If you are reading this article, you may be in love with the lovely taste of cappuccino just like us. Yet, you may think that you can only rely on a professional barista for a cappuccino drink. The good news is that you can enjoy the wonderful combination between the strong kick of espresso and the creaminess of milk at the comfort of your home with the best cappuccino coffee beans and a good recipe.
The right coffee beans play the most important part in the success or the failure of your homemade cappuccino. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the world of coffee beans and discover some of the best selections for your favorite cappuccino.
Cappuccino: An Overview
Cappuccino is essentially an espresso-based drink consisting of one layer of an espresso shot, one layer of steamed milk, and one layer of foam milk on the top. This construction gives this coffee drink a velvety texture with a sweet and decadent taste that many people love.
With the description above, people may be confused between cappuccino and latte. Both drinks have espresso, milk foam, and milk steam. However, the distinction is quite clear. In a cappuccino, these three components have an equal ratio. Yet, in a latte, steam milk is the dominant ingredient. Thus, while the milk and the coffee in a latte are mixed, these components would come in separate layers in a cappuccino.
Although the three layers of ingredients in the traditional cappuccino are equal, this ratio can vary in the more modern version of this drink. If you want to have a lighter cappuccino with more milk, you can go for a cappuccino Chiaro. Meanwhile, if you look for a stronger coffee taste, cappuccino scuro is the way to go. Another popular variation is cappuccino freddo that serves the traditional cappuccino over ice.
Now that you know about this drink, as you may imagine, without the fancy art on every store-bought cappuccino, you can make this drink at home with milk and coffee. All you have to do is prepare espresso, milk, and foam in equal amounts, compose your espresso with these ingredients and enjoy. Here is a video on how to make a cappuccino at home with absolutely no machine required for your reference:
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Best Cappuccino Coffee Beans – Quick Comparison
1. Door County Coffee, Vanilla Cappuccino, Vanilla, and Cream Flavored Coffee
If you like a cappuccino that has a vanilla flavor, you will love this deliciously creamy and smooth vanilla ground coffee. These beans belong to the medium roast kind that has a balanced flavor between the original coffee beans and the roasting process.
According to the manufacturer of this brand, the high-quality Arabica coffee beans made for this blend are roasted in small batches following the traditional style. Therefore, the coffee beans are all guaranteed to be roasted carefully and evenly, bringing out the best flavor from these medium-roasted beans. Hence, Door County Coffee can retain both the coffee beans’ natural flavor and the added sweetness from roasting.
Thus, these beans make decaf coffee-based for your cappuccino. Hence, if you are trying to refrain from caffeinated drinks, this is the perfect option for you. Thus, you would love Door County coffee grounds if you are a fan of flavored coffee beans. The vanilla flavor will undoubtedly go seamlessly and wonderfully with the milk layer of your cappuccino, giving your homemade cappuccino a fuller body and a richer taste. If you are sold on this flavor profile, you should give this option a chance.
2. Death Wish Coffee Whole Bean Coffee
This dark-roasted ground coffee is made from the selection of both Robusta and Arabica beans. The roasting process adds the intense flavor of chocolate and cherry to this coffee. Hence, these beans will make strong and rich coffee with a distinct flavor. If you prefer stronger coffee and a stronger base for your cappuccino, this is the ideal option for you.
The strong taste of this selection makes one of the best cappuccinos because the addition of milk can balance and elevate the original flavor of this coffee. The sweetness and creaminess of milk will add more depth to the coffee and make all flavors more distinctive. Thus, your cappuccino will have a chocolaty scent and aftertaste, which can be indulgent and addictive if you like chocolate flavor in coffee drinks.
The brand also promises a refund if the coffee is not to your liking so you should definitely give this one a try.
3. Verena Street 2 Pound Espresso Beans
This brand is famous for the rich and velvety coffee that has a robust body and lingering finish. The Arabica beans can be ground finely or coarsely, allowing you to customize your coffee to your liking. These beans will always make smooth and flavorful espresso shots that give a good base for your cappuccino.
This coffee is roasted in small batches and maintained in limited quantities to guarantee that it stays fresh and does not taste bitter. This selection is dark roasts, which means that the espresso will have a strong yet chocolaty and nutty taste due to the longer roasting process. Since these flavors go well with milk, adding heated milk to this espresso will only add to the allure and sweetness of the drink.
These coffee beans make one of the best low-acid coffees that are good for coffee drinkers that look for decaf options. So, if you have an upset stomach and are sensitive to the level of acidity of coffee, this option is the way to go. Thus, if you suffer from heartburn, this is a great low-acid blend to consume without causing you any difficulty.
One thing to notice is that the beans have a lot of oil in them. While the oil may appear to be a sign of freshness, it can clog your espresso machine’s grinder. Hence, if you want to avoid the extra cleaning, you might want to look at the other options on this list.
4. Lavazza Gran Espresso Whole Bean Coffee Blend
Lavazza has been a household name among Italian coffee drinkers for many years. This brand is famous for their whole beans that have cocoa and pepper undertones for an extra kick, and this flavor profile is consistent throughout their selection.
The blend is made of both Arabica and Robusta beans. Hence, the coffee will be either too mild or too strong. Thus, this medium-roasted option is ideal for your cappuccino because the medium roast will not bring an intense and bitter flavor to your coffee Additionally, the roasting process will give this coffee a caramelized aftertaste that goes perfectly with the creaminess of milk
These coffee beans are combined with crema to make smooth espresso shots. Thus, the beans do not contain a high amount of oil; so, they will grind easily and will not clog your coffee maker. However, the lack of oil will mean that these beans make dryer coffee. Hence, if you don’t like dry coffee, this blend will not work for you.
5. Starbucks Espresso Dark Roast Whole Bean Coffee
These beans belong to the affordable range. They can give your coffee a rich and full-body, as well as a strong coffee scent when being mixed with milk.
This blend was created specifically for steamed milk by Starbucks, which makes it a perfect option for your homemade cappuccino. These beans are dark roasted beans. The original flavor of the coffee beans will be dominated by the flavor of the roasting process. Yet, fans of nutty and caramel-flavored coffee will be in love with this blend.
As implied by its longer roasting process, the flavor profile of these beans contains hints of caramelized sugar and molasses, according to the manufacturer’s description, which will give you a slightly sweet taste. Thanks to these sweeter notes, you can rest assured that your coffee will never be too bitter.
Thus, since this blend is not too acidic or bitter, it makes a perfect option if you are looking for a milder-tasting coffee. However, this coffee may be too weak if you are used to stronger and more caffeinated coffee.
You can choose to grind the beans to your liking. Yet, for the best cappuccino, it is recommended that you grind the beans finely before brewing your espresso. Finely ground coffee will allow the water to go through the coffee beans faster and extract all flavors more effectively. In this way, you can prepare the best espresso for your cappuccino.
Conclusion
Now you know the 5 best cappuccino coffee beans for your homemade cappuccino. Try them out and decide which one is your favorite. Thus, don’t let the look of a regular cup cappuccino discourage you from making this drink at home. Just get the right espresso base and add milk in the right way. You will be surprised that your cappuccino is not much different than that of a professional barista.