Our mornings start with a cup of coffee. The coffee beans we choose can truly make or break the experience as not just any bean will do. The most discerning coffee enthusiast enjoys the whole coffee experience, and not just for its caffeinating properties. Whether you love the automation and convenience of drip or the art of the French Press, the right brew starts with the best coffee beans.
The coffee beans that we choose are just as personal as the way we take our coffee orders. So which coffee beans should you choose? We rounded up the 12 best coffee beans, taking into account personal experiences and buyer reviews, to determine the best coffee beans you can buy for at-home consumption, as well as examined the factors and flavors you should consider when buying your next bag.
Reminder choosing a flavor of coffee is truly subjective. What's bitter to one, may be smooth to another. Shake up your coffee routine to discover your new favorite coffee bean blend, or if you really want to experiment, try one of the best coffee subscriptions for a rotating supply of delicious coffee.
Once you've figured out your favorite beans, make sure you're well-stocked with the right: namely the best coffee maker and one of the best coffee grinders.
The best coffee beans 2021
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If you're looking for a coffee that achieves high marks across the board when it comes to taste, price, and options, the Peet's Coffee Big Bang Medium Roast, the coffeehouse's 50th-anniversary blend, is a bona fide crowd-pleaser.
What we like about it
Peet's values itself on only serving the freshest of beans, which are hand-roasted in small batches. The Big Bang celebrates Peet's Coffee's 50th anniversary and its founder and has a smooth finish with an infusion of tropical fruit flavors. It has a bright fruity finish that is neither too light nor too dark and remains bold and flavorful. Those who see darker coffees will want to try Peet's Major Dickason blend.
Things to note
Freshness issues and sell-by dates when purchased from Amazon, or online. It's a gamble, but it seems to be the risk of buying coffee online, and a common complaint down the list. If you're not happy with your beans, you can always return it and try again—or buy direct from Peet's.
If you're trying to kick your coffee shop habit, Dunkin' Original Blend Ground Coffee, Medium Roast brings a favorite coffee shop blend right into your own home, and at an incredible price.
What we like about it
Dunkin' is no-frills coffee at its best, and when you brew it at home, you get the same coffee shop favorite at a fraction of the price. In addition to Medium Roast, it's also available in specialty flavors like French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Dark Roast, and other seasonal flavors, not available in store.
Things to note
When purchased online, some complained that the coffee was not delivered fresh, or complained of a bitter taste.
Want gourmet, with a literal cult-like following? Check out family-owned and operated South Florida roaster, Koffee Kult (opens in new tab).
What we like about it
Bold and bright, with flavors of chocolate and cinnamon, the dark roast has a smooth flavor and balanced acidity. One described it as drinking straight chocolate and didn't feel the need to add any sweeteners, as was his typical coffee drinking habit.
Things to note
Koffee Kult runs on the more expensive side, but when you buy larger bags, the price per ounce decreases. Admittedly, some say it lacked the "oomph" they were looking for from a dark roast, and that the coffee could have been bolder (and darker) in taste.
For those who love to pull a shot of espresso at home, the Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic Espresso is a rich, consistent option with a smooth finish that easily grinds into a fine ground.
What we like about it
It's Intelligentsia's flagship espresso option, and the same varietal you'll find brewed in its cafes. Black Cat is identified by its silky, smooth chocolate and cherry taste and develops a beautiful crema. It's completely drinkable on its own, or in milk-based lattes.
Things to note
Most negative reviews mention stale beans and coffee being sent far past its roasted date when purchased from Amazon, an issue that most coffees have come across.
Stumptown did organic before organic was cool. Try one of their signature flavors that has been a part of Stumptown from the very beginning: The Holler Mountain Blend.
What we like about it
The flavoring has notes of citrus zest, caramel and hazelnut.
While some specialty coffees need to be used as soon as they are ground, Stumptown beans can be enjoyed and considered fresh up to 90 days after the Roasted Date, but should still be enjoyed within 14 days of opening.
Things to note
As coffee beans are enjoyed best within a few weeks of roasting, several Amazon customers complained about their deliveries coming after the "Enjoy by date." Perhaps stick to buying in-store or straight through Stumptown.
Looking for a dark roast with bold flavoring, and no bitter after taste? Well, Death Wish Coffee Co. has the dark roast market cornered with its World Strongest Coffee.
What we like about it
Due to their slow roasting process, these beans develop twice as much caffeine as a standard cup of coffee. And it tastes fantastic too. The flavor notes are described as a smooth, subtle, never bitter cherry and chocolate flavor profile.
Things to note
Due to the caffeination, we wouldn't want to drink this in the p.m. hours so it doesn't affect us when it's time to go to sleep. Death Wish is also on the more expensive side, but keep in mind, the coffee is produced in a fair trade and organic environment and takes on the strength of two cups of coffee in one.
On the other spectrum, is light roast, and Kicking Horse Coffee's Hola Light Roast is exactly how you will want to start your day.
What we like about it
A coffee taste like no other, with a juicy red fruit acidity paired with a creamy honey body with an intoxicating aroma of brown sugar, nougat, and cocoa powder. It's an excellent choice for drip, pour-over, or cold-brew methods.
Things to note
If Light Roast coffee isn't your cup of 'jo, Kicking Horse also makes several other varietals, perhaps their most popular, being Smart Ass.
It's true that flavored coffee can be hit or miss. There's a lot of factors that can go wrong (artificial, overly sweetened flavors, we're looking at you) but Bones Coffee Company knows how to get it right, starting with the indulgent Sinn-O-Bun Whole Bean Coffee.
What we like about it
If the play on words doesn't give it away, Sinn-O-Bun is iced cinnamon bun flavored coffee without any added sugars, and is decidedly low on acidic content. And, it's Keto friendly!
