The Ins and Outs of Buying Green Coffee

If you’ve ever walked into a coffee shop and seen a barrel full of confusingly green beans, you may have wondered to yourself, “Is that really coffee?”—but the answer is yes! While these beans don’t look like your favorite dark roast, this green coffee is worth exploring. For those who’ve always wanted to roast your own coffee, this all-you-can-learn guide to green beans is for you.

What is Green Coffee? 

Green coffee is the official term for coffee beans that have yet to be roasted. The name comes from the fact that raw coffee beans are filled with chloroplast as they grow, giving them a naturally pale green hue. Green beans have higher levels of chlorogenic acid, which fade away during the roasting process. Most consumers buy green coffee in batches for at-home or café use. 

Why Do People Buy Green Coffee? 

Most people buying green, unroasted beans from companies like ours have one goal: to roast each batch exactly to their liking. Whether roasting is a hobby picked up in the pandemic or they’re looking to supply their new café with a unique blend, green coffee is the perfect blank canvas. Taking the extra time to roast green beans allows you to create unique flavor combinations and have control over every detail.

Green coffee beans also have a bit of a longer lifespan than their roasted companions, most of which must be enjoyed within a couple of weeks. Green beans, on the other hand, can last up to 12 months if properly stored in a dark and cool environment. If you want to buy in bulk and avoid your beans going bad before you can enjoy them, save your money and invest in green beans.

What Are the Benefits of Consuming Green Coffee? 

Many people buy unroasted coffee to experience one or more of its countless benefits. Whether you’re brewing green beans as is (something that should be attempted with caution) or making green coffee essences as a vitamin supplement, adding these unroasted beans into your daily routine could change your physical and mental health in a variety of ways, including:

• Supporting weight loss
• Lowering cholesterol
• Improving blood flow
• Reducing inflammation
• Regulating blood sugar
• Easing skin issues
• Increasing antioxidants

Are Green Coffee Beans Caffeinated?

Yes, the unroasted beans contain caffeine—though not nearly as much as a regular roasted batch. A cup of mild arabica green coffee contains around ¼ to ½ of the amount of caffeine in a traditional roasted bean. Once roasted, the beans reach their full caffeinated potential.

What Does Green Coffee Taste Like?

While most green coffee beans must be roasted to a light, medium, or dark level to be consumed, many people brew them as is. If you were to drink a cup of coffee from green, unroasted beans, the taste would be a mix between the cup of Joe you know and a lighter herbal tea. Try it out with your French press or pour-over system, and see for yourself! 

5 Factors to Consider When Shopping for Green Coffee

Dreaming about buying unroasted coffee is one thing—actually finding the right beans for you is another. As you shop around, make sure you understand these key elements and how they’ll affect the overall taste of your finished product:

• Bean size
• Country of origin
• Color
• Processing method
• Caffeination

1. Look at the Size of the Beans

Both roasted and unroasted beans are categorized by size using standardized screens ranging from 10, the smallest, and 20/64, the largest. All green coffee beans on the market should fall between the range of screen sizes 12 and 19. The country they were grown in and the varietals used affect the scale slightly, so know that not all beans are equal. 

At first glance, it may not seem like this size qualifier matters, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Size is a major signifier of the bean’s density, which can affect the nuances and layers of the flavor. Each size will require its own specific roasting requirements, making size consistency essential for each bag.  

Pro tip: if you’re able to see the beans in person before you buy, check to see how uniform the batch is. Uniform beans will roast more evenly during at-home methods, producing a consistent and balanced flavor in every cup. 

2. Choose a Country of Origin

Did you know the country where a bean is grown affects almost all of its characteristics? Acidity, body, and flavor profile can all be determined by the altitude and soil in the region in which a crop is grown. Though the roasting process is what lets these notes truly blossom, the differences are still very apparent in green coffee. Learn a bit about the flavor profile of each of our top-shelf green varietals to find one that suits your preferences:

Ethiopian Natural Sidamo Green Coffee

Indulge in beans from the birthplace of coffee itself with a high-quality green Ethiopian Sidamo coffee. Grown at 1,550 to 2,220 meters above sea level, naturally sun-dried, and famous for its distinct notes of florals, blueberry, and chocolate, this is one of the most popular regions from which to order unroasted beans. If you’re after a medium to heavy body and a uniquely dry taste, this is the bean for you.

Kenya Fancy Mark Green Coffee

If you’re searching for a rich and renowned cup of coffee, you’ll love a green Kenya Fancy Mark bean. Harvested from high mountains between 1,650 and 1,700 meters, this coffee is grown on small farms that produce nothing but the very best. When roasted, these beans unleash a creamy yet floral aroma, with notes of apple and citrus in every sip.

Colombia Supremo Green Coffee

Colombia produces a large portion of the world’s coffee—and when you taste a cup, you’ll see why! Planted between 1,300 to 1,650 meters above sea level, Supremo green beans are known for their medium body, smooth mouthfeel, and well-balanced flavor profile, making them the perfect crowd-pleasing choice. Once they’re roasted, you can enjoy the light cocoa notes and fresh green apple flavor.

