Flavored Coffee Beans and Technology

The secret to great tasting flavored coffee beans is the technology used during processing. In order to enhance the beans natural flavor,The secret to great tasting flavored coffee beans is the technology used during processing. In order to enhance the beans natural flavor, the beans are coated with natural flavored oils. These oils help disguise changes that may affect the beans after processes such as oxidation, decaffeination, and aging.

The coffee boom in the 1990’s had a great impact on the types of flavors processed by companies. Consumers started craving a taste for more variety and exotic flavors, not just the natural taste of the coffee bean. Currently coffee beans can be produced in almost every flavor from Hazelnut Cream to Burnt Pecan.

In general the type of bean used to make flavored coffee makes the biggest difference in the overall taste.  Arabica beans are the most popular because they are less bitter and have lower acidity levels. Many processors use a blend of beans from different regions such as Costa Rica, Mexico, Columbia, and Guatemala.

Flavoring oils are created by combining natural and artificial flavor chemicals.  The natural oil is created by extracting the flavor from sources like the vanilla bean, cocoa bean, and different types of nuts and berries, and spices like Cinnamon and Clove.  People who previously disliked the flavor of coffee are now enjoying a cup of Java each day. The most popular flavors are mild and creamy which cover up the harsher natural coffee taste.

There are two methods used to process the beans themselves. The dry method, which allows the beans to dry naturally on the plant, or roasting which involves cooking raw green beans at different temperatures which determine the amount of flavor, from  light to robust. Typically there are five types of coffee roasts: American which is use light to medium beans, Viennese which is a bit darker than the American roast, Italian produces a bittersweet, dark coffee, French Dark a smoky roasted flavor from very dark, dark, beans, and Espresso Black the darkest  and strongest of them all

New technology is being developed yearly that will improve the quality and simplify the processes for producing flavored coffee beans.  As the roasting and sorting processes improve, more innovative flavors will arise to please our growing demand to please our taste buds.