Unroasted coffee, as it arrives from the farm or importer. Green beans are pale green or yellow-green, dense, and grassy-smelling. They're stable for up to a year if stored cool and dry.
Why it matters — Green is the raw material of every roast. The flavour ceiling of the final cup is set at origin — by farm, variety, processing, and harvest — not by the roaster, who can only express what's already in the bean.
Good to know
- Home roasting is a hobby that starts at a few hundred dollars (an entry-level electric roaster) and grows from there.
- Greens should be stored sealed, away from light and humidity. Green coffee that's been wet or stored badly will never taste right, no matter the roast.