2022’s Finest Coffee Beans

The quality of your coffee is only as excellent as the coffee beans you use. While pre-ground coffee is handy, the coffee you get is essentially stale. Even the most expensive ground coffee is stale by the time it is packed and placed on shop shelves.

To create the greatest-tasting coffee, you must first purchase the best coffee beans, which is precisely what we are here to assist you with. Understanding which coffee beans are the finest requires knowing specific details, such as when the beans were roasted and for how long.

Light roast coffee beans have a lighter flavor than dark roast coffee beans. If you enjoy a full-bodied, rich taste, a dark roast is the way to go. If the black roast is too rich of a taste, then youll want to buy light roast coffee beans.

Therefore, without further ado, here are the 9 greatest coffee beans to select from and where to get them!

Top 9 Best Coffee Bean Reviews

Best Overall Coffee Beans

Death Wish Valhalla Java Whole Bean Dark Roast Coffee

The dark roast Valhalla Java whole bean coffee is our recommendation for the finest overall coffee beans. It’s a dark roast whole bean coffee from Indonesia, South America, and Central America’s volcanic soil. Arabica and Robusta coffee beans are properly roasted together to produce a rich, delicious dark roast coffee mix.

Valhalla Java whole bean coffee is USDA certified organic, so you can be certain that you’re making the most natural coffee possible with every pot. Each coffee bag weighs 340 grams (12 ounces).

The strong caffeine concentration and rich taste distinguish Death Wish coffee from the competition. It is unquestionably the coffee to chose if you want a dark roast with a high caffeine level.

Pros:

• Full with flavor
• Caffeine content is high.
• Organic
• Arabica and Robusta beans grown on volcanic soil.

Cons:

• Those who prefer dark roast should try this.
• Caffeine sensitive individuals should avoid this product.

4.6 out of 5 ratings from users

Best Budget Choice Coffee Beans

Seattle’s Best Coffee Portside Blend Medium Roast Coffee

If you want economical, tasty, and smooth coffee every time, Seattles Best Portside Blend Coffee is the way to go, which is why this coffee brand is our pick for the finest budget coffee beans.

The Portside Blend was formerly known as Seattle’s Best Signature No. 3, but it has been renamed the Portside Blend because to its increased quality and flavor. As a result, the Portside Blend is the greatest value coffee beans on our list. It is composed entirely of Arabica beans, which are coffee beans native to Ethiopia and South America.

Arabica beans account for around 60% of global coffee bean output. Arabica coffee must stand out from the crowd in order to be produced. Seattles Best has done exactly that with this 12-ounce bag of medium roast coffee at an inexpensive price.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Flavorful
• Smooth

Cons:

• Adding too much grounds while brewing might result in burned coffee.

4.4 out of 5 ratings from users

Best Premium Choice Coffee Beans

Koffee Kult Dark Roast Gourmet Coffee Beans

The dark roast gourmet coffee beans from Koffee Kult are our pick for the finest premium coffee beans. Since it is a dark roast, it is created using coffee beans from Colombia, Guatemala, Brazil, and Sumatra, giving it the most powerful and full-bodied taste.

The beans used in the Koffee Kult dark roast are 100% Arabica beans from throughout the world’s rainforests. These jungles provide rich, fresh coffee. Within hours after being processed, the coffee beans are roasted and packed. This locks in as much flavor as possible, giving it a premium, unrivaled flavor.

Dark roast coffee might be harsh at times, but not with Koffee Kult. It has a deep and creamy taste that is free of bitterness. Dark roast coffee from Koffee Kult is best suited for premium cups of coffee or speciality espresso beverages.

Pros:

• Fresh
• Rich and flavorful
• Excellent for making speciality coffee beverages or espresso.
• May be used for a variety of coffee brewing techniques (Aeropress, French press, drip coffee makers, and espresso machines)
• The bag contains a large amount (32 ounces)

Cons:

• Pricey

4.4 out of 5 ratings from users

Lavazza Super Crema Medium Roast Coffee

Adding to our list of the finest coffee beans is this medium roast whole bean coffee from Lavazza. It is a 2-pound bag of whole bean medium roast coffee from Italy that has been blended and roasted. Although it is classified as an espresso coffee bean, it can also be used in a drip coffee maker; it is classified as an espresso coffee bean due to the rich taste and crema produced when the coffee is prepared using an espresso machine.

