Ready to drink coffee for the first time and wondering where to start? This article explores the best coffee for new coffee drinkers and advises what to look out for.
Becoming a coffee lover is a wonderful journey, and it always starts with the first sip. However, suppose you’ve never been a coffee drinker. Then, getting started with the process of learning what coffee you like can be a daunting process.
Fortunately, there are many options out there that will provide you with a gentle introduction to the drink. And the other good news is that there are so many different types of coffee, you are almost certain to find one that you like.
Coffee can be an affordable treat and luxurious addition to your daily routine, but only if you enjoy it. That is why we have put together a list of some of our favorite types of coffee that you can ask for the next time you’re in front of your local barista.
This article will also act as a pretty good guide for what you should look for when getting accustomed to the drink. We also give our thoughts on brewing methods, what to look out for when choosing a ground coffee, and some of our favorite brands that you can purchase off Amazon.
Coffee or Coffee Beverage?
Before you even get started, it’s a good idea to decide whether you want to start with simple brewed coffee, or if you want to begin with a drink that has a little more going on.
For some people, the taste of coffee just isn’t to their liking unless they add something to it. For others, even instant coffee taken black is better than one of those fancy concoctions with all the trimmings that you can order in Starbucks.
What you choose will depend on your own taste buds. Lattes, cappuccino, and the various “coffee-and-milk” variations that exist around the world (cafe con leche, cafe mocha, etc.) are a good starting point for learning to enjoy coffee if you don’t love its taste.
Even espresso-based drinks, like lattes, are a good starting point because while espresso is strong tasting, the amount of milk in the beverage dilutes the flavor. This lets you build up your taste for coffee over time, where eventually you may opt for purer coffee drinks.
If you want to go straight to regular brewed coffee route, there’s no shortage of options out there either, but be warned, you might find the taste a little strong. If you do choose to stick to that type of coffee from the start, then you can choose from the likes of Aeropress, drip coffee, french press, pour-over, or even cold brew. Just like with flavored and creamer-based drinks, the list of options is an extensive one.
Roast And Coffee Flavor
Experienced coffee drinkers may prefer challenging, bold brews with complex flavors and deep roasting, but these beans can taste burned, bitter, and unpleasant for inexperienced coffee drinkers. After all, coffee is an acquired taste for some, meaning that you have to get used to it before you can fully appreciate it.
If you’re just starting your coffee journey, you’ll want to begin with a milder, sweeter brew. The best choices for your first cups of brewed coffee are light or medium roast coffees. Light roasts tend to have a higher acidity, but they’re also milder in flavor, showcasing more of the bean and less of the roast.
Of course, light roasts also have more caffeine content than their dark roast counterparts, so be mindful of that if you are having several cups in a day. As a newbie, you should be more aware of the effect caffeine is having on you. If you notice negative side effects, then you should immediately switch your cup of joe to a decaf. Nowadays decaf can supply the drinker with a virtually identical taste profile to its caffeinated counterpart.
The World Of Coffee For Beginners
There are a lot of coffee-growing regions out there, and if you’re a newcomer to coffee, it can be daunting to decide where to start. Fortunately, there are good coffees for beginners anywhere you might look, though certain regions make more approachable coffees in general. Latin American and African coffees tend to be easier to appreciate, with rounded flavor profiles and sweeter notes.
I don’t recommend Indonesian coffees to start with for a few reasons: they tend to be darker roasts, and the flavor profiles tend to be more bitter, earthy notes-which are something to savor but not as easy to appreciate if you’re new to coffee.
Italian coffees are often characterized by strong dark roasts. Thus, they have a bitterness that might not be ideal for the inexperienced coffee maker. Their coffees are often a little sharper than other regions, so they are coffee-producing regions whose products are best suited to the more experienced coffee drinker.
Matching Your Taste With A Coffee
The list of coffee options is endless, so your best bet is to keep on exploring until you find something you like. However, if you want to skip experimenting with flavors, you can match your existing taste profile with certain types of coffee.
For instance, if you like hot chocolate, then a cafe mocha could be your drink. Or if you like pumpkin soup, then a pumpkin spice latte might be your choice. Likewise, if you like acquired tastes, such as red wine or stout, then certain black coffees might be a better option for you.
There are endless different styles of coffee, all of which have subtle flavors which you can find elsewhere. You can save a lot of time by deciding what flavors you like and then finding a coffee that fits that taste profile. It’s not an exact science, as you will still have the coffee flavor mixed in, but it is a good place to start.
Cold Brew & Iced Coffee
If you’re new to coffee, you are probably curious about cold brew and iced coffee. In fact, some newcomers have found it easier to get used to coffee by starting off with this drink.
If you’re new to the coffee-drinking world, you probably don’t know the difference between the two. Cold-brew coffee typically tastes smoother than iced coffee. Iced coffee is generally brewed hot and added to cold ingredients, such as ice. However, cold brew is brewed in cold conditions for a longer time, typically overnight. Cold-brew is naturally more caffeinated than hot coffee, but it also tastes less bitter and acidic – which is what new coffee drinkers struggle with the most.
Granted, most ice coffees are usually full of sugar, cream, and some flavoring, so the actual taste of coffee tends to be masked. It’s an option many younger newbies go for, as often the drinks can taste more like desserts than traditional black coffee.
