Whether you’ve woken up with a spring in your step or on the wrong side of the bed, the best part of any morning routine is the delicious cup of coffee. The only thing that could make that first sip even better? Switching out your average beans for a flavored coffee. If you’re tired of the same old bag of beans from your local supermarket, it’s time to give your coffee bar a refresher and switch to a flavored bean. With so many different options, there’s something for every palate. Find all your burning questions answered and follow a few easy steps to pick out your first bag of flavored coffee today. What is Flavored Coffee? Flavored coffee is a roast that’s had additional flavorings added on top of the natural notes to transform the final flavor profile of the bean. Every varietal of beans has its own naturally occurring taste, whether it be the fruity tones of Geisha or the chocolate feel of Typica, but flavored beans take those tastes one step further by changing the overall flavor during the roasting process. This is not the same thing as someone adding flavored sweeteners to their cup of Joe—though there’s always a time and place for that, as well! People Everywhere Are Loving Flavored Coffee If you’re a coffee lover looking to add a little fun to your caffeination station, flavored beans are a must. Though there will always be room in our hearts for a robust dark roast or zesty light roast, sometimes, nothing is more exhilarating than smelling the tasty aromas of a flavored roast. Enjoy the same chocolate hazelnut bean day after day, or wait with anticipation for festive seasonal flavors—the choice is yours. Many people adore flavored coffee as it tends to be safe for allergies—a surprising fact if you’ve ever seen the names on some bags. Something pastry-inspired, for instance, only uses the essence of that delicious dessert, making it safe for those with gluten sensitives. While this isn’t true in all cases (and you should always inquire about specific allergies with the roastery), it is a pleasant surprise when you can still enjoy the flavorful brew! How are Coffee Beans Flavored? Roasting flavored coffee beans is a much more involved (and sugar-free!) process than adding syrups after brewing. The best brands will only use naturally extracted flavors, adding them to the beans in one of three ways: Roasting with Flavor Oils One of the most popular and potent ways for roasters to flavor beans is with specially curated oils to mimic certain tastes, such as chocolate or raspberry. The oils are slowly sprayed onto the beans in a pot during a crucial step of the roasting process. They must be continuously mixed to ensure the desired flavors are evenly distributed in each batch. Adding Dry Flavorings The dry flavoring method is accomplished by adding flavorful powders into each pot of beans. They are then mixed, tossed, and evenly spread to give every bag of beans the desired flavor strength. This method results in a much drier bean, which can be preferred for big-batch brewing. The Original Direct Flavoring Method Flavored coffee has been around for hundreds of years, with early examples found in Yemen and Ethiopia. There, people would add special spices, herbs, and other whole dried pieces to the already roasted coffee beans before grinding. This practice is still found around the world, and those result in a light, pleasant aroma and less intense taste compared to artificially flavored beans. Flavored Coffee vs. Coffee Flavors One of the biggest mix-ups when first learning about the world of specialty coffee is thinking that flavored coffee and the naturally occurring flavor notes from coffee are interchangeable. It can be confusing to see descriptive coffee words like chocolate, vanilla, and cherry on a nonflavored bag of beans, but those are just potential tasting notes of a natural coffee bean. Flavored coffee will always have a flavor-inspired name and feature added flavorings. How to Choose the Right Flavored Coffee for You in 5 Steps Whether you brew with a pour-over or make a powerful 24-hour cold brew, you can experience the joys of sipping flavored coffee. But, with so many delicious tastes out there, where do you start? Follow these simple steps to determine which flavored bean is right for you: Step 1: Find a Type of Bean You Love When it comes to coffee, quality matters before all else. As you start shopping, make sure to choose a high-quality 100% arabica bean or trustworthy blend. There are countless varieties of arabica beans to choose from, each featuring different notes such as fruity, floral, or chocolatey. If you prefer a slightly bolder and surprisingly more caffeinated bean, robusta is for you. Step 2: Pick a Roast The first step for finding any type of coffee, whether it be your next favorite decaffeinated espresso blend or a uniquely flavored bean, is understanding what level of roast you like best. Light roasts tend to be bright, acidic, and clean tasting, while dark roasts are known to be bold, smooth, and bitter. If you like somewhere in between, stick to a medium! What is the Best Roast for Flavored Coffee Beans? Medium roasted beans are the ideal choice for a flavored coffee as the soft, palatable feel allows for added flavors to shine with each sip. Of course, everyone’s preferred taste profiles are different, so it’s worth debating light and dark roast beans as well. Step 3: Discover the Different Flavor Options Once you’ve determined your ideal bean, it’s time for the fun part: searching for an irresistible flavor. Stick to the classics like vanilla or hazelnut, or dare to adventure with complex dessert blends—the choice is yours. Luckily, we’ve created enough delicious, flavored beans that there’s something for everyone. Check out the options in these three categories to find one that makes your mouth water: Dessert-Inspired Flavored Coffee The only thing better than digging into your favorite dessert? Tasting the flavorful essence in your coffee every morning. Take a