We have all been there, gazing at shelves packed to the brim with the products we want and with no idea where to begin. If you are choosing great coffee beans, this choice just doubles. You are nearly paralyzed by decisions, just staring at all of the choices and options before you.
This is mainly because so many brands offer different types of blends, roasts, and other words that are hard to understand. So, it is no wonder you may feel overwhelmed and want to quit before even beginning.
Making the right choice is the difference between having the best cup of coffee in your life or the worst thing you have ever tasted. So, as you can see, the right choice matters significantly.
But, we are here to tell you not to give up and continue on your search for the best coffee beans. We even compiled a list of our favorite brands to further help you make your choice. So read on, and soon enough, you will be enjoying yourself and relaxing with a steaming cup of deliciousness.
List of Top 5 Coffee Brands Selling the Best Ground Coffee & Coffee Beans
- Peet’s Coffee: Overall Best Coffee Beans Brand
- Waka Coffee: Most Potent Coffee Bean with Excellent Taste
- Lifeboost Coffee: Best Whole Bean Coffee
- Volcanica Coffee Company: Espresso Beans with Wide Range of Varieties
- Koa Coffee: Best High Ground Coffee
#1. Peet’s Coffee : Overall Best Coffee Beans Brand
Peet’s Coffee was founded by Alfred Peet, who, after years of fully dedicating himself to the art of coffee, opened up the first store in Berkley, CA. He took America by storm and introduced a whole new way of drinking and enjoying coffee.
Peet’s Coffee is a fantastic coffee roaster that caters to a wide range of tastes. There is something for everyone, whether you prefer dark roasts or lighter brews. You can start with the House Blend or Major Dickason’s for a unique flavor if you are new to Peet’s.
Over the years, Peet’s has done some interesting things, such as teaming with a brewery to make a coffee-infused IPA. Throughout, the roaster has consistently delivered high-quality beans at a reasonable price.
Highlights
- Major Dickason’s Blend
Because of its particular richness and overall power, Major Dickason’s Blend is one of Peet’s Coffee’s most popular products and was first developed in 1969. Since then, it has endured the test of time through generations of coffee drinkers. It was created by Key Dickason, a retired United States Army officer, and it was further improved by the company’s crew, who settled on this coffee blend after evaluating several combinations.
Because Major Dickason’s Blend is a very dark roast, the scent may be extremely powerful. If you are not used to drinking strong coffee, this will be overwhelming.
Major Dickason’s Blend is best brewed in a French press, according to Peet’s Coffee. It can, however, be used as an espresso substitute, too. Major Dickason’s Blend draws its coffee beans from some of the essential places to assure quality, which results in a flavor profile that is both complex and rich.
- Peet’s Big Bang Medium Roast
If you are searching for something different than your typical espresso, the Big Bang mix is a must-try. The medium roast coffee was designed to commemorate the coffee brand’s 50th anniversary, and it quickly became a popular choice.
The Big Bang blend is an Ethiopian coffee with an unusual flavor unlike any other coffee blend, being bright, citrusy, and even sweet tasting. And unlike some of the different Peet’s mixes, this one may be brewed using nearly any method.
- Arabian Mocha-Java
The Arabian Mocha-Java mix is perfect for coffee lovers who enjoy the complexity and a hint of chocolate. The coffee has tremendous full-body undertones of chocolate, and a lot of extra depth, thanks to the combination of java and Arabian mocha beans.
Pros
- Several subscription plans offered
- Freshly roasted beans delivered to your doorstep
- Reputable company
- Decades of experience
- Wide range of blends offered
- Sourced responsibly and ethically
Cons
- Limited range of decaf options
Customer Experience
A whole pound of beans is included in each shipment, and a paper coaster with information about the beans within is also provided in the box with space to take flavor notes while tasting.
Since Peet’s Coffee is a company that has been around for such a long time, it is no surprise that the overwhelming majority of customer reviews are positive. Customers love the flavor of the coffee beans and really everything else about this brand.
