Buying espresso as whole beans and then grinding them at home improves flavor vastly. Opening the bean just before making the coffee brings out the flavor and uniqueness of the bean and keeps things as fresh as they are going to get without growing the beans in the backyard. Whole-bean coffees give almost infinite choices for brewing a delicious espresso, and they offer a richer taste experience that is apparent in the way it smells. Let's face it, the smell of that first cup of the day is an almost religious experience. Brick and mortar stores that have high walk-in volume are better bets than those with fewer customers, as is the case with most produce items. If there is a place that roasts and sells whole bean but don't always have time to stop in, ask them about shipping options. Here is the main thing. It is going to take some research to find the espresso you like the best and then a place willing to ship it. Don't settle for convenience.
The following offer a variety of espresso beans that deliver a consistently rich cup for novices: Counter Culture, Tonx, Intelligentsia Coffee, Blue Bottle Coffee, Coffee CSA and Mistobox.
There are tons of online subscription services that offer discount beans. The grocery store offers the same variety as some of these services. However, some do offer cool features like a coffee of the month club that allows you to sample new blends you might not otherwise hear about?
Different beans are available at only certain times of year due to their unique growing season. Espresso is made of blends to ensure consistent taste and year-round availability so that customers can count on a consistent shot all year.
Order lighter roasts for a taste that is easy on the stomach, if you have stomach issues or prefer a milder taste. Lighter blends will be a cinnamon color, very light. These produce less acid during brewing. These beans will be more bitter.
In general, the answer is simply yes. Serious cafes don't offer flavored beans due to quality issues. Flavored beans are usually doctored up low quality coffee. Spending money on a quality beans and adding shots of flavoring at home is the way to go to avoid getting leftover beans that lie flat on the palette.
You can store espresso beans in your freezer for months. That's a good thing, because it means you can be opportunistic about online sales without worrying about wasting coffee.
Buying locally provides the best control over checking out the source. Even if the store ships the beans in from overseas, you can check out the cleanliness of the facilities and roasting process directly.
The darker beans give off a sweeter coffee, since their natural sugars caramelize during the roasting process. As the roast toasts darker and darker, some of naturally occurring acid and caffeine burns off for a smoother blend.