Everything You Need to Know About Our Coffee
Whether you’re choosing your next coffee, dialing in your brew or simply curious about what makes specialty coffee special, we’re here to help. Explore answers to some of the most common questions about Parisi Coffee, freshness, brewing, ordering and more.
About Parisi Coffee
Where is Parisi Coffee roasted?
Parisi Coffee is roasted in Kansas City, Missouri, at our dedicated roasting facility, where our team roasts each coffee to bring out its best qualities.
What makes Parisi Coffee different?
Parisi combines exceptional coffee craft with genuine hospitality. We take a thoughtful, uncompromising approach to sourcing and roasting exceptional coffees while making specialty coffee welcoming and approachable. Inspired by a modern Italian sensibility, we believe great coffee should feel sophisticated, never complicated.
What is specialty coffee?
Specialty coffee represents exceptional quality from seed to cup. It generally refers to coffees scoring 80 points or higher on the Specialty Coffee Association’s 100-point scale and reflects quality throughout sourcing, processing, roasting and preparation.
How is specialty coffee different from regular coffee?
Specialty coffee is selected for its quality, consistency and distinctive flavor. Greater attention is typically given to where and how the coffee is grown, processed, sourced and roasted, allowing more of each coffee’s natural character to come through in the cup.
Has Parisi Coffee ever won a World Barista Championship?
Yes. In 2013, Parisi Coffee’s Pete Licata won the World Barista Championship in Melbourne, Australia, competing against top baristas from more than 50 countries. Licata, who served as Parisi’s Quality Assurance Manager, won the world title using coffee roasted by Parisi. He was also a two-time U.S. Barista Champion, winning the national competition in 2011 and 2013.
CHOOSING YOUR COFFEE
How do I choose the right coffee?
Start with the flavors you enjoy. Look at each coffee’s tasting notes, roast profile and origin to find one that sounds like you. If you prefer something familiar and balanced, a blend is a great place to start. For more distinctive flavors and characteristics, explore our single-origin coffees.
Which Parisi Coffee is best for espresso?
Our espresso blends are crafted specifically for a balanced, flavorful shot, but espresso isn’t limited to one type of coffee. Many of our coffees can make excellent espresso depending on the flavor profile you prefer.
What’s the difference between blends and single-origin coffees?
A blend combines coffees from multiple origins to create a balanced, consistent flavor profile. Single-origin coffees come from one specific origin, region, farm or producer and highlight the distinctive characteristics of that place and harvest.
What is a coffee blend?
A coffee blend combines coffees from two or more origins to create a specific flavor profile. Blending allows us to balance characteristics such as sweetness, acidity, body and finish.
What is single-origin coffee?
Single-origin coffee comes from a specific geographic origin—which may be a country, region, cooperative, farm or individual producer. These coffees often showcase flavors and characteristics unique to where and how they were grown.
Where is coffee grown?
Coffee is grown in tropical regions around the world, primarily within an area known as the Coffee Belt. Major coffee-growing regions span Central and South America, Africa and Asia, with differences in climate, elevation, soil and processing contributing to distinctive flavors.
What do coffee tasting notes mean?
Tasting notes describe the flavors and aromas you may experience in a coffee, such as chocolate, caramel, berries, citrus or nuts. They don’t necessarily mean those ingredients have been added—they describe naturally occurring characteristics we taste in the coffee.
What does roast level mean?
Roast level describes how a coffee is developed during roasting and influences its flavor, aroma, acidity and body. At Parisi, we roast each coffee to bring out its best qualities rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
What’s the difference between light, medium and dark roast coffee?
Generally, lighter roasts highlight more of a coffee’s natural acidity and origin characteristics, while medium roasts offer a balance of sweetness, body and acidity. Darker roasts develop deeper, bolder and more roast-forward flavors.
Is dark roast coffee stronger?
Dark roast may taste stronger because of its deeper, more roast-forward flavor, but darker doesn’t necessarily mean more caffeine. Caffeine levels are influenced by several factors, including the coffee, brewing method and amount used.
FRESHNESS, GRINDING & STORAGE
How fresh is Parisi Coffee?
We roast our coffee fresh in Kansas City and ship it within 48 hours of roasting, so it arrives fresh and ready to enjoy.
How long does specialty coffee stay fresh?
For the best flavor, we recommend enjoying your coffee within two to three weeks of roasting. Whole bean coffee stays fresher longer, so whenever possible, grind only what you need just before brewing.
Can you grind my coffee?
Yes. Most of our coffees are available whole bean or ground. Simply select your preferred grind when ordering.
Whole bean or ground—which should I choose?
For maximum freshness, we recommend whole bean and grinding just before brewing. If convenience is your priority, choose the grind that best matches your brewing method.
What grind should I use for my coffee maker?
The right grind depends on how you brew. Generally, use coarse for French press, medium for drip coffee makers, medium-fine for pour-over, and fine for espresso. If ordering ground coffee from us, simply select your brewing method and we’ll take care of the grind.
How should I store my coffee?
Keep coffee in a cool, dry place away from heat, moisture and direct light. Store it in an airtight container and avoid the refrigerator. For the best flavor, grind only what you need just before brewing.
BREWING COFFEE
Which brewing method is best?
There’s no single best brewing method—it depends on the cup you enjoy. Pour-over can highlight clarity and nuance, French press emphasizes body, espresso creates concentrated flavor, and automatic drip offers an easy, balanced everyday cup.
How do I brew a great cup of coffee?
Start with fresh coffee and good-quality water. Grind your coffee for your brewing method, measure both coffee and water for consistency, and adjust your grind, ratio and brew time to taste. A good starting point is approximately 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water.
How much coffee should I use?
A good starting point is a 1:16 coffee-to-water ratio—or about 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water. From there, adjust to your personal taste: use a little more coffee for a stronger cup or less for a lighter one.
ORDERS, SHIPPING & SAVINGS
How soon do you ship?
Orders typically ship within 2 business days. We work quickly to get freshly roasted coffee on its way to you.
What orders qualify for free shipping?
We offer free standard shipping on all subscription orders and regular one-time orders of $49 or more.
Do you ship internationally?
At the moment, we do not ship internationally, but we’re working on expanding our shipping options in the future.
Does Parisi Coffee offer any discounts?
Yes. Join the Parisi Coffee email list and receive 20% off your first order. You’ll also be among the first to discover new coffee releases, limited offerings, brewing guidance, coffee stories and occasional offers created for the Parisi community.