Why are whole coffee beans usually more expensive than ground coffee?
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “what to do with whole coffee beans“
Why are whole coffee beans usually more expensive than ground coffee?
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “what to do with whole coffee beans“
Coffee beans often cost more than ground coffee for one simple reason: it is better coffee. Whole grain coffees tend to come from better crops and to be roasted more recently than pre-ground selections. In short, coffee beans make a better cup of coffee – and the difference is worth paying. Here is an overview of the specific factors that contribute to the rise in whole bean prices.
You Need Great Beans for Whole Bean Coffees
Whole bean coffees come from better batches because it is impossible to hide the negative qualities in a bag of whole bean coffee. Much of the aromas and flavors of coffee are released when it is ground. As a result, customers who buy coffee beans online and brew them at home will notice the nuanced qualities of the coffee, whether good or bad.
Because roasters who only offer whole bean coffee must use the highest quality beans, they must pay a premium for the coffee they roast. As with any business, this cost must be passed on to the consumer if the business is to remain financially viable.
You Can Only Sell Coffee Only When Selling Whole Bean Coffee
While it may seem redundant to say that you can only sell coffee when you send customers whole-grain selections, it is true. Many reputable roasters who sell pre-ground coffee only fill their bags with coffee grounds, but some companies are known to include charges to reduce their expenses.
Customers can see all the impurities in whole grains, but it’s not always easy to tell if there are fillers other than coffee in pre-ground bags and boxes.
You Need to Ship Whole Bean Coffee Quickly
Finally, there is a logistical consideration when selling freshly roasted whole-grain coffee. Coffee only stays fresh for two, maybe three weeks after roasting, and customers need to receive it in time to enjoy coffee at its peak.
I’m sorry but that’s not true at all, in fact I sell my whole beans cheaper then ground/fractional. Grinding my coffee beans requires an aditonal step to the packaging process. Which means more labor so the price goes up.
Coffee should not be used (to make a drink of coffee) that has been ground more than 10 minutes – preferably 5 minutes
So buying already ground coffee – could be anything
Perhaps compost for your garden or worm farm
This is a textbook case of price discrimination . The coffee producer knows that there are some people out there who just want a cup of coffee, and there are others who fancy themselves connoisseurs and want only the most perfect cup. How can he get more money out of the second group?
The producer observes that the most obsessive coffee drinkers buy their coffee beans green and roast them at home, a slightly less demanding consumer buys whole beans and grinds them (because as Jessica says, the whole beans are arguably fresher), and the least discerning customer buys ground up Folgers. Thus, the producer can make the most profit by charging the most for green beans, less for whole beans, and the least for ground coffee (even though his cost to produce these tracks in the opposite direction).
The answer to any begging question as to “why is xxx more expensive than yyy”? It is because the market will bear the higher price. People will pay. Econ 101.
Eight O’Clock
Ask it the other way. Why are expensive coffees shipped whole bean?
One very big reason is that for espresso on a commercial grinder and machine, the grind has to be set for the weather conditions. Even though every machine should have about 9 bar of pressure, no factory could pre-grind and get the setting right for your environmental and machine questions.
There is also a perception that whole bean is some how better/fresher than ground. I have never found this to be true. Fresh-roasted means something. Fresh ground does not. The coffee I use, Illycaffe, comes whole bean or ground, and I find no discernable difference.
Coffee sold pre-ground for low prices is not the same as coffee sold as whole beans for high prices.
Expensive, high-end coffee (such as Stumptown or Blue Bottle) is usually sold as whole beans because people who are willing to pay for high-end coffee value the qualities obtained from not grinding the beans until just before use.
It is sometimes the case that the same coffee is sold both ground and as whole beans (your local grocery store probably has many examples). In this situation, there’s usually no difference in price.
Coffee sold pre-ground in large quantities (such as Folgers or Maxwell House) is made from inexpensive, lower-quality beans because people who buy it value the convenience of pre-ground coffee more than the flavor and textural benefits of coffee ground just before use.
Coffee beans are probably more expensive than grounds because you are getting an arguably fresher product…
Coffee grounds have a greater surface area and the oils & flavor degrade more quickly when it is exposed to air. That is why ground coffee seems to go ‘stale’ pretty easily. With the coffee bean there is less surface area so the degradation is slower.
So it is typically best to purchase whole beans because the flavor lasts longer.
Victor Allen’s
Usually I find this depends on the type of bean and the roaster where they’re from. I have bought more expensive coffee ground for filter from a foreign speciality roastery and cheaper whole beans from a local speciality roaster. I find better drinking results when coffee is bought as wholebean and then ground at home so I tend to do that. Hope that helps!
Pre-Ground Coffee Can Contain Corn, Soybeans, Twigs, Dirt
Many of the most powerful coffee flavors come from the roasting process, and a lot of other cheaper plants get similar flavors when roasted. I have even seen roasted barley being sold as a “nutritious” coffee substitute. I can easily see ground coffee manufacturers adding some “fillers” to “improve” their product.
That would not work in whole beans as coffee beans have a pretty unique appearance.