World Coffee

DELIVERY AND LOGISTIC QUESTIONS

Do you offer next day delivery?

As our coffee is roasted to order, the process and dispatch generally happens within 2 working days, having given the coffee time to de-gas. Why rush quality coffee?
 

What are delivery lead times?

We ship via Royal Mail Tracked 48-hour service with their aim to deliver to you in a further 2 to 3 working days after posting, including Saturdays. You will receive Tracking information by email when your parcel reaches their local distribution centre.

COFFEE QUESTIONS

What is speciality coffee?

Speciality coffee refers to coffee that is judged to be of the highest quality from bean to cup. Officially, speciality coffee must score 80 points or above on a 100-point scale, assessed by certified coffee graders according to strict criteria, which include aroma, flavour, acidity, body, and lack of defects.

What sets speciality coffee apart is its traceability. The beans are usually single origin, often from a specific farm, estate, or region, which allows drinkers to experience the distinct characteristics of each location's climate, soil, and growing conditions, also known as terroir. In the case of Prime Coffee, all beans are sourced from reputable farms in countries like Ethiopia, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, and Colombia, reflecting true world coffee diversity.

Additionally, speciality coffee focuses on ethical, direct trade sourcing practices, ensuring that farmers are paid fairly and that growing methods are sustainable. The roasting process is typically done in small batches, often hand-roasted to order, ensuring maximum freshness and bringing out the bean's unique flavour notes.

For the drinker, speciality coffee offers much more than an ordinary cup. Expect a vibrant range of aromas and tasting notes, reflecting the bean's natural origin and careful processing from field to cup. If you want to buy speciality coffee online, look for clear information on origin, roast date, and the promise of ethical practices, just as you'll find with Prime Coffee.
 

Why buy speciality coffee?

Choose speciality coffee for distinct, complex flavours and to support ethical, direct trade practices which benefit both growers and you.
 

Which coffee grind size should I choose for my brewing method?

Selecting the right grind size is essential for unlocking each coffee's flavour notes. For example, coarse for French press, medium for pour-over, and fine for espresso. We offer most grind options for your brewing preference.
 

Are your beans single-origin or blended?

Prime Coffee proudly offers both single origin coffees and carefully crafted blends, allowing you to shop single origin coffee or explore unique combinations.
 

Are your coffee beans freshly roasted?

Yes, every batch of Prime Coffee is hand roasted to order, ensuring freshness and flavour are at their peak when we deliver to your door anywhere in the UK.
 

What's the difference between Arabica and Robusta beans?

Arabica beans, like those sold by Prime Coffee, provide smoother, more nuanced flavours, while Robusta is stronger and more bitter. Arabica is preferred for speciality-grade world coffee.
 

Are your beans ethically sourced?

Absolutely. All our suppliers practice ethical, direct trade, ensuring fair payments to farmers and full traceability from farm to cup.
 

Do you have decaf options?

Yes, Prime Coffee stocks carefully selected decaf beans, so you can enjoy top quality coffee without the caffeine.
 

How long do coffee beans stay fresh?

Coffee beans are at their best within four weeks of roasting. Keep them in an airtight container to best preserve their aroma and taste after delivery.
 

What's the difference between light, medium, and dark roast coffee?

The difference between light, medium, and dark roast coffee lies mainly in how long and at what temperature the coffee beans are roasted, and each roast produces distinct flavours, aromas, and characteristics:

• Light Roast
  Light roast coffee beans are roasted for the shortest amount of time and at lower temperatures. This preserves the unique flavours, acidity, and subtle nuances that come from the coffee's origin, known as terroir. Light roasts often have bright, fruity or floral notes and a lighter body. These are ideal for those who want to really taste the differences between beans from Peru, Ethiopia, or Papua New Guinea, for example.
• Medium Roast
  Medium roast coffee strikes a balance between retaining a coffee's natural flavour and developing some roast character. The beans are roasted a bit longer, which mellows the acidity and brings out sweeter, more caramel-like notes along with nutty or chocolatey hints. Medium roasts tend to offer a rounded flavour profile and are popular with those who like a harmony of origin taste and roasted depth.
• Dark Roast
  Dark roast beans are roasted for a longer period and at higher temperatures, which produces a darker colour and a shiny, oily surface. The original flavours from the bean's origin are more subdued, making way for bolder, richer flavours like dark chocolate, toasted nuts, and even smoky or spicy notes. Dark roasts have less acidity and a heavier body, making them perfect for lovers of robust, strong-tasting coffee. Prime Coffee only offer Dark Roast as a special order, please contact us for further details and prices.

At Prime Coffee, we offer a range of roast levels so you can select a coffee that matches your preferred taste profile, whether that's the bright notes of a light roast or the depth and body of a dark roast.

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How do I choose the right coffee beans?

Think about your flavour preferences (fruity, nutty, chocolatey), or explore a variety pack from Prime Coffee. Method of brewing and roast profile also help narrow your choices when you order arabica coffee UK-wide.
 

What's the best grind size for French press / espresso / pour over?

For French press, use coarse grind; espresso works best with a very fine grind; and pour-over calls for medium grind. We can grind your beans just how you like them!
 

Is it worth grinding your own coffee beans?

Absolutely! Grinding beans just before brewing captures maximum freshness and complexity, which is why many of our customers choose whole beans from Prime Coffee.
 

How should I store coffee beans at home?

• Coffee Bean Storage
  By the time your coffee beans are delivered they will have had enough time to de-gas and will be perfect for brewing, which is best done within 4 weeks and kept either in the re-sealable pouch that they are delivered in or an airtight container. Keep the coffee away from strong sunlight, heat and moisture (not in the fridge) and use before 4 months. It is OK to use the beans after longer periods, but like most foodstuffs they will start to lose their ‘edge'.
• Ground Coffee Storage
  Unlike the beans, ground coffee hasn't got the same shelf life and needs to be stored much like the beans but enjoyed within two weeks for full flavour. Grinding the beans at home when you need to make your coffee is a far better way to keep the coffee fresher for longer.
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Which coffee beans have the most caffeine?

Generally, Robusta beans contain more caffeine than Arabica. However, within Arabica, lighter roasts retain slightly more caffeine than darker roasts.
 

What are the best decaf coffee beans?

Prime Coffee recommends our single origin decaf options, sourced from select farms, that preserve rich chocolate and nutty notes, even without caffeine.
 

What do coffee tasting notes mean?

Tasting notes describe subtle flavours in the coffee, like hints of fruit, nuts, or chocolate, that come from the bean's origin, processing, and roast.
 

How can I tell if coffee beans are high quality?

Look for beans that are uniform in size and colour, free of defects, and come from a supplier such as Prime Coffee who provides thorough traceability on their world coffee.