When it comes to ground coffee, size matters. Different brewing methods require different size coffee particles to get the best flavour.

We always recommend buying whole beans but appreciate that doesn’t suit everyone.

We’ve chosen the most popular brewing methods as a starting point. Just select the equipment that best relates to your setup. We suggest:

Whole bean

For those with a dedicated grinder, bean to cup machines, espresso machines with built in grinder.

Espresso (fine ground)

For manual espresso machines that do not have a built-in grinder, moka pots, stove tops.

Filter (medium ground)

Any paper filter-oriented equipment such as v60/chemex/kalita wave/aeropress.

Press (coarse ground)

For French press/cafetière, cold brewing.

Blends are a combination of different bean types. At Altitude we expertly craft our own blends to create coffees that are unique to us.

Single origin coffees are beans of one specific variety. Often the beans will come from a specific farm with limited availability. This makes them particularly special and all of them have their own unique flavours and aromas.

The two main methods of coffee bean production are called “natural” and “washed”. Essentially the method used dictates the overall flavour of the coffee. Neither is worse or better but they both have interesting characteristics.

Natural coffee beans are processed with the beans encased in the cherry that they are grow in. The cherries are left out to dry “naturally” which transfers the fruity fermented sugars into the coffee beans whilst they dry out. Natural coffees tend to have more body and accentuated fruity notes as a result.

Washed coffees are exactly what you’d expect, washed! The outer cherry is removed from the beans using a mechanical water process. Once removed the coffee beans are left out to dry on their own. Washed coffees tend to have more enhanced “coffee” flavours and generally higher juicy acidity.

We offer a fantastic range of both processes in store. See which one you prefer!