Visit a specialty coffee shop in your area. Employees at specialty shops, especially those that roast their own beans, are usually pretty well educated on their products. Major national chain coffee shops don't tend to focus on employee education as much as independent roasters who have a relationship with the growers. Find out if they import their own beans from a specific farm and why.

Take home a small sample of the different types of coffee beans sold at the specialty store or slowly work your way through the grocery-store varieties. Many specialty shops sell beans by weight, meaning you can purchase just enough to brew a cup or a pot of coffee without committing to a whole pound of beans. Ask the barista or coffee grinder to grind you sample bags of the different types of beans they offer. Conduct a taste-test for yourself at home and make some notes on your reactions to and observations of each type of bean. Just as you do when tasting a fine wine, slurp a small sip or spoonful of each coffee so you breathe in the aromas.

Read specialty books on coffee. Check area bookstores and your local library. Since coffee is such an important part of so many people's daily lives, many books have been published on the world of coffee, so it shouldn't be hard finding some good books on the topic. Refer to your notes on the different types of beans, countries of origin, and tastes and flavors you discovered at your home taste-test and see if you can find more information on those specific terms.

Attend a coffee cupping event. Artisan coffee roasters occasionally host coffee cupping events that are intended as much for the expert as they are to educate the average consumer. If there aren't any events coming up in your region, ask your specialty shop if you can help them arrange such an event.