The medium roast coffee beans have a taste of their own thanks to a combination of hazelnuts and brown sugar. This contributes to the rich and pleasant taste of Lavazza coffee. The Arabica and Robusta coffee bean combination is 60% Arabica and 40% Robusta. This adds a touch of dark flavors to the coffee without making it a dark roast.

When grinding coffee beans for an espresso machine, remember to ground them extra-fine. Espresso machines need an extra-fine grind in order for the machine to press the coffee grounds and produce a coating of crema on top. Coffee grinds that are too coarse will not produce an excellent espresso.

Pros:

• Flavorful
• a large number (2-pound bag)
• Ideal for use with espresso machines or drip coffee makers.
• Fragrant hazelnut and brown sugar undertones

Cons:

• Pricey

4.5 out of 5 ratings from users

Intelligentsia House Blend Light Roast Coffee Beans

This one is for those who like mild roast coffee! If you like a light roast house mix, these coffee beans are for you.

The Intelligentsia House Blend is made from light roast Latin American coffee beans. While grinding and brewing your coffee, you may smell and taste the tastes of chocolate, apple, and mandarin.

Because of the 100% Direct Trade guarantee, we decided to include the Intelligentsia House Blend on our list. The coffee roaster gets the coffee beans directly from the farmer under the terms of 100% Direct Trade. This guarantees that the roaster knows precisely what sort of coffee beans they are getting to roast. This entails consistently roasting high-quality coffee beans.

Each 12-ounce bag contains 100% Arabica beans that have been gently roasted. The Intelligentsia House Blend coffee has a delicious but light coffee taste with fruit and chocolate overtones.

Pros:

• savory and light
• Coffee beans from direct trade
• Excellent for various coffee brewing techniques (not espresso)

Cons:

• Pricey

4.4 out of 5 ratings from users

Mayagora Organics Cafe Cubano Dark Roast Coffee Beans

Mayagora Organics Café Cubano is a dark roast coffee bean combination from Peru, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The coffee beans are 100% Arabica, organic, and Direct Trade certified by the USDA.

The roasting process is what gives coffee beans their distinct taste and aroma. Mayagora roasts small quantities of coffee beans in a Latin, slow-roasting procedure to give the Café Cubano its signature taste. When ground and brewed, the dark roast coffee beans contain overtones of vanilla and smokiness that may be detected by the senses.

Café Cubano is Mayagora Organics’ trademark blend, so you know you’re getting the finest coffee Mayagora Organics has to offer. You can use a two-pound bag of whole bean dark roast coffee beans in almost any style of coffee maker, from an espresso machine to a French press and anything in between.

Pros:

• USDA organic certification
• Trade Direct
• a strong taste
• May be used in drip coffee makers as well as espresso machines.

Cons:

• Pricey
• Those who want light roast coffee should avoid this.

4.6 out of 5 ratings from users

Kicking Horse Coffee Three Sisters Medium Roast Coffee Beans

Kicking Horse Coffee’s Three Sisters medium roast coffee is only one of the many tasty coffee blends available from Kicking Horse. Three Sisters is a tasty medium-roast coffee bean that is USDA certified organic and contains delicate but rich overtones of tobacco, coconut, dried fruit, and chocolate.

Three Sisters medium roast coffee is best suited for traditional coffee brewing techniques rather than espresso machines. Kicking Horse Three Sisters coffee may be made in a variety of ways, including French presses, Aeropress, drip coffee machines, and pour over coffee makers.

100% Arabica coffee beans from Indonesia, Central America, and South America. The beans are then sent to Kicking Horse Coffee in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where they are roasted.

Kicking Horse Coffee assures that all of their coffee beans are Fairtrade. This implies that the farmer who grows and sells the coffee beans is guaranteed the highest possible pay for the beans he or she grows. Further advantages of being 100% Fairtrade include preserving workers’ rights and eliminating child labor.