=> Click here to visit the official website of Peet’s Coffee to get the best discounts
#2. Waka Coffee: Most Potent Coffee Bean with Excellent Taste
Instant coffee has had quite a bad rep, and justifiably so for a long time, as it was hard to find the best instant coffee with good taste. That was until Waka Coffee came along. As with every great innovation, it was born out of a necessity. Their CEO David Kovalevski, as a busy man, found himself in need of instant coffee that tastes good and does its job of giving you energy. Since there were no viable options, he decided to take matters into his own hands and founded the company with the idea that “everyone should enjoy coffee effortlessly.”
The brand specializes in instant coffee made with a freeze-dried method. Waka Coffee aims to stand out by using higher-quality beans and emphasizing socially conscious ideals. Waka Coffee is made entirely of Arabica beans, whereas many low-cost instant coffees use Robusta beans, which are cheaper but of lower quality. Its coffees are sourced from a single origin, making it feel more like the gourmet coffee market than an instant coffee. Each coffee is sold in either 8 single-serve packet boxes or 3.5-ounce or 8-ounce bags.
Highlights
- Light Roast Indian
This single-origin Indian coffee is featured on the purple package, and it is easy to drink and well-balanced. It has a silky, chocolaty, and creamy texture, and the chocolate and hazelnut undertones give the coffee a richness that seems to help it stand up to the milk and sugar additions much better. The Light Roast Indian is also low on acidity. Overall, it leaves customers satisfied, with many stating they could not even tell that it was instant coffee.
- Medium Roast Colombian
These brews have a highly “classic” flavor, thanks to the Columbian beans. They are nice and fresh, and the coffee has a sweet, slightly nutty aroma that resembles marzipan. The flavor is full-bodied and strong, bordering on medium, with no discernible bitterness. A surprising blast of citrus acidity offsets the sweetness of the caramel. With aromas of chocolate, smoke, and toffee, the aftertaste is almost more complex.
- Decaffeinated Medium Roast Colombian
This one has a flavor profile that is similar to the other Colombian coffee, but the sweetness is not as intense. You can detect chocolate, hazelnuts, and citrus in the flavor, which is carried over into the sharp acidity. It has a lighter body than the others, yet it is just as inviting and balanced. The decaffeinated version is perfect if you want to avoid jitters but still get your daily fix of a delicious cup of coffee.
Pros
- Instant coffee with an excellent taste
- Affordable price
- Single-serve and bulk options
- 4% of profits go to charity
- 30-day refund policy
Cons
- Does not dissolve well in cold water
Customer Experience
In addition to being more convenient, these brews appear to be more cost-effective than the brand’s coffee shop and chain competitors. This is a big plus for customers that are on a budget but still want to have good quality and best budget coffee. The customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and the company also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
=> Click here to visit the official website of Waka Coffee to get the best discounts
#3. Lifeboost Coffee: Best Whole Bean Coffee
Lifeboost is a gourmet coffee company that sells a plethora of whole beans, including both classic and flavored ones. Dr. Charles Livingston, a coffee enthusiast, designed and developed Lifeboost with the goal of distinguishing itself from the competition. Health is one of Lifeboost’s main focuses, and since a chiropractor started the brand, the coffee promises to be pleasant on the stomach.
Lifeboost’s flavor, caffeine content, and freshness are designed to give you a rush of energy, mental focus, and a delectable taste that will leave you wanting more with every drink. Lifeboost selects beans that are low in acidity while tasting wonderful. The coffee comes in light, medium, and dark roasts, as well as unique flavors like Hazelnut, French Vanilla, and Caramel Macchiato.
It is organic coffee, single-origin, and cultivated in the shade. All of Lifeboost’s coffee beans come from Nicaragua’s mountains, and the company only uses pesticide-free Arabica beans that are of the highest grade. The coffee beans are fair trade, organic, and bird-friendly.
Highlights
- Light Roast Coffee
Try Lifeboost’s light roast coffee if you want to taste the authentic flavor of Nicaraguan coffee. The acidity of a light roast is higher than that of a dark roast. Despite this, the acidity of this coffee is lower than that of a light roast. A light roast also has a higher caffeine level than darker roasts.
