Understanding Coffee Density
What is Coffee Density?
In the coffee industry, density refers to the coffee bean density, while coffee farmers may refer to it simply as the harvest ratio. It is a crucial factor for evaluating the quality of coffee beans. For coffee experts, density is recognized as an important measure for classifying beans and grading green coffee according to its quality. Beans that are harder and denser are highly valued, leading to higher prices.
When beans are the same size, coffee beans with higher density have more and more tightly packed compounds inside.
How to Measure Coffee Density
Because specialized equipment to measure coffee bean density in a laboratory is quite expensive, we will guide you on the simplest method to measure it in the field or at the roasting facility, providing a relative measurement.
VCU guides you on how to measure density as follows: Use a 1000ml tube, fill it with green coffee beans, and then weigh the beans inside the tube. The unit of measurement is grams per milliliter (g/ml).
An even simpler method involves weighing the beans directly. With the same weight of 1000 grams, the number of ripe cherries will be fewer than the number of unripe cherries. This indicates that when coffee ripens, the density is at its highest, which helps achieve better yield and ensures flavor quality after roasting and brewing.
We will guide you through this method in the following video:
What Affects the Coffee Density?
While not the only determining factor, altitude is often discussed as a key element. Roasters often care about whether the coffee is grown at higher elevations, as it is usually an indicator of denser beans. The cooler temperatures in higher mountainous regions, especially at night, slow down the ripening process of the coffee cherries. This longer time on the tree results in more cell growth inside the beans, increasing their density.
Other factors that influence density include cultivation practices, plant density, land slope, processing techniques, and storage conditions.
Robusta coffee beans generally have a lower density than Arabica beans because they are grown at lower altitudes and higher temperatures.
Benefits of High Density Coffee Beans
Beans with higher density indicate a dense cellular structure, providing several benefits:
- For green beans, higher density means the beans are harder and more solid. This allows them to absorb energy more easily, withstand pressure, and develop differently from softer, more porous beans.
- During roasting, heat is transferred more evenly and efficiently to the center of the denser beans compared to beans with lower density.
- The loss rate from green beans to roasted beans is lower, helping roasting companies and cafes save costs.
- High-density beans contribute to a fuller body, richer flavor, and a more pronounced crema.
- When brewing espresso, high-density beans create a thicker crema, and when ice melts, the flavor remains strong, with the crema still abundant. This enhances the customer’s overall enjoyment of the coffee.
Overall, coffee density is a complex subject that deserves more discussion. While it is not the only factor determining coffee quality, it is an important parameter that roasters monitor closely.
Currently, VCPU offers green coffee beans with densities starting at 680, ensuring stable quality and great flavor after roasting, such as Robusta clean top class, Robusta Honey, and Arabica from Lam Dong. Feel free to contact us if you need any advice or assistance!
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Contact Information
VCU Joint Stock Company (VCU JSC)
Address:
– Roasting Facility: Residential Group 6, Chu Prong Town, Chu Prong District, Gia Lai Province
– Green Bean Facility: Ia Der Commune, Ia Grai District, Gia Lai Province
– Hotline: +84 941 203 879
– Fanpage: VCU – Vietnam Coffee United
– Email: info@vietnamcoffeeunited.com
