Coffee is a powerful motivator for several people worldwide to start their day, especially on chilly winter mornings.
While there are several ways to brew a cup of coffee, most involve using a grinder to crush the roasted beans.
Some people believe that grinding beans may not enhance your drink’s flavor, but it will make the brewing procedure faster.
The coffee beans’ surface area rises as they’re ground, accelerating the pace at which flavors are extracted from them.
Can you brew whole coffee beans? You may think it takes several days to make a cup from these beans, and its taste may be watery.
What’s the truth? It’s time to dive into this article and find the ultimate answer. Let’s get started!
Can You Brew Whole Coffee Beans?
Can you brew coffee with whole beans? Yes! It’s possible to make a cup of coffee without grinding the beans. It will require a longer brew time, but your drink is less acidic and harsh.
Making coffee using whole beans is also an excellent brewing method when you can’t find a coffee maker or grinder.
In fact, several coffee lovers prefer to brew their cup of brew with whole beans instead of pre-ground beans for some reasons, as shown below.
#1. Oxidation
Many complex components in coffee beans give the beverage its distinctive aroma and flavor.
However, some of these substances may not be stable, so they will change their structure via oxidation.
During this process, these substances combine air molecules and create different molecule types, which release flavor and aroma from the coffee beans.
Coffee’s distinctive flavor and widespread popularity are both a result of oxidation.
After grinding the beans, they will undergo the oxidation procedure. If you make your beverage immediately, you will get the best result. Otherwise, its flavor and taste will quickly deplete.
Therefore, brewing with whole beans will create a fresher and more aromatic cup than pre-ground coffee.
#2. Moisture Exposure
Coffee beans contain oils that are soluble in water. When adding hot water, these oils dissolve to create a rich taste and fantastic aroma.
After grinding the beans, their surface area increases to generate more moisture, which makes it easier to break down the oils.
However, even a tiny volume of the air’s humidity can speed dilution and compromise the oil’s integrity.
#3. Contamination Of The Flavor
Controlling potent smells in your kitchen is challenging even when you store pre-ground beans carefully.
As a result, the fragrance of other foods like onions or curry will affect your coffee grounds’ aromas.
On the other hand, it’s easier to store whole beans. Also, the smells of foodstuffs can’t impact them thanks to their little surface area.
#4. Carbon Dioxide Deficiency
As shared above, coffee beans have oils to create a unique flavor for your brew. Carbon dioxide serves as the stimulus to convey these oils to your drink.
When grinding beans, their surface is more remarkable, which causes carbon dioxide to escape quickly.
If you brew your beverage immediately, it’s not a matter. Nevertheless, the ground beans will lose their flavor if stored for a long time due to carbon dioxide deficiency.
What To Consider Before Purchasing Whole Coffee Beans?
When looking for coffee on the market, you often see two main types: whole and ground coffee.
What to bear in mind when purchasing whole coffee beans? Here are some guides to consider.
Single-origin beans
Most of these whole beans come from one particular place. Often, they have distinctive, powerful qualities that are unique depending on where they belong.
These single-origin beans come from Arabia, Africa, and South and Central America.
- Arabian and African beans show exotic, fruity, and winey flavors.
- South and Central American beans have earthy, savory, and smooth flavors.
Coffee blends
These beans combine distinctive flavors created using single-origin coffee beans as the foundation and various other flavors.
You may expect to experience rich, milky, delicate-bodied, robust, or slightly bitter tastes because the strength levels can vary greatly.
What Are The Differences Between The Whole Coffee Beans And Ground Coffee?
If you are confused between whole beans and ground coffee, let’s take a closer look at the following differences.
#1. Taste & Freshness
Whether whole bean or ground, its freshness will significantly affect its texture and flavor.
However, whole bean coffee will have a more robust, aromatic, and flavorful cup than ground type.
That’s because the whole beans do not experience any process after being roasted. Thus, they can keep their distinct aroma and taste.
While ground coffee can remain fresh like whole bean coffee, temperature, and humidity will quickly change its taste and flavor.
#2. Versatility
Whole bean may be versatile because it allows you to try various brewing methods, blends, and flavors at home.
While ground coffee is convenient to brew, you can’t change its grind size, meaning you can only use one for a standard coffee maker.
#3. Convenience
Although whole-bean coffee brings a more robust and aromatic flavor, it requires more time to brew than ground type.
It would be best if you ground these beans before making your beverage. The time depends on the grinder type you use.
On the other hand, ground coffee is much more convenient. It’s the best choice for busy coffee lovers.
You only need to purchase your favorite grind size type, put the grinds into the machine, and wait for your cup.
How To Brew Coffee With Whole Coffee Beans?
If it’s your time to make coffee with whole beans, you can consider the following brewing methods to get the best results!