This is a good option for getting you up and being active for the day starting with a morning cup. This coffee has a nice milk chocolate flavor to it, and nutty or mild caramel tones may also be present. Sweet with a tinge of vanilla in the scent, but it does not come in decaf. However, this light roast is available in both ground and whole bean form.
- Medium Roast Coffee
The Medium Roast blend from Lifeboost is also non-GMO, low in acidity, and contains traces of sweet cocoa with a powerful, woody undertone. This medium roast is described as having a subtle strawberry sweetness by some. The medium roasts are ideal for those who appreciate a rich, well-rounded cup of coffee, particularly Chemex pour-over enthusiasts. It makes for a smooth, balanced cup of coffee.
- Dark Roast Coffee
The dark roast coffee from Lifeboost produces a creamy cup of coffee with no bitterness, and it resembles a French roast. The Dark Roast coffee has a richer, sweeter flavor with smoky undertones. This roast is excellent on its own, but it is much better with a bit of creamer or sugar. It is full-bodied and rich, with silky smoothness and lingering flavors.
Pros
- Single-origin beans
- Organic
- Fair trade
- Low acid coffee beans
- Grown at high altitude
- 30-day refund policy
- Mycotoxin-free
Cons
- A bit expensive
- Not a wide range of origins
Customer Experience
Customers are especially happy with the delicious taste this coffee offers, so it is no surprise the reviews are mainly positive. However, this brand is on the costlier side but is well worth the price. If you have any issues with the package or are dissatisfied with the product, you can always get a refund, as the brand offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
=> Click here to visit the official website of Lifeboost Coffee to get the best discounts
#4. Volcanica Coffee Company: Espresso Beans with Wide Range of Varieties
Volcanica has been in business since 2004 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia. The brand imports coffee beans from all over the world and roasts them at its Atlanta plant every week. It believes the best coffee comes from volcanic places around the world, as their name suggests.
These regions, which are over 3,000 feet above sea level, contain rich volcanic soil and are an excellent climate for growing coffee. Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Hawaii all meet this description and, according to Volcanica, produce some of the best coffee in the world.
Volcanica markets itself as a gourmet coffee supplier, and it takes pride in its affordable costs. The company claims to sell 16 ounces of premium coffee at other retailers for the same price as an 8-ounce cup. Their primary goal is to make fantastic coffee, but they also want to give back. So, they have pledged to donate 1% of all purchases to charity.
Highlights
- Kenya AA Coffee
Kenya’s third major export is coffee. Therefore, they take it very seriously. They assign a rating to their coffee beans based on their size and flavor, the maximum of which is AA, indicating this bean is among the best.
So, it comes as no surprise that Volcanica’s best-selling coffee is Kenya AA. It has a robust body, a bright acidity, and a slightly sweet finish. These beans demonstrate that a strong and rich cup of coffee does not always require a dark roast. To bring out unique taste notes, Volcanica roasts them medium or lightly. There are elements of berries, citrus, and even woody and flowery fragrances in this blend.
- Low Acid Coffee
A variety of factors influences the acidity of coffee. Beans cultivated at lower elevations are naturally less acidic, and acidity is influenced by how the beans are processed and roasted. Volcanica’s low acid coffee is made out of a variety of beans with naturally low acidity. Beans from Brazil, Sumatra, and other low-altitude places are included in this combination.
You may find chocolate, almonds, and tangerine aromas in this blend. It is a medium roast, which helps to reduce acidity. The longer the roasting process period, the less acidic components are left in the finished product.
- Costa Rica Tarrazu – Decaf Coffee
Costa Rica Tarrazu is the most popular single-origin decaf from Volcanica. It has a robust body, a silky finish, and a vibrant flavor with notes of chocolate, apples, and nuts. In addition, Volcanica decaffeinates its coffees using the Swiss Water Process.
