smell has a very bright floral smell and I have to emphasize that this bean makes a very smooth cup. Very low acidity level for my medium roast. A light chocolate aftertaste”
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14. Colombian Narino Supremo Unroasted Green Coffee Beans Caturra
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The cupping notes of Colombian Narino Supremo introduce you to hints of mocha, carmel, and earthy undertones. Considering these beans come from Aroma Craft Coffee, you can conclude that the smell when these are roasted fills the air with beauty. The slight sweetness and strong acidity add to the strong caffeinated taste. These beans are cooperative in the roasting process, as they are not easy to burn, making them one of the best unroasted coffee beans. Additionally, reviewers refer to this product as one of the best beans they’ve roasted while experimenting. Try these out today to ensure that you can get the perfect beans hassle-free!
Sample Customer Review… “By far, this is my favorite unroasted bean yet. I’ve roasted these beans in both a Whirly-Pop and a ceramic hand roaster and have made medium- and dark-roast batches. Compared to other beans, this one has the most to offer – big, full, and bold, and the style of roast brings out the exact flavors I was hoping for. Lighter roasts were sweet and nutty and darker roasts were bold and caramel-like, and all were full and smooth. I’ve since tried other beans and nothing compares to these. Now I just hope they get more in stock soon, because I am out and I need my beans!”
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15. Lavanta Coffee Roasters Java Peaberry
[amazon box=”B01MYXNHBL” description=” ” rating=”4.4″]
These high-quality beans create perfect coffee for those looking for an “earthier” morning cup. Sturdy enough to roast to any liking, these beans have hints of spices, herbs, tobacco, and citrus, creating a rare flavor palette. Levanta Coffee Roasters trades directly with coffee farmers, ensuring a fair and environmentally sustainable environment surrounding their business.
Sample Customer Review… “I’m new to home roasting and this is the second bean I’m trying and the first from this company. It was the best coffee I’ve ever had. It took to a darker roast quite easily and roasted quicker than the last batch. I roasted a few batches up to a Full City+ I use an air fryer combo oven with a rotisserie attachment on the roast setting. The big negative is the hottest it gets is 450 degrees (at least that’s what the setting says). I have not achieved the second crack yet but the next roast I’m going to push it now that I know I can get a good Full City + and I’m just shy of it. I’m trying different beans so I don’t know how this compares to other green beans but compared to anything that I’ve gotten already roasted, I liked this much better— even compared to premium brands.”
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16. CWE Gourmet Coffees “Brazil Cerrado” Unroasted Coffee Beans
[amazon box=”B07FFVLCZN” description=” ” rating=”4.5″]
These smooth beans deliver the lingering tastes of caramel and chocolate, for the perfect morning wake-up. Best in a medium to dark roast, they create a buttery-smooth cup of coffee with only a mild acidity. In addition, they are delivered in a biodegradable bag with a one-way valve that is able to keep beans fresh both before and after roasting.
Sample Customer Review… “I bought these beans to try out home roasting since I was stuck working from home because of current events (I usually get my daily cups at the office). Since trying these beans out, I’ve bought numerous batches of beans from different vendors. The quality of the beans purchased here is on par with any other Brazilian bean I’ve purchased anywhere else. I took my first batch of these beans too far for my liking (somewhere between Dark and French) and could taste a decent amount of bitterness. I really liked these beans between FC-FC+, I could taste a good amount of chocolate and earthiness with little to no acidity. Overall, I’m happy with the coffee these beans produce, and I am eager to try some of the other varietals offered.”
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Now You Know
Well, what are you waiting for? Get crackin’! Buy those beans that you’ve been eyeing up. If anything, you have all the essential tips right here. Make sure you store your beans properly and you don’t burn your beans on the stove and remember: this is a process. Be patient in your experimenting process as it is not the same for everyone. You may come across a few bad batches, but that’s the beauty of roasting. Make the best unroasted coffee beans now! Happy roasting to all you coffee enthusiasts out there.
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Written by Darian K. and Eliza Noecker