But, if you’re looking for cold coffee without any flavored syrups, then new coffee drinkers will probably prefer cold brew. Like all other coffee, the brewing time and beans used will affect the overall taste, but you should expect smoky notes, with subtle hints of fruit.
Learning About Coffee
Of course, the best option for learning about coffee is by jumping straight in and tasting different types of the drink. However, there are other resources if you would prefer to gain a little knowledge before taking a taste test – in fact, you are currently reading information from one of those resources.
On top of websites like the one you are on, there is also an abundance of books that give excellent information on the subject. In fact, we have actually put together a list of some of our favorite coffee books.
If you want to learn about coffee firsthand, another option is getting to know your local craft barista. To this day we are yet to find a high-quality barista who doesn’t love discussing coffee with a newcomer.
Very often, it’s their passion, so next time you’re in your local coffee shop, why not ask ‘What’s the best bean for an americano’, or ‘Why do you use coffee grinders at the end of the process’. They will be delighted to answer your questions and if there is any they don’t know the answer to, then worry not as you can check back in with Full Coffee Roast.
The Best Beans for First-Time Coffee Drinkers:
When looking at coffee beans, you have three real choices, Arabica, Robusta, and blends of the two. Of course, there are pros and cons to each, but there is a clear winner for first-time coffee drinkers.
Arabica beans are described as having a smooth sweet taste, so they would be our choice of bean for new coffee drinkers The flavor profile has been described as fruity and chocolatey.
Meanwhile, many people find that Robusta beans are bitter tasting and sometimes feel grainy. Robusta beans have more caffeine, and once you get accustomed to the taste of coffee, you might want to explore Robusta, but many people tend to stick with Arabica.
The Best Coffee for New Coffee Drinkers
When it comes to brewed coffee, the best choices for first-time coffee drinkers are blends and single-origin beans that are solidly balanced, lightly roasted and tend to hail from Latin America and Africa. These are my favorites for coffee newcomers.
1. Top Shelf Grind Liquid Gold
Although it’s marketed as an espresso, this Peruvian coffee brews up just fine in an automatic drip or pour-over setup too. Liquid Gold is an organic, light-roast coffee that sets a high standard for first-time coffee drinkers. Fairtrade and ethically sourced, the coffee also undergoes extensive quality control to ensure there are no signs of mold or the toxins that come with it.
Best of all: the flavor notes of chocolate, black tea, and honey go down smoothly, and the single-origin coffee plays well with milk and sugar. Be warned, that there are other cheaper coffees on this list, but it’s worth every penny as it’s a flavor experience everyone can enjoy.
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2. Jeremiah’s Pick Kona Blend
While Hawaiian coffees tend to be on the pricier side, this Kona blend by Jeremiah’s Pick Coffee Company is worth its very affordable price. Kona coffees are unrivaled for smooth, rich flavor, which is precisely what you want for a first-time coffee experience. The beans blend Colombian Supremo and Kona coffee, creating a distinctive but not-too-challenging flavor profile with nutty, caramel-sweet flavors.
Their arabica beans are roasted daily, to ensure freshness for the consumer and it’s 100 percent noticeable. Both newbies and seasoned coffee lovers will love this blend.
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3. Chameleon Day Breaker
Made up of a blend of Ethiopian and Colombian beans, this “breakfast” blend balances acidity and sweetness. Day Breaker is suitable for any time of day but shines as the first cup of coffee of the day: with cherry and chocolate flavor notes and clean and bright acidity, it plays well with sugar and milk and is even good all on its own. The coffee beans are also certified organic and ethically and sustainably sourced, making them a strong choice on all fronts.
Don’t believe our verdict, then check out this Amazon review: “This is literally the best coffee I have made at home. It’s creamy and the chocolate hints come right through. I love that it is organic and it isn’t acidic on my stomach. I just drink it with a little cream,no sugar. I look forward to waking up each day to make myself a cup.”
4. Tim Horton’s Coffee
Tim Hortons is renowned for being Canada’s favorite coffee. Thus, it likely introduced a whole nation to the delicious drink brew. Considering so many people love it, logic suggests that it’s a good coffee for new coffee drinkers.
This medium-roasted arabica bean coffee is known for its flexibility, but we especially like it when introducing newbies to the espresso machine. The high-quality beans give you a beautiful flavor, but it’s also mild enough that it is a good option if you are trying your very first espresso shot.
Of course, it’s a brilliant option for regular coffee too, and works pretty well for other more extravagant flavored coffees. As I write this article, I am actually enjoying a Tim Horton cold brew coffee.
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5. Caribou Coffee Medium Roast Ground Coffee
When you are first starting out with coffee, you won’t want to break the bank. Obviously, before investing in expensive coffee beans, you will want to ensure that you actually like coffee.
Thankfully, there are plenty of less expensive options which are ideal for new coffee drinkers. One of those options is Caribou Coffee. It’s a medium roast and it provides plenty of bang for your buck. It’s an ideal coffee to introduce to inexperienced coffee drinkers, as it shows off that even the less expensive brands have complex and intriguing flavors.
A cup of this will provide you with hints of chocolate, hazelnut and much, much more. That’s the beauty of good coffee; all you need is the beans and some hot water to create a flavor experience.
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