Your complete, beginner-friendly guide to choosing the perfect coffee beans in New Zealand.

Whether you're new to coffee or upgrading your home brewing routine, this guide answers the 20 most common questions NZ coffee lovers ask before choosing the right beans.
From roast levels to flavour notes to buying decisions — everything you need is here.

1. What kind of coffee beans should I buy if I want something smooth and easy to drink?

Choose medium roast beans with chocolate or caramel notes. These offer balanced sweetness and low acidity — ideal for everyday flat whites and long blacks.

2. What’s the difference between Arabica and Robusta?

• Arabica: smoother, sweeter, more flavour complexity
• Robusta: stronger, more bitter, more caffeine
  Most Kiwis prefer 100% Arabica for quality and balance.

3. How do I choose coffee beans for a flat white or latte?

Look for:

• medium or medium-dark roast
• chocolatey, nutty, or caramel notes
• low acidity

Milk amplifies sweetness, so these flavours work best.

4. Are freshly roasted beans really better than supermarket beans?

Yes — significantly. Fresh beans offer:

• richer aroma
• more crema
• smoother espresso
• clearer flavour notes

Supermarket beans are often roasted months earlier and taste dull or bitter.

5. How long do coffee beans stay fresh after roasting?

Best period:

• Day 7–30 for espresso
• Day 7–45 for filter

After 6–8 weeks, flavour fades. Store in an airtight container away from heat and moisture.

6. Which roast level is best for beginners?

Medium roast is the easiest to enjoy and most versatile.
Light roast can taste sour for beginners; dark roast may taste too bitter.

7. What’s the best grind size for espresso, filter, or cold brew?

• Espresso: fine
• Pour-over: medium
• French press: coarse
• Cold brew: extra coarse

If it’s bitter → go coarser.
If it’s sour or weak → go finer.

8. Are single-origin beans better than blends?

Not “better” — just different:

• Single origin → distinct, unique flavours
• Blend → balanced, reliable, great for milk drinks

For NZ flat whites, blends often perform beautifully.

9. How do specialty beans taste different from normal beans?

Specialty beans offer:

• cleaner flavours
• clearer sweetness
• traceable sourcing
• fewer defects

You’ll notice higher clarity and consistency in every cup.

10. What flavour notes should I look for if I like sweet or fruity coffee?

For sweetness → chocolate, caramel, brown sugar.
For fruitiness → berry, stone fruit, citrus.
Choose based on whether you drink with milk or black.

11. Are locally roasted beans better than imported beans?

For New Zealand — yes.
Local beans are:

• fresher
• roasted for flat-white style coffee
• designed for NZ taste preferences
• more transparent about roast date

Imported beans often lose flavour during long storage and shipping.

12. How do different origins affect flavour?

• Brazil → chocolatey, nutty, smooth
• Colombia → balanced, sweet, slightly fruity
• Ethiopia → floral, berry, bright
• Papua New Guinea → earthy, warm, rich

Choose chocolate-based origins for milk drinks.

13. How do I know if my coffee is ethically sourced?

Look for:

• direct trade relationships
• transparent origin information
• small-batch local roasters
• certifications when applicable

Ethical sourcing is standard across most NZ specialty roasters.

14. Is it worth paying more for freshly roasted small-batch beans?

Yes — because you get:

• better flavour
• more consistency
• clearer roast dates
• higher-quality beans
• more reliable brewing results

Also, fresh coffee means fewer bitter or sour mistakes.

15. Which beans are best for people who prefer low acidity?

Choose:

• medium or medium-dark roasts
• chocolatey or nutty profiles
• Brazilian or PNG origins

Avoid bright, fruity light roasts.

16. Which coffee beans are best for making café-quality flat whites at home?

Look for:

• medium roast
• chocolate & caramel notes
• fresh NZ-roasted beans

These deliver sweetness and full body when paired with milk.

17. Is a medium roast strong enough for morning coffee?

Yes — medium roast delivers enough body and flavour for morning espresso without bitterness.
Kiwis overwhelmingly choose medium for daily flat whites.

18. How much coffee beans should I buy if I drink one cup a day?

1 cup/day → 250g bag (2–3 weeks)
2 cups/day → 500g bag (2–3 weeks)
Buy smaller bags more often for freshness.

19. Should I order whole beans or pre-ground coffee?

If possible → whole beans.

Why?
Ground coffee loses aroma 10× faster.
If you must buy pre-ground, choose smaller quantities and airtight packaging.

20. How do I store coffee beans properly after opening?

Store:

• in the original one-way valve bag
• airtight
• at room temperature
• away from sunlight, heat, humidity

Do not refrigerate — moisture damages flavour.

CaffTail Recommendations Based on Your Answers

For flat whites & daily espresso:

☕ Purrk Up — medium roast, chocolate-led, smooth.

For bold long blacks or strong morning cups:

☕ Fur-ever Roast — richer body, deeper flavour.

Both roasted fresh every week in New Zealand.

✨ Ready to Find Your Perfect Coffee?

Explore fresh, small-batch NZ-roasted beans at:
👉 cafftail.co.nz