# How to Choose Coffee Beans

> Brewing a great cup of coffee can be a complicated process but at Terra Kaffe we aim for simplicity We know that coffee is an important part of your morning 

Source: https://support.terrakaffe.com/en_us/how-to-choose-coffee-beans-rJZ548yfs

Last updated: 2026-07-20T19:55:32.805Z

**How to Choose the Right Beans (And What to Avoid)**  
  

Your Terra Kaffe is a precision instrument. Inside that sleek casing is a high-grade steel conical burr grinder and a complex mechanical brewing unit. To get the best extractions and keep your machine running for years, you need to feed it the right fuel.

Here is exactly what to look for—and what to avoid—when stocking up on beans.

#### The Rule of Thumb: Keep it Dry  
  

Super-automatic espresso machines rely on gravity to pull ground coffee from the grinder into the brew unit. The biggest enemy to this process is **oil**.

**Bean Type**

**TK Compatibility**

**Why?**

**Light & Medium Roasts**

**Best**

Dry, matte surface. Grinds flow smoothly through the machine.

**Medium-Dark Roasts**

**Good**

Usually safe. Look for a matte finish with minimal surface oil.

**Dark / French / Italian**

**Do Not Use**

Highly oily. Acts like glue in the grinder and clogs the chutes.

**Flavored Beans**

**Do Not Use**

Coated in sticky artificial syrups that permanently coat the burrs.

####   
The "Paper Towel Test"  
  

Not sure if your current batch of beans is too oily? Try this quick diagnostic:

Grab a handful of beans and place them on a clean paper towel. If they leave visible grease spots on the paper, or if they feel slick and shiny in your hands, **they are too oily for your TK.**

Safe beans will have a dull, matte finish and feel dry to the touch.

#### Why Oily Beans affect the machines  
  

When coffee beans are roasted dark, their cellular structure breaks down and pushes natural oils to the surface.

While these oils might look great in a bag, inside a super-automatic machine, they create a sticky paste when ground. Over time, this paste coats the steel burrs, blocks the grinder chute, and eventually causes the grinder motor to seize entirely.

#### **Dialing in the Perfect Cup**  
  

If you love the bold, chocolatey flavor of a dark roast but want to keep your machine safe, look for blends labeled as **Espresso Roast** from specialty roasters. These are typically roasted just long enough to develop rich, low-acidity flavor profiles, but pulled from the roaster before the oils breach the surface.

> **Need a TK-approved starting point?**
> 
> Check out the Terra Kaffe bean shop in your app or portal. We only stock roasts that are strictly vetted and 100% safe and fresh for our built-in grinders.