Choosing the right coffee beans

Great coffee starts long before roasting. We select each green coffee for its origin, variety, growing conditions, harvest quality, consistency and, ultimately, how it tastes. That careful selection gives us the foundation for balanced, expressive coffees that taste the way we intend them to, cup after cup.

Quality starts with green coffee

Every decision at this stage shapes the final cup

Before a coffee reaches the roaster, much of its potential is already there. The quality of the green coffee influences its flavour, consistency and overall character.

That is why we start with coffees chosen for their inherent quality and what they can bring to the cup. Roasting develops what is already present in the bean — so choosing the right coffee from the outset is essential.

Choosing the right origins

A journey through the world’s coffee-growing regions

Every origin has something different to offer. Where a coffee is grown has a real influence on how it tastes: altitude, climate, variety and growing conditions all play a part.

We choose origins for the qualities they bring to the cup, but also for their consistency and how well they fit the coffees we want to create.

Looking beyond origin

We assess each coffee on its own merits

Country of origin is only one part of the picture. We also look at ripeness at harvest, post-harvest processing, lot uniformity, bean density and the way the coffee performs in tasting.

Together, these factors help us assess both quality and potential before deciding whether a coffee meets the standards we expect.

Tasting: an essential step

Good roasting starts with knowing the coffee

Before a coffee becomes part of our range or one of our blends, we taste it carefully. We look for clarity, balance, length, consistency and a flavour profile that fits the coffee we want to create.

Tasting also helps us understand how best to approach the roast and what the coffee can contribute, whether it is enjoyed on its own or used as part of a blend.

From single origins to blends

Where selection becomes creation

Some coffees are at their best on their own, allowing the character of a particular origin to take centre stage. Others work especially well alongside complementary coffees in a blend.

Blending allows us to build balance, body and complexity, while creating a flavour profile that remains consistent from cup to cup.

What it means in the cup

Consistency, clarity and character

For you, all this work should be simple to recognise: a coffee that tastes balanced and consistent, with a character that matches what you were expecting.

Careful selection helps us make sure that what we describe is what you actually experience in the cup. That consistency matters to us just as much as creating a coffee that is enjoyable to drink.

The Cafés Henri view

A great coffee is about more than where it comes from or how rare it is. What matters is the whole picture: the ripeness and density of the bean, how it tastes, and how it responds to roasting and brewing.

Frédéric & Victor Steiner

President & Managing Director

What is green coffee?

Green coffee is simply coffee before it has been roasted. At this stage, the familiar aromas and flavours of roasted coffee have not yet developed.

The quality of the green coffee therefore sets the foundation for everything that follows. Without good raw material to begin with, roasting can only do so much.

Why does origin affect the taste of coffee?

Where a coffee is grown affects how it tastes. Altitude, climate, soil and coffee variety all influence the bean and the flavours it can develop.

That is why coffees from different countries — or even different regions within the same country — can taste remarkably different. Origin is not the only factor, but it plays an important part in the final flavour.

What is the difference between a single-origin coffee and a blend?

A single-origin coffee comes from one defined origin and is chosen to showcase its particular character.

A blend brings together two or more coffees to create a specific flavour profile or balance. Blending can be used to build body, sweetness, intensity or complexity, while also helping to maintain a consistent cup over time.

What makes a high-quality coffee bean?

Appearance alone does not tell you everything. We look at factors such as uniformity, processing, density and, above all, how the coffee performs in tasting.

For the person drinking it, the clearest sign is the cup itself: well-defined flavours, good balance and a clean, pleasant finish.