How to make Coffee Beans more oily/sparkly

by Teru
(Tokyo)

The dark roasted coffee beans are the ones on the right.

QUESTION:

I have a Miele coffee machine at home and I make my coffee at home with whole beans. For some reason, I seem to taste and feel the effects of the coffee much better, when the beans that I use are extra oily ( Almost sparkly).

Lately my coffee beans have been sort of dry, and for some reason I'm just not feeling what I'm supposed to feel. I've been looking for ways to turn my coffee beans more oily, leaving them in sunlight etc. None seems to be working specifically well. So I wanted to ask a professionals advice on this matter, how can I turn the beans oily?

Please don't say that oil doesn't matter and that it is a psychological thing, because I'm fine with that. Whatever it is I would just like some extra oily beans.


ANSWER:

Teru, hi

The appearance of your coffee beans is determined by how they are roasted.

Light roasted beans have a light brown appearance and are totally dry to the touch. Medium roasted beans look darker, but still have a dry surface.

It’s only the dark roasted beans that have that oily or “sparkly” appearance. The dark roasting pushed oils out to the surface of the bean.

The level of roasting also impacts the taste and caffeine level of the beans. So that’s why you are noticing a difference in how you feel after drinking your coffee.

If you always want the oily beans, seek out dark roasted beans. It’s as simple as that.

Once you get back on track with the dark roasted beans, you can experiment a little by trying beans from different regions.

I hope this helps a little.

Best wishes,

Nick

Before you go, sign up to receive the Coffee Detective Newsletter...

Sign up for occasional newsletters about the best coffees and brewing equipment. Plus special updates from the Coffee Detective Coffee Store…