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How to choose coffee beans in Taiwan: reading the bag
Updated · by the Today's Coffee Taiwan team
Short answer: check five things on the bag. The roast level (淺焙, 中焙, 深焙) tells you fruit or chocolate. The origin and the process (水洗, 日曬, 蜜處理) shape the flavor. The roast date tells you if it's fresh. The price per 100 g lets you compare bags; in Taiwan most good beans cost NT$55–220 per 100 g.
1. Roast level: fruit or chocolate?
The roast level changes the taste more than anything else on the bag.
Lighter roasts keep more fruit and floral flavors. Darker roasts taste more of chocolate, caramel and toast, and less acidic.
| Roast | On the bag | Tastes like | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | 淺焙 · 淺烘焙 | Flowers, citrus, berries, tea | Black coffee, pour-over |
| Light-medium | 中淺焙 | Fruit and honey, softer acidity | Black coffee, most beginners |
| Medium | 中焙 | Nuts, caramel, milk chocolate | Black or with milk |
| Medium-dark | 中深焙 | Dark chocolate, cocoa | Latte, espresso |
| Dark | 深焙 · 深烘焙 | Toast, smoke, bitter chocolate | Espresso, iced coffee with milk |
2. Origin: where the coffee grew
Each country has a typical style. These are tendencies, not rules: the farm, process and roast change them.
| Origin | On the bag | Typical flavors | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethiopia (Yirgacheffe, Guji) | 衣索比亞 · 耶加雪菲 · 古吉 | Jasmine, lemon, peach, tea | Buon Caffe Yirgacheffe G1, NT$390 / 227 g |
| Kenya | 肯亞 | Blackcurrant, plum, grapefruit, juicy | Krone Kenya AA, NT$257 / 227 g |
| Guatemala | 瓜地馬拉 · 薇薇特南果 | Cocoa, nuts, orange, brown sugar | Krone Huehuetenango, NT$232 / 227 g |
| Colombia | 哥倫比亞 | Caramel, red fruit, balanced | 八根 Colombia Geisha, NT$550 / 200 g |
| Brazil | 巴西 | Nuts, chocolate, low acidity | KALDI Mild Blend (Brazil & Colombia), NT$179 / 200 g |
| Taiwan (Alishan, Gukeng, Pingtung) | 台灣 · 阿里山 · 古坑 · 屏東 | Tea-like, sweet, light fruit | Krone Taiwu, Pingtung, NT$348 / 227 g |
3. Process: what happened after the harvest
The process is how the coffee fruit was removed from the bean. It is often written in Chinese only.
| Process | On the bag | Effect on taste |
|---|---|---|
| Washed | 水洗 | Clean and clear, bright acidity |
| Natural | 日曬 | Fruity, sweet, sometimes wine-like |
| Honey | 蜜處理 | Between the two: sweet and round |
| Anaerobic | 厭氧 | Intense, unusual fruit flavors |
4. Roast date: is it fresh?
Look for the roast date (烘焙日期), not only the expiry date (有效日期). Coffee is usually best from a few days to about a month after roasting.
Words that mean fresh: 接單現烘 (roasted after you order) and 新鮮烘焙 (freshly roasted). Many big-shop listings show the date only on the bag photo, so check the pictures.
5. Price per 100 g: compare fairly
Divide the price by the weight, then multiply by 100. A NT$198 bag of 227 g costs NT$87 per 100 g.
| Per 100 g | What you usually get | Example |
|---|---|---|
| NT$55–110 | Everyday blends and simple single origins | Casa Yirgacheffe, NT$88 |
| NT$110–220 | Specialty single origins, often roasted to order | Lian Yirgacheffe G2, NT$144 |
| NT$220–350 | Geisha, champion-barista roasters, rare lots | JC Gesha Village, NT$325 |
| NT$350 and up | Taiwan-grown estate coffee | Song He Sunrise Alishan, NT$368 |
Other words you'll see on Taiwanese coffee bags
| Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 單品 | Single origin: from one country or farm |
| 綜合 · 配方豆 | Blend of several origins |
| 莊園 | Estate: from one named farm |
| 咖啡豆 · 研磨咖啡粉 | Whole beans · ground coffee |
| 掛耳 · 濾掛 | Drip bag: hang it on your cup and pour hot water |
| 冷萃 | Cold brew |
| 低咖啡因 | Decaf |
| G1 · G2 · AA | Bean grades. G1 (Ethiopia) and AA (Kenya) are the top grades |
| 半磅 · 一磅 | Half pound (227 g) · one pound (454 g) |
| 手沖 · 義式 | Pour-over · espresso |
Quick decision: if you like… choose…
| If you like… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Fruit tea, lemon, flowers | Light roast · Ethiopia · washed (水洗) |
| Berries and wine | Light roast · Ethiopia or Kenya · natural (日曬) |
| Sweet and gentle, not sour | Medium roast · Brazil or Colombia · honey (蜜處理) |
| Chocolate, with milk | Medium-dark roast · Guatemala or a latte blend |
| Something local | Taiwan · Alishan or Pingtung · small bag |
Common questions
Is single origin better than a blend?
Not better, just different. Single origins show one place's flavor; blends are made to taste balanced, which is great with milk.
What does G1 mean on Ethiopian coffee?
G1 is Ethiopia's top grade, with the fewest defects. G2 is the next grade and is often a good value.
Should I buy beans or ground coffee?
Beans stay fresh longer. Buy ground coffee only if you have no grinder, and choose a small bag you'll finish in two weeks.
How we make these guides: we check every price on the shop's own page and writes down the date. Flavor notes come from the seller's listing; origin styles are general tendencies. We earn a commission when you buy through our links; it never changes your price. We review this page every 3 months.