Additionally, it's hard to resist good packaging, and Bones Coffee Company is absolutely eye-catching, as well as resealable.
Things to note:
If cinnamon coffee isn't for you, there are plenty of other flavors to try like: S'morey Time, Cookies N' Dreams, Highland Grog (rum and butterscotch), or Jacked O' Lantern Pumpkin Spice. Unsure of which to try? You can even snag a sampler (opens in new tab)!
Some finicky customers suggested that their coffee had an artificial taste, but the overwhelming majority agree, it's not overly sweet, and raved about its smooth flavoring.
The Original Donut Shop K-Cups are one of the best-selling K-Cups on the market for its smooth finish, pleasing taste, and affordable price points to compliment the best single-serve coffee makers.
What we like about it
The Original Donut Shop K-Cups are extra-bold, and have more coffee than in regular K-Cup pods for a taste this is strong and smooth, rather than watered down. They're available in size counts as small as 12 and as large as 96, making it easy to buy in bulk.
Things to note:
The Original Donut Shop K-Cups are not particularly fancy, or gourmet. If you're looking for a convenient, single-serve cup that will please a wide array of coffee drinkers, this nails it. It's also a great value, typically less than 50 cents per a cup of coffee.
Particular to your cold brew, no matter the season? You'll want to have Stone Street Coffee Cold Brew Reserve Whole Bean Coffee on hand at all times.
What we like about it
It's a dark roast that's engineered for cold brew, meaning you get a slight sweetness and a smooth balanced taste, without the bitterness. The coarse ground is specially made for cold brew preparations.
Things to note
The price. It's definitely on the more expensive end, but keep in mind, this is a specialty, fair-trade coffee. Also, results were not as delicious when brewed as hot, according to some reviewers.
Drink coffee and help others. Seems like a pretty good deal. When you purchase from Fire Dept. Coffee, owned by veterans and Fire Department Coffee is a veteran-owned business that employs a team of firefighters, first responders, and coffee connoisseurs and donates 10% of net proceeds to provide assistance to those who have been injured on the job, mentally or physically, or who are facing other serious health challenges.
What we like about it
Beyond the company's philanthropic ethos, and the chance to support veterans and firefighters, the coffee is a real treat. The full-bodied medium roast is smooth, without any acidity, and never bitter. Fire Dept. Coffee also sources from environmentally and socially responsible farms.
Things to note
The Original, is well, a medium-tasting coffee, made of a blend of high-quality Brazilian coffee, but without any special tasting notes.
Believe it or not, demand for instant coffee has drastically risen in the last year, and Illy has answered the call with its Illy Instant Coffee made with illy's legendary blend of 100% Arabica beans.
What we love about it
As coffee snobs, we already love Illy's rich coffee history, and know they will put out a high-quality product. The Illy Instant Coffee, available in a medium Classico or a dark Intenso, makes you almost forget that you're drinking, well, instant coffee. Illy uses a cold manufactured process that preserves essential aromas and flavors, plus the inclusion of finely ground coffee to enhance the taste for a rich, complex smooth, and balanced cup of coffee. It's so easy for a quick fix or when you don't have access to a coffee maker.
Things to note
Availability is currently limited to buying directly from Illy (they offer subscriptions), though they have plans to add it to their Amazon storefront.
How to choose the right coffee beans for you?
It's not an exaggeration to say that there are thousands of coffee companies out there competing for a sliver of the at-home coffee market. Whether you prefer to stick with your favorite coffee shop variety or experiment with independent roasters, consider these factors when selecting your coffee.
Origin: Origin refers to the region where your coffee was grown and has a large influence on flavoring. Popular coffee regions include Africa, and Latin America, among many others, and each region has a unique set of characteristics that are regularly used to define the region. Factors like altitude, soil conditions, and rainfall can influence a coffee's flavoring. Single Origin Coffees come from one specific region, while blended origin beans can come from many places.
Varietals: Coffee beans are typically sold as "Arabica," commonly considered the good stuff, and "Robusta," which has higher caffeine content. They can also be blended together.
Roast: You've heard the terms light, medium, or dark roast, but what does it all mean? The roast level refers to the time it spent roasting, so a shorter roast time yields a lighter bean. However, it does not affect the caffeine levels. Light roasts have a milder, fruity flavor and tend to be acidic. Meanwhile, dark roasts have a full-bodied flavor and can run more bitter.
Acidity: Acidity is a way of describing sharp, tart coffee flavors. Good acidity will lean towards being sweet, crisp, and tart and enhances your coffee. A bad acidity will taste sour and stringent, sometimes almost chemically. Light or medium roasts will have a slightly higher acidity content, which decreases as roast get darker. Additionally, the coffee described as bright will have a higher acidity while a low acid coffee may be described as smooth.
Whole Bean vs. Ground Coffee?
Coffee experts will wholeheartedly tell you to buy the whole beans, so you're going to want to invest in a good coffee grinder. Beyond being the freshest in taste, grinding them on your own allows you to choose the grind size that works best for your preferred brewing method. For instance, fine for normal drip coffees, but coarse for French press or cold brew.
Ground coffee is convenient, but once the grounds are exposed to air, it loses its freshness and can start to taste stale. It's also more likely than not been sitting on a shelf (or in a warehouse) for months from the time beans were roasted and ground, meaning you're more likely to be greeted with a stale bag. But hey, for some, convenience is key, and that's OK. And if you go through a pound of coffee extremely quickly and can consume within the 14 recommended days, you'll still find yourself with a great-tasting cup.
What is the best coffee bean?
We admit, choosing the overall best coffee bean is entirely subjective, but we stand behind Peet's Coffee as our favorite, overall brew for its affordability, quality ingredients, and general ease of use.
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