The only thing better than sitting at a café, luxuriously sipping on your favorite locally crafted latte, is saving money and making it from the comfort of your own home. To become a stay-at-home barista, you must start by finding an espresso bean that suits your unique taste buds. With a little advice, experimentation, and our expert recommendations, you can find your ideal latte coffee beans in no time! What is a Latte? Prized for its smooth mouthfeel and simple, delicious flavor, a latte is a milk-based espresso drink made up of shots of espresso, steamed milk, and a thin top layer of foamed milk. A latte can be curated to suit anyone’s taste preferences with additives like alternative milks, flavored syrups, or sugar. If someone wants a chilled drink, the latte is served over ice and without foam. Consider These Qualities of a Good Latte Coffee Bean Finding the best latte coffee bean for your espresso brewing can take a lot of taste testing—but that’s the fun! When shopping for beans, pay attention to these essential qualities: Roast level Acidity level Body and mouth feel Flavor profile Type of Roast Level Roast is the main deciding factor for any kind of brew method, but it’s especially important when it comes to latte coffee beans. As the espresso makes up the minority of the drink, the bean you choose has to be roasted at just the right level so you can still taste the top notes through the milk. Light roasts are known for their bright acidity and gentle body, medium roasts are prized for being mellow and middle-of-the-road, and dark roasts are notoriously strong and bold. Most people claim that medium to dark beans are best for espresso drinks, but it’s up to personal preference. Level of Acidity Acidity is an element that often turns people away from liking specific beans. If you’ve ever wondered if your coffee was too acidic, search for a latte coffee bean that boasts a low acidity. If you adore the biting tang of an acidic roast, lean into that with your bean choice! Well-Balanced Body and Mouth Feel Latte coffee beans should always have a balanced and full body and mouth feel. For the shot of espresso to hold its own against the milk in the drink, each shot should have a strong feel on your tongue. The body also affects how frothy your shot’s crema is, which can be the deciding factor for many espresso lovers. Complex Flavor Profile Latte coffee beans require a strong flavor profile, so the intricate top notes and aromas aren’t completely diluted when added to milk. The flavors of espresso roasts can depend on the variety of beans used, but there’s a perfect flavor profile for everyone! Common Flavors Notes in Latte Coffee Beans: As you shop, search for these coffee descriptive words to get a good idea of what the roast will taste like in your lattes: Caramel Dark chocolate Vanilla Citrus Berry Robusta vs. Arabica Beans If you’re looking for a smooth, soft, and clean-tasting espresso, you should stick to a 100% arabica bag. While robusta does have slightly more caffeine than the classic arabica bean, the flavor is often less refined and rarely used for espresso on its own. Many people believe that a blend is the best coffee bean for lattes since it’s known to produce the best crema. Our 3 Favorite Coffee Beans to Make Lattes Even after you learn the most important factors for a quality espresso bean, choosing a bag can feel overwhelming. To soothe any worries, we’ve gathered an easy-to-follow list of our three favorite latte coffee beans for you to try at home: 1. Knee Buckling Espresso If you’re searching for a traditional, dark-roast latte coffee bean, look no further: our Knee Buckling Espresso is the choice for you. Each bag is made with a blend of five different delicious arabica beans, resulting in a velvety smooth espresso that offers a powerful punch of flavor in every shot. Get your jolt of morning caffeine with this bold and strong espresso option, and start your day off right. 2. The Perfect Espresso It’s just like the name implies—this really is The Perfect Espresso. With a multi-dimensional flavor and six components, this complex, medium-roast blend is perfect for making crowd-pleasing lattes. Pull shot after shot and see that fresh, thick crema for yourself! 3. Certified Rainforest Espresso Certified coffee is good for the people, the planet, and your at-home coffee bar. With our medium-roasted Rainforest Espresso, you can rest easy knowing every bean in the bag was grown, cultivated, and sold in safe and ethical ways. Not to mention how much you’ll adore the smooth, versatile flavor in each of your espresso drinks. Are There Good Decaf Latte Beans? Lattes, just like almost any other type of coffee, can be made decaf. When you’re shopping, keep an eye out for decaf espresso-specific beans or inquire about regular decaf beans that may do the job. Then, make the latte like normal! If you crave the smooth and powerful taste of espresso without the hit of caffeine, there’s a solution for your woes! Our Espresso Decaffeinato blend champions the rich taste of your favorite robusta and arabica beans with a twist! Thanks to our high-quality decaffeination processes, you can enjoy each shot on its own or in a drink without staying up late into the night. Can You Use Non-Espresso Beans for Lattes? As long as you use the correct fine grind, you can use any type of coffee bean to make a latte. But just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Be warned that regular beans can result in a weaker espresso shot and lack the signature crema latte lovers adore. Experiment however you want, but keep that important detail in mind as you shop for your latte coffee beans! Finding the perfect espresso is easy when you break it down, quality by quality. Grab a bag of latte-friendly coffee beans for yourself and wow your friends and family with your café-worthy beverages!
