How to Choose Coffee Beans for a Bean-to-Cup Machine at Home

Start with the drink you actually make most often. A bean that suits a short black coffee is not automatically the bean you will enjoy most in a large milk drink, and the most expensive bag is not automatically the best match for your machine or taste.

1. Decide what you normally drink

If most of your drinks are espresso or Americano, you may want a coffee whose character still comes through clearly without milk. If cappuccino, latte or flat-white style drinks dominate, think about how the coffee tastes once milk is added rather than judging the bean only as a straight espresso.

2. Treat roast description as a starting point, not a rule

Roast style can give you a broad clue about flavour, but grinder setting, dose, water, drink size and the machine itself all change the cup. Make one change at a time so you can tell what actually improved it.

3. Keep beans fresh and the hopper sensible

A large hopper is not a reason to fill it to the top if the coffee will sit there for a long time. Buy and load an amount that suits your real consumption, store the rest appropriately and follow the machine manufacturer's guidance.

4. Use the grinder adjustment carefully

If your machine allows grinder adjustment, follow its instructions rather than making large changes at random. Different machines have different adjustment procedures and changing grind while the grinder is stationary can be unsuitable on some equipment.

5. Try a small comparison

Choose two or three coffees, keep the drink recipe broadly consistent and decide which you actually prefer. That is more useful than chasing somebody else's idea of the 'correct' bean.

You can browse our coffee beans, explore drink ideas, or use the Café Perfection Solution Builder if you are planning a wider home setup.