Bean Choice: The Mark of a Great Coffee Shop

The best coffee shops don't just serve great beans—they give you a choice. Whether it's Starbucks' blonde vs. regular roast or a Madrid café offering multiple single origins, bean selection is where good shops become great.

Here's a pro tip that'll immediately improve your Starbucks experience: ask for the blonde roast. While most people default to their standard roast, Starbucks actually offers you a choice—and the blonde roast is significantly better for Americanos and straight espresso drinks.

But here's the thing: more coffee shops should do this. Offering a choice of beans isn't just a nice-to-have feature—it's one of the key indicators that you're in a shop that actually cares about coffee.

---

Hey My Coffee — Madrid's Bean Choice Champion

I discovered this firsthand at Hey My Coffee, a delightful little shop right in the center of old Madrid. Walking in, the first thing you notice is the roaster sitting right there in the shop—which is always a good sign.

But what really impressed me was their approach to espresso service. They offered two different single origin medium roast coffees that you could choose from for your espresso. This isn't common. Most shops pick their espresso blend and that's what you get. But offering a choice? That shows confidence in their coffee and respect for different palates.

Why Bean Choice Matters

Different beans bring different flavor profiles. Some are brighter and more acidic, perfect for cutting through milk. Others are smoother and more chocolatey, ideal for straight espresso shots. When a shop offers you a choice, they're acknowledging that not everyone wants the same coffee experience—and that's a sign of sophistication.

Think about it like this: would you trust a restaurant that only served one wine? A shop with bean options is saying, "We know coffee, and we know you might have different tastes than the person standing next to you."

The Home Setup: Multiple Grinders, Multiple Options

I practice what I preach at home. My setup includes three grinders:

• Grinder 1: Set up for espresso with whatever beans I'm currently enjoying
• Grinder 2: Also configured for espresso, but dedicated to decaf (because yes, good decaf exists and deserves its own grinder)
• Grinder 3: Optimized for pour-over brewing

Having multiple grinders dialed in means I can switch between different beans and brewing methods without having to readjust grind settings every time. It's the home version of what great coffee shops do—giving yourself options.

The Bottom Line

Next time you're evaluating a new coffee shop, pay attention to whether they offer bean choices. It's one of those details that separates the places that just serve coffee from the places that truly care about the craft. And if you're stuck at Starbucks? Remember the blonde roast. You're welcome.