What makes a coffee smooth, with no bitterness?
A smooth coffee is all about balance: gentle flavours and hardly any bitterness. It's easy to drink and a great fit if you like your coffee delicate, or if you're just starting to explore specialty coffee. That smoothness comes from the bean variety (mostly Arabica), where it's grown, how it's roasted and how you brew it.
A smooth, low-bitterness coffee has a harmonious profile: moderate acidity that keeps it fresh and balanced, subtle floral, fruity and slightly sweet notes, a light, delicate body and a short but pleasant finish. That's what makes it easy on the stomach and less acidic than more intense coffees.
Our smooth coffees: the pick of the range
Chronic. 10AM: a balanced start to your morning
10 a.m., the day's already rolling, but you've still got one foot in the fog? Chronic. 10AM is the little nudge that makes the difference. A 100% Arabica from Guatemala, organic and Fairtrade, as velvety as sunrise over the Central American highlands. Rich, aromatic and fragrant, it turns a quick break into a moment that's all yours. Our customers say it best: its moderate intensity makes it the perfect way to start the day. Available in 250g and 500g bags.
Chronic. 01PM: the after-lunch coffee
Lunch is over and the afternoon slump is creeping in? Chronic. 01PM is here to get your head straight before you dive back in. A 100% Arabica from Ethiopia, organic and Fairtrade, grown at altitude in the Sidama region by the Homacho Waeno cooperative. Notes of lemon, jasmine and brown sugar, with a lovely sweetness that wraps around you without being pushy. Fruity, floral, balanced. Just enough character to get you back in the saddle without weighing on your stomach. Great as an espresso or from a moka pot.
Chronic. 04PM: the balanced blend
No caffeine after 4 p.m.? Sure… and no dessert before dinner either? We all know rules are made to be bent. Chronic. 04PM is your 70% Arabica, 30% Robusta blend, organic and Fairtrade, made to get you going again, gently. A balanced blend from Peru and Uganda that goes down easy at teatime. Smooth enough to skip the adrenaline spike, bold enough to keep you in the game. We roast this specialty coffee so it tastes just as good black as it does with a splash of milk.
Chronic. 11PM: the decaf treat
Jitters, racing heart, lying awake at midnight? Not anymore. With Chronic. 11PM, our organic and Fairtrade decaf from Peru, you get the best of smooth coffee… minus the caffeine drama. Rich flavour, deep aromas and above all a promise: a moment of pure pleasure before you drift off into Morpheus' arms. Side effect: a peaceful night, with no bouncing off the ceiling. A bag of this ground coffee is the perfect companion for your evenings.
Smooth, fruity coffee beans: how to choose
To find the smooth, fruity whole bean coffee that suits your taste, a few things are worth keeping in mind:
- The variety: Go for 100% Arabica. It's naturally smoother and more delicate than Robusta, and usually brings a finer, more complex flavour profile with wonderful fruity notes.
- Origin: Regions such as Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua and parts of Brazil and Mexico are known for delicate, balanced coffees. Latin America in particular produces some beautiful fruity coffees.
- Roast level: For a smooth, fruity bean, a light to medium roast keeps the subtle aromas intact and keeps bitterness in check. Our craft roasting is designed to bring out the coffee's natural sweetness.
- Ethics: All our smooth coffees are organic and Fairtrade, grown with care and with respect for the producers and the environment.
Where our smooth coffees come from
Our smooth coffees come from carefully selected growing regions, where altitude, climate and know-how come together to create exceptional flavour profiles:
- Guatemala (Central America): known for balanced coffees with gentle, fruity notes, and home to our 10AM
- Ethiopia (East Africa): where our 01PM comes from, grown in the Sidama region, with notes of lemon, jasmine and brown sugar
- Peru (South America): one of the two origins in our 04PM, and the origin of our 11PM decaf with its rich, deep aromas
- Uganda (East Africa): the second origin in our 04PM
These regions offer ideal growing conditions and favourable altitudes, where the coffee cherries ripen slowly and develop complex, delicate aromas.
How to brew a smooth coffee
Smooth coffees show their full finesse when you brew them with a little care. A few methods work especially well:
- Filter coffee (or slow coffee): a gentle, gradual extraction that brings out the subtle notes and lightness of our smooth coffees.
- Espresso, done gently: Contrary to what many people think, espresso works perfectly well with smooth coffees, as long as you adjust your settings to avoid over-extraction.
- The moka pot: Great for a coffee full of aroma that still keeps the beans' natural smoothness.
For the best cup:
- Use water between 90°C and 95°C
- Adjust your dose: 7 to 10 grams of ground coffee for a standard cup
- Match the grind to your brewing method: medium for filter, fine for espresso
Why people love smooth coffee
Smooth coffees are especially popular because they are:
- Easier to digest, thanks to their lower acidity
- More balanced in caffeine (especially our Arabicas)
- Complex in flavour, a real treat for your taste buds
- Easy to enjoy throughout the day without upsetting your system
Where to buy Chronic. smooth coffee
Our smooth coffees are available right here in our online shop, with fast, careful delivery. We offer different formats to suit every need, from discovery packs to monthly packs, whole bean or ground, whichever you prefer.
Unlike a lot of the coffee you'll find elsewhere, ours is roasted to order for maximum freshness. Our bags start at €11.95 for 250g of pure happiness in a cup.
Explore the Chronic. smooth coffee range and discover what a smooth, fruity whole bean coffee can do: turn every moment of your day into a little pause. A fruity coffee experience with no bitterness that will win over even the most demanding palates.