#1. Use The Double-Boiler Method
Step 1:
Before starting this method, you should prepare the following things:
- Whole coffee beans
- A stove
- A big saucepan
- A container (mason jar/mug)
- Water
- A spoon
- A strainer
Step 2:
Pour one cup of bottled or filtered water into a large saucepan. Bring it to almost boiling.
Step 3:
Add the beans to around 1/3 of a mug or a mason jar. After that, pour the boiling water into these beans.
Step 4:
Add water to the saucepan. Ensure the water level is under 1/2 of the saucepan. Next, heat the water.
Step 5:
Put the mug/mason jar into the saucepan. This way, you will have a double-boiler.
Step 6:
Heat the boiler at medium flame. Allow enough time for the beans to steep in the water for 45 to 60 minutes when the water keeps boiling.
Remember to stir your beverage occasionally.
Step 7:
Turn off the stove. Use tongs or a cloth to remove the mug/mason jar from the saucepan.
Step 8:
Filter the drink using a strainer. Enjoy your cup!
#2. By Steeping
Step 1:
Ensure you have the things below before brewing whole-bean coffee using this method:
- An insulated mug with a lid
- Whole coffee beans
- Boiling water
- A strainer
Step 2:
Add the beans to around 1/3 of your insulated mug.
Step 3:
Pour the hot water into around 2/3 of the mug. Wait for the water to sit for approximately 30 seconds. This way, the temperature will drop slightly.
Step 4:
Add the whole beans to the mug. Remember to cover it using the lid.
Step 5:
Shake the mug to make the beans soak in hot water.
Step 6:
Let the mug rest for approximately one hour. Remember to shake it occasionally.
Step 7:
Use the strainer to filter your drink into another cup. Enjoy it!
#3. In A Gentle Simmer
Step 1:
Prepare the following things:
- An earthen pot
- Whole coffee beans
- The wood
- A cork straw
Step 2:
Add 1 ½ cups of fresh water to your earthen pot. Bring it to a boil.
Step 3:
Add whole beans to the pot. Extinguish the flame by removing the wood. However, remember to leave one hot charcoal, which slows the simmer.
Step 4:
Let the beverage keep heating on the fire and brew it for approximately 30 minutes.
Step 5:
Remove the earthen pot from the flame.
Filter the beverage using a cork straw. Enjoy it!
Can I Grind Coffee Beans Without A Grinder?
Whole-bean coffee creates a distinct taste and flavor. However, you may also want to try ground coffee. What to do if you don’t have a grinder?
Don’t worry! The following methods will help you out:
#1. A Blender
A blender will be the best choice if you are looking for an easy-to-find substitute for a grinder.
The blade of your blender can chop the coffee beans, but it can’t be as uniform as a grinder.
When using this equipment, ensure to grind beans in short and quick bursts to avoid heating them.
Besides, cleaning your blender before grinding to prevent other smells from affecting the coffee taste would be best.
#2. A Hammer
Another alternative is a hammer. You can crush your coffee beans easily with this tool, so use it with caution.
When breaking down your beans, it’s possible to adjust the technique and crush them to a fine powder.
However, if you plan to make a cup of espresso, the grounds crushed using a hammer is not a good choice due to its explosive effect.
#3. Mortar & Pestle
For generations, pharmacists and chefs have utilized the pestle and mortar to grind spices, herbs, and medications into a powder.
The two tools use a rolling and pounding motion to produce a uniform texture.
Also, the technique allows precise control for various grinds, from delicate Turkish coffee to French press coarser.
#4. A Knife
You can use a knife to grind beans. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that you must utilize the blade’s flat instead of the edge.
Using a chef’s knife or butcher knife is a good idea because its blade is relatively stiffer and broader, making it easier to crush and crack the beans.
If you want a medium-fine or medium grind, look no further than this method since it allows better control using the blade’s flat.
#5. A Rolling Pin
The traditional rolling pin can crush and ground beans simultaneously, producing a consistent texture and a better grind than other methods.
Nevertheless, using this tool will take a little work, and you must monitor for consistency.
This technique may provide a grind between medium and delicate, perfect for pour-over or drip brewing if performed correctly.
#6. A Food Processor
You can’t go wrong with a food processor if you are looking for a better tool than a blender or spice grinder.
This device will deliver more consistency and power when mentioning your ground beans’ particle size.
Moreover, it’s simple to use a food processor. All you need to do is add the whole beans to the tool and start the pulsing setting.
With this device, you can make the coffee grinds a more consistent size. Generally, it can create a coarser grind size than other tools.
You can watch this tutorial to grind whole beans with this tool:
In A Nutshell
Can you brew whole coffee beans? Yes! If you want a brew that is less acidic and harsh with a distinct taste and flavor, you can make coffee with whole beans.
However, it’s worth noting that this brewing method will require much effort and time compared to standard techniques.
Try our above methods to brew whole-bean coffee and share your experience with us. Thanks for reading!