Parisian Roaster Since 1880
Buying whole bean coffee online is simple. Buying good whole bean coffee online is another matter. The difference isn't always visible on the label; it's felt in the cup, from the very first sip. At Verlet, artisan roaster since 1880, here's what we look at before selecting a bean, and what you should look at before ordering one.
Freshness, the Most Neglected Criterion
Whole bean coffee begins to oxidize immediately after roasting. The most volatile aromatic compounds disappear first: floral, fruity notes, the most delicate nuances of a terroir. What is called the "flatness" of a coffee often comes from this: not from a bad bean, but from a bean that is too old.
Whole bean coffee consumed between 7 and 30 days after roasting is within its best aromatic window. Beyond 60 days, the loss is significant regardless of the origin's quality.
At Verlet, coffees are roasted daily in our roastery on rue de Montpensier, behind the Palais Royal garden. This means the beans you receive were roasted a few days before your delivery.
Origin, in the Precise Sense of the Word
A good whole bean coffee doesn't just state "Arabica" or "Brazil." It names a region, a plantation, sometimes a botanical variety. This precision is a sign of genuine selection work, carried out in close collaboration with producers.
Each single-origin coffee expresses a distinct terroir. An Ethiopian Yirgacheffe is unlike any other coffee: volcanic soil, high altitude, heritage variety. These parameters produce aromas that no other region can replicate.
Roasting: Revealing or Destructive
Between the green bean and the cup, there is roasting. It is what transforms an unscented bean into a coffee capable of expressing dozens of distinct aromas. But it can also erase everything a terroir has built if not properly controlled.
Industrial roasting, too fast or too uniform, produces shiny, oily, often too dark beans: bitterness dominates, nuances disappear. Artisanal roasting, like what we practice at Robe de Moine, seeks balance: revealing the terroir without forcing it, developing aromas without burning them.
A well-roasted bean has a uniform color, with no signs of burnt beans or an excessively oily appearance. This is a simple visual indicator, even before tasting.
Whole Beans or Ground Coffee: What to Order?
If you have a grinder, we recommend ordering your coffee as whole beans. Ground coffee oxidizes faster than beans: the surface area exposed to air is multiplied, and the most volatile aromas disappear within a few days after grinding.
If you don't have a grinder, have your coffee ground when you order, according to your brewing method. The grind should match your equipment: fine for espresso, medium for drip or French press, coarse for longer infusions. At Verlet, we custom grind to order based on your specifications.
Ordering ground coffee too far in advance means losing some of what you paid for. Grinding is the last step before the cup: the closer it is to brewing, the better.
How to Read a Product Sheet Before Buying
Before ordering whole bean coffee online, check these four points on the product sheet:
The roasting frequency or the mention "roasted to order."
The precise origin: country, region, plantation if possible.
The botanical variety when mentioned: Bourbon, Typica, Geisha, SL28 are indicators of potential complexity.
The aromatic profile described precisely. Notes like "fruity, floral, lively acidity" point towards African or Central American origins. Notes like "chocolate, hazelnut, round" typically indicate South American origins or balanced blends.
Which Origin to Choose Based on Your Tastes?
If you like a smooth, balanced coffee without pronounced acidity: our historic blends like Grand Pavois are an ideal introduction. Created by Auguste Verlet in the 1920s, it's a round, typically French coffee that our customers often order first and continue to order.
If you like a lively, fruity coffee with complex aromas: explore our coffees from Ethiopia. Moka Guji develops floral and fruity notes of rare precision. It's often the coffee that turns an amateur into a pure origin enthusiast.
If you're looking for a rare coffee, to give as a gift or treat yourself: our selection of rare and seasonal harvests offers Jamaican Blue Mountain, Saint Helena Napoleon, or Bourbon Pointu. These vintages are available in limited quantities, depending on arrivals.
Ordering Whole Bean Coffee Online: Practical Questions
What weight to choose? For daily use, 250g is the suitable format if you consume your coffee within three weeks.
How to store your beans? In an airtight container, away from light and heat, far from the refrigerator. The humidity of the refrigerator alters aromas through condensation.
Does shipping damage the coffee? No, provided the coffee is properly packaged and consumed within weeks of roasting. Whole beans withstand transportation very well.
Our entire coffee selection is available online at verlet.fr, with delivery throughout France. Our team can also advise you in-store at 256 rue Saint-Honoré, Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm.
