There are so many types of coffee available and depending on the sort of taste you require, finding the right coffee can sometimes be difficult. As well as the type of coffee bean used there are a number of other factors that affect how coffee tastes, such as where the coffee is grown and how it is dried and processed, including its roasting.

If you buy coffee that is single origin, it means that the coffee has come from one geographical region. This may be one farm or specific beans from one country such as Brazil which is the world`s biggest coffee producer. Blends are those that may include a number of different types of beans to produce a specific flavour.

When green coffee beans are roasted, the colour that they are roasted to affects their flavour. When selecting beans the rule of thumb is to remember that the lighter the colour (or the roast) the `weaker` the coffee will tend to be. Roasts vary from light to espresso with medium roast tending to offer all of the flavour potential of the coffee. Dark roasts are also popular.

There are actually more than six thousand types of coffee bean around the world, but only around twenty five of these are considered major varieties. From these twenty five, Arabica, Robusta and Kona are the main three of commercial interest.

Arabica will usually be aromatic, smooth and is considered to be the best quality coffee. It has many flavours available and a popular type of Arabica coffee is Columbian, which tends to be rich and heavy bodied with a strong aroma. Another popular variety of Arabica is Kenyan. This is also strong and has a bold and balanced flavour. If you like Kenyan because of its complex flavours then do try Ethiopian or Sumatran. Jamaican Blue Mountain is very similar, but as the most expensive coffee in the world you may wish to try a Blue Mountain blend.

The Caneohira or Robusta accounts for around 40% of the world`s coffee production and the bean itself takes less time to grow and has around twice the caffeine content of Arabica. Because the flavour of Robusta varies little it is easy to blend with other coffees and it is usually the Robusta that gives the `kick` in coffee as well as helping produce the `crema` on espressos.

Kona tends to be more expensive that Arabica and Robusta but is still desirable because of its strong aroma.

Do spend time trying different coffees as this will help you to find what type of beans and roast you prefer and whichever coffee ticks the flavour boxes for you, then bean to cup coffee machines will ensure that this flavour always moves from the bean to the cup.