Guatemala Antigua Green Coffee

If you’re looking for a well-loved coffee that will satisfy your and your loved ones' palates, look no further than the green Guatemala Antigua beans. It’s often said to grow in near-perfect conditions, at 1,400 to 1,700 meters above sea level in between two nutrient-rich twin volcanos. With an unbeatably balanced acidity and a complex flavor profile made up of smoky, spicy, flowery, and chocolatey notes, this elegant green coffee can be roasted at any level and tastes amazing. 

Costa Rica Tarrazu Green Coffee 

Costa Rican green coffee is the best choice for those concerned with coffee-based sustainability and unmatched quality. Planted and harvested between 1,200 and 1,700 meters above sea level in nutrient-heavy soil, every crop produces a distinct and intense flavor profile and silky finish that can’t be found anywhere else. If you’re searching for an unroasted bean with one-of-a-kind notes, you’ll love the combination of honey, French bread, plum, and cherries found in each brew. 

Mexico Altura Green Coffee

Farms that grow the green Mexico Altura coffee can be found at a variety of altitudes, meaning each one could have a slightly different flavor, from the lowest crop at 900 meters to the highest of 1,800 meters above sea level. Though we roast a rich, dark roast version of this bean, it makes a wonderful light roast as well. Experience the bright and floral aroma and the cocoa notes with every roasted batch.

Tanzania Highland Peaberry Green Coffee

Mount Kilimanjaro is good for more than life-changing hikes—did you know it produces one of the most delicious green coffee beans on the market? Our green Tanzania Highland Peaberry beans face difficulties depending on the climate that year, making each crop a little miracle. With notes of tobacco, black tea, chocolate, and fruits, we recommend a darker roast, but when it comes to such a layered, unroasted bean, any level will do just fine.

Vietnam Robusta Green Coffee

Most countries are known for producing high-quality arabica beans, but if you’re looking for the best green robusta around, you have to try Vietnam green coffee. Grown at low altitudes of 500 to 800 meters above sea level, this extra-caffeinated bean is often used in espresso blends of very dark roasts. If you prefer a heavy body, smooth feel, and chocolate peanut butter cookie flavors, this one-of-a-kind unroasted bean is for you. 

3. Pay Attention to the Color of Unroasted Coffee

It’s not referred to as “green” coffee for nothing—the color of a bag of unroasted beans can tell you all you need to know about your potential purchase. Acceptable colors can vary from gray-blue, green-gray, or brownish-green, but the fresher batches tend to be a lighter green hue. If you find beans with discoloration, fading, or a dull look, this could indicate an inferior or old crop.   

Pro tip: beans with a brownish tint are considered low quality, as it’s an indicator that they may have been burnt during processing. No one wants those flavors when they make their iced coffee!

4. Inquire About the Processing 

The way an unroasted bean is processed after being picked can affect the flavors and aromas of the final product. As you shop, pay close attention to the processing information on each label to get the unroasted beans you want: 

Washed: this popular method removes the outer skin, pulp, and mucilage from the cherries using water, a process that leads to intense profiles and precise fruity notes.

Semi-washed: also called the honey process, this method combines both natural and wet, leaving some of the pulp attached to the bean as it dries in the sun. This results in a honey-like sweet profile.

Naturally processed: the oldest processing method is achieved by leaving the coffee fruit on the bean and drying each batch in direct sunlight. What’s left is a lightly sweet and fruity aftertaste.

5. Caffeinated vs. Decaffeinated

The final factor to consider as you buy your beans is your desired level of caffeination. Green coffee is naturally less caffeinated than roasted beans, but sipping a cup will still give you a bit of energy. If you’re looking for a decaf green bean, you’re in luck! With a unique taste profile ranging anywhere from dried peaches and tobacco to licorice and brown sugar and more, a decaffeinated unroasted bean offers unlimited possibilities. 

Can You Decaffeinate Green Coffee?

If you want to try roasting coffee at home but can’t handle the caffeine, you can always buy decaffeinated unroasted beans. The best way to remove the caffeine from unroasted beans is the Swiss Water process—which, believe it or not, can be done at home! But you can always buy a bag of decaffeinated green coffee from us and save yourself a step.

Step-by-Step Guide to Roasting Green Coffee in Your Oven 

Whether you’re experimenting with a few batches for your own enjoyment or looking to create a house blend for your brand-new coffee shop, you’ll soon find that roasting your own beans is both fun and simple. Just follow these steps: 

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Step 2: Spread a single layer of green coffee beans onto a baking sheet, shaking and tapping it to spread them evenly.

Step 3: Using a wooden spoon, make a hole in the center to help the batch roast more consistently.

Step 4: Place the sheet in the middle rack of the oven and monitor, stirring occasionally if needed. Remember, the longer you leave the beans in, the darker the roast will become.

Step 5: About 6 to 8 minutes in, you’ll hear a loud popping sound—don’t worry! This is referred to as the “first crack,” a sign that your batch is now lightly roasted. The second crack, which tells you the beans have hit a medium-level roast, is more of a soft, crackling sound. A little longer, and you’ll have a dark roast!

Step 6: Once they’ve turned your desired shade of brown, take them out of the oven and place them in a heat-safe bowl for cooling.

Step 7: Once they’re cool, gently shake the bowl to remove the chaff outer layer, grind them to your desired consistency, and enjoy!

There’s nothing quite like roasting your own coffee—and all of it starts with selecting the perfect green beans. With a little research and background information on each type, you’ll become a green coffee pro in no time.