Without using any chemicals, this assures the best-tasting cup of coffee. Costa Rica Tarrazu is regarded as one of the best coffees in the world, and Volcanica’s decaf version retains the unique flavor of this bean.
Pros
- Sourced from the best regions in the world
- Wide range of varieties
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Charitable company
- Affordable prices
Cons
- Majority of blends are Arabica
Customer Experience
Customers are overall satisfied with the quality of the coffee beans, leaving positive reviews, which are also extended to the helpful and kind customer support staff. If there is anything you need help with, they are ready to lend a helping hand. If you are dissatisfied with the taste of the coffee or there are any issues, do not worry, as the brand has a 30-day refund policy.
=> Click here to visit the official website of Volcanica Coffee to get the best discounts
#5. Koa Coffee: Best High Ground Coffee
Koa Coffee was founded in 1997 by Cathy and Marin Artukovich and has ever since been an entirely run family business. It is located in Hawaii, in the so-called “Kona coffee belt” on the slopes of Mauna Loa. This company has rapidly grown to be one of the most popular brands for gourmet coffee.
Koa organically-grown coffee beans are sold under this brand and are harvested from the Koa tree via a natural process on the island’s volcanic rock. The tree is distinguished by its natural red hue, resulting from its growth on volcanic rock. Hawaiian natives rely on the strength of these coffee trees, and it is an important aspect of Hawaiian culture.
Highlights
- Grande Domaine Kona Coffee
This coffee is creamy, smooth, and well-balanced, with a slight bitterness. It is only available as a Vienna roast, which means it is a shade darker than medium. It is available as whole bean or ground coffee.
- Medium Roast
This coffee is medium-bodied, meaning there is no aftertaste, and it is incredibly smooth. It is all too simple to keep sipping cup after cup in pursuit of that exquisite flavor. The mix has a sweet, delicate flavor that pairs well with desserts. So, if you are looking for a coffee that you can sip on all day to keep up your energy, this blend is perfect for you.
- Peaberry Coffee
Peaberry coffee is also available from Koa Coffee. The peaberry is a rare coffee bean with a peculiar shape. Instead of two flat beans, it has only one single oval bean, which is caused by an uncommon mutation in the coffee bean.
Peaberries make up around 3-5% of the beans, and the coffee they create has a mild, fruity flavor that is similar to a light roast. Because Peaberries are so rare, this roast is frequently out of stock.
Pros
- High-quality coffee beans
- Unique sweet and mellow flavor
- Named by Forbes as “America’s Best Tasting Coffee”
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- It can get pretty expensive
Customer Experience
The brand roasts your order the same day and ships it the next day after you place it. The coffee is guaranteed to stay fresh in the packaging, which has gotten the company a slew of positive customer reviews. They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all orders, and they also cover return shipping.
=> Click here to visit the official website of Koa Coffee to get the best discounts
What to Know When Choosing the Best Espresso Beans
When you are thinking about coffee, the smell and flavor are the first things that come to mind. Still, however, buying coffee beans is not that simple, as there are things you must consider before making your choice. However, to make it easier, we have compiled a list of the essential things you will need to know below.
- Reputation
Make sure the company you are considering is one that has a good reputation. Purchasing coffee beans from a reputable roaster who is committed to consistent coffee roasting boosts your chances of receiving high-quality beans. Although you may not always receive beans that provide the precise flavor you like, you are more likely to acquire beans that are free of defects. This is the most straightforward means of ensuring you get a good cup of coffee with every brew.
- Consider the Roast Date
It is critical to use freshly roasted coffee whenever possible. So, you should always make sure to read the labels on the package because that is where the roast date is usually printed. The date will tell you if they are fresh enough. In case you do not have a way to grind your coffee, you can always ask the grocery store or café to grind it for you, or you can get one from our list of the best coffee grinders. However, avoid coffee that has been ground because it has not been treated properly.
- Flavor
The flavor is very important when it comes to choosing the perfect coffee beans for you. So, for example, light and fresh roasted coffee beans are ideal for individuals who enjoy a drink with a light body, bright acidity, and scents of flowers, berries, and fruits. Choose a medium roast if you want a coffee with balanced acidity, sweetness, and bitterness.