look at these amazing blends: Southern Pecan: reminiscent of that soothing Southern hospitality, enjoy that buttery and nutty pecan flavor with every brew. Crème Brulee: made to replicate the decadent and silky flavors of the French dessert, the caramel and vanilla notes are a luxurious choice. Blueberry Cobbler: unique, fruity, and classicly country, this flavored bean blends juicy berry flavors with a hint of sweet spice for an unforgettable bean. Chocolate Raspberry Truffle: made to mimic the flavors of an elegant bonbon dessert, this flavored coffee is the perfect balance of creamy cocoa and fresh raspberry. Dulce de Leche: inspired by the delicious, sweet topping, milky caramel bean is the best way to make every cup a treat. Ginger Bread: enjoy the festive flavor of the holidays any time of year with this spicy molasses blend. Cinnamon Swirl: inspired by the delicious frosting swirl of a cinnamon roll, these sugary, spicy, and sweet flavors can wow anyone. Liquor-Inspired Flavored Coffee Whether you’re looking for a mixer for a St. Paddy’s Day brew or just love an extra aromatic scent in your flavored coffee, our liquor-inspired blends are for you: Abie’s Irish Cream: this customer favorite is the perfect blend of sweet vanilla, nutty chocolate, and Irish whiskey—without the alcohol, of course. Eggnog: with nutmeg and cream flavors added, this blend is the perfect, well-rounded cup, with or without the classic holiday spiking. Amaretto: rich, sweet, and fragrant, this Italian liquor-inspired blend features almond top notes sure to dazzle the senses. Classic Flavored Coffee There are no words that can describe the classic signature flavors of these traditional coffee beans—you’ll have to try them for yourself: Hazelnut Supreme French Vanilla Chocolate Hazelnut Chocolate Indulgence Caramel Nut Pumpkin Spice Vanilla Hazelnut Coconut Chocolate Raspberry Chocolate Almond Vanilla Almond Macadamia Nut Step 4: Select a Flavor Strength For some people, a fully flavored coffee bean is far too much. The best coffee brands will have adjustable flavor strengths for you to choose from at checkout, so you can make a coffee you love every time. If you prefer subtle notes, start by choosing a lighter-flavored option. For a featured but not overpowering flavor, stick with a regular or medium level. If you love a coffee that packs a powerful punch, choose a strong level. The choice is yours! Step 5: Pick Your Brew Method and Grind Level Flavored coffee can be made in essentially any type of coffee machine—as long as you know how to use it. Many passionate coffee snobs agree that pour-overs and Chemex are the best brew methods, as the slow drip process allows for more aromatic flavors to blossom, but drip, French press, and the others can all make a perfectly delectable cup. The most important thing to remember is to get your flavored coffee ground at the right size for your machine. If the grounds are too coarse, the brew will be weak, but if the grounds are too fine, you’ll end up with grounds in your coffee cup. Having the coffee shop or barista grind your beans for you will save you from having to do an extra cleaning on your machines at home, so make sure you know exactly what level to ask for to avoid grinding it wrong. Commonly Asked Questions About Flavored Coffee: Does Flavored Coffee Have Sugar? The short answer is no! Flavored beans are sugar-free, which can seem almost too good to be true. But that’s one of the many bonuses of enjoying a flavored coffee—all of the delicious notes you want, without any added sugars. Do You Have to Clean a Coffee Machine After Using Flavored Beans? Certain flavored beans, especially those roasted with oils, can leave behind an aromatic residue on your machine or at-home grinder. If you’re only using that brew method or burr grinder for that type of bean, there’s no need to clean your coffee machine any more than usual. But, if you also use it to brew unflavored roasts, you should clean it thoroughly between uses to avoid cross-contamination of flavors. Pro tip: in a pinch, you can always send a spare medium or dark roast through a grinder to help flush out any leftover grounds or oils. Can You Add Flavors to Your Coffee Beans at Home? If you want to experiment with your own flavors at home, you can add a few special flavorful elements to any spare bag of beans or grounds. While they won’t produce the same powerful tastes as a properly roasted flavored coffee, additions like these can add to a delicate flavor profile: Ground cinnamon Dried lavender Cocoa Pepper Nuts Fruit rinds Cardamom Cloves Can You Use a Flavored Coffee Bean for Espresso? Flavored beans are typically not recommended as a choice for at-home espresso, as the oils can clog the intricate machinery and create a lackluster shot. If you want to try incorporating your favorite flavored roast into your lattes and americanos, try mixing the grounds with an espresso roast. How is a Coffee Flavor Created? The process for creating the flavor oils and powders used in coffee is more scientific than one may think. The experts, called flavorists, start by pulling essences from chosen ingredients, such as vanilla beans, cocoa cherries, herbs, and more to create an extracted and distilled oil. The more complex beans, like our dessert inspired bags, are made up of multiple essences to create a unique flavor that mimics the name! Are There Decaf Flavored Coffee Beans? If you’re looking to cut back on your caffeine intake but can’t imagine giving up your favorite flavored beans, don’t worry! Many of our most beloved flavored coffees are available in decaf. Enjoy all the rich tastes of your favorite French Vanilla bean without the worry of being kept up all night! Whether you drink coconut coffee as your everyday pick-me-up or save a dessert-inspired roast for special occasions, one thing is always true: flavored coffee is designed to impress. Browse the wide selection of Stone Street flavored beans to fall in love with coffee today.