The fruity and berry acidity of medium roast coffee is retained, but the extra roasting time makes it add milk chocolate, nut, and caramel characteristics.
Dark roast coffee is a wonderful choice for those who enjoy bitter coffee. You may prepare a drink with a solid body and noticeable bitterness without any acidity using dark roast beans. Aromas of dark chocolate, tobacco, smoke, burnt caramel, and toasted bread characterize this roast level. The flavor of coffee might vary depending on where it was grown and how it was roasted.
- Level of Caffeine
You may think due to the name that dark roasted coffee beans are the stronger kind, but they actually have less caffeine in them than medium or light roasted ones. If you are a fan of espresso, then look into getting medium roasted beans, as they are commonly used to make it. But the coffee beans with the highest levels of caffeine, despite their name suggesting otherwise, are the light roasted ones.
- Brewing Method
Every brewing process has subtle differences that show different aspects of various coffees. So, consider Arabica mixes or Arabica-Robusta blends if you are looking for coffee beans for your home espresso machine, as these are used to keep the flavor of espresso consistent from shot to shot.
Pour-over coffee is best made with light-roasted single-origin beans, which retain the floral, berry, and fruit aromas that pour-over brewing brings out so nicely.
Long extraction durations in immersion brewing methods can result in an extremely dense and bitter beverage. If you are using a French press to make coffee, go for a light to medium roast. Also, pay special attention to coffee beans from Honduras, Ethiopia, Costa Rica, and Colombia, as they have a naturally milder flavor.
- Arabica Beans vs. Robusta Beans
Robusta and Arabica are the two main types of coffee beans people are buying today on the market. So, make sure you get yourself familiar with the flavors so you can decide which one is more suited to your taste. The Arabica beans can only be grown at high altitudes, and they are well-known for their slightly tangy, silky flavor. Robusta, on the other hand, grows at lower elevations and has a robust, harsh taste. Although Arabica is considered to be of higher quality, this is primarily due to the way it is grown and treated during its journey to the coffee roaster.
- Acidity and Bitterness
Acidity, like that of other tropical berries and fruits, is a typical flavor feature of coffee. However, it is more apparent in some kinds than in others, and its strength is determined by the coffee’s growing height, processing method, roast level, and brewing method.
Choose coffee that is cultivated at high altitudes, washed-processed, and light-roasted if you want a coffee with a lot of acidity. If you dislike coffee’s acidic flavor or experience digestive issues after drinking a cup, then consider low-acid coffees. The quality and variety of the beans, the roast level, and the brewing process all determine the bitterness of coffee.
- Customer Reviews
As with everything else, customer reviews are one of the best ways to check and ensure the quality of the product you are buying. So, make sure you read as many reviews as you can, because they are written by people who have tried out that particular product. This means their opinion on things like quality and flavor come from their personal experience.
FAQs: Best Coffee Beans
Q. Where can you find the best coffee beans?
It depends on your taste, as different regions around the world grow coffee beans with different tastes and aromas. Coffee’s flavor and aroma are influenced by the region in which it is grown, as your cup of coffee is affected by weather conditions, elevation, and the number of sunny days.
Brazilian coffee is renowned for its well-balanced flavor, and the aroma may have nutty, flowery, or chocolate undertones, depending on the place of origin. Colombian coffee is known for its refined, delicate scent and flavor, moderate acidity, and fruity and nutty overtones.
Honduran coffee is smooth and well-balanced. Chocolate, nuts, apricots, and tropical fruits dominate the flavor, while vanilla and nuts dominate the scent. Ethiopian coffee has floral and fruity aromas, as well as medicinal and wispy notes. Floral and berry aromas, as well as medicinal and wine tones, distinguish Ethiopian coffee. Notes of spicy spices and nuts can be found in Indonesian coffee, which has a tangy and deep flavor.
Q. Are coffee beans labeled 100% better?
It is common to see coffee beans labeled as 100% Arabica or 100% coffee. Although the best coffee beans come from this plant, this is usually not the case. Because not all Arabica beans are created equal, paying attention to the varietal designation is important. However, this will not be present in all packed beans. Packages with this label are more likely to produce a better cup of coffee than those without. Although varietal quality does not ensure actual quality, paying attention to such nuances reflects the care and attention paid to good beans.
Choosing the best coffee beans necessitates meticulous attention to detail and a thorough understanding of what you desire. The majority of businesses will incorporate labels that do not necessarily represent the quality of the coffee beans. Such titles are intended to entice purchasers, but they frequently reveal the roaster’s lack of knowledge. This is because the purpose of packaging is to convey facts rather than evoke emotions. Following the guidelines outlined above will allow you to purchase the best coffee beans and have the best cup of coffee at all times.
Q. Is blended or single origin coffee better?
When it comes to blended coffee, certain single origins are usually used to create a nuanced and balanced espresso while still keeping a milk-based beverage in mind. The coffees were chosen with care to create more body, some lovely brown sugar flavors, or simply to add some floral complexity to help balance the espresso.
Coffee from a single specified geographic location, such as a farm or estate, is known as a single origin. This allows the coffee drinker to enjoy the unique characteristics of a given growing region. If you drink black coffee, you will be able to detect and savor this subtlety of flavor more easily because milk masks it.
Q. How to keep coffee beans fresh?
Your delicious coffee is going to cost a lot of money, as this is not your typical supermarket coffee. As a result, you must carefully preserve the beans, and the small paper bags in which these beans arrive will not suffice to keep them fresh.
So, it is best to use an airtight container. For example, coffee keepers are available from your favorite internet merchant. Also, you should keep sealed containers out of direct sunlight, at room temperature, and in a cabinet. If at all possible, avoid storing coffee in the freezer. If you do, bring the beans to room temperature to allow the flavors to resurface.
Q. What kinds of coffee processing methods are there?
When choosing a coffee, you will notice the method of processing is frequently mentioned. A simple ‘washed’ or ‘natural’ on the coffee menu or bag will typically suffice. This is important to note since these characteristics will give you a distinctively different coffee experience, even if the coffee is the same.
A washed coffee, sometimes known as a “wet processed” coffee, has the outer pulp of the cherry removed, then it is fermented before being washed and dried. The end result is usually a coffee with excellent flavor clarity and a sharp, complex acidity to complement. The producers like this technology since the fermentation process is controlled and results in fewer problems.
A natural processed coffee has been dried with the cherry still attached to the bean and parchment throughout the drying process, allowing the fruit flesh and sugars to infuse the seed.
Q. Why is altitude important for growing coffee?
This valuable tidbit of knowledge provides some insight into growing conditions. The sweetness and acidity of a coffee cherry are influenced by the altitude at which it is grown. Sugar is a key energy source for coffee plants, and when the plants are faced with adversity, they will turn to this resource to help them survive. For the coffee tree, it is a smart move, but it is less palatable for us. Coffee prefers typical temperatures of 18°C to 23°C, and higher altitudes are often preferred to sustain this while still obtaining enough rain.
Anything that grows beyond 1,500 meters above sea level is considered a high-growing zone, with refined sweetness and acidity. Lower down, between 1,000 and 1,250 meters, the acidity is mellowed, and more earthy tones can be heard, similar to what you would find in Brazil or India.
Conclusion: Which One Is the Top Coffee Bean with the Best Coffee Branding?
So, the next time you are looking for a coffee to drink or are wondering what the best coffee beans are, have a look at the reviews we provided and observe what common qualities appear in the coffees you enjoy drinking.
What is important is that the coffee beans you choose are to your liking and give you a good flavor you will be able to savor.
The brands we have offered, like Peet’s Coffee and Waka Coffee, are those we observed to have the best coffee beans on the market and are well worth your money. So, if you are considering becoming a coffee connoisseur, this is a great start.
Just remember to always do your research and make sure the place you are buying from is well known and has a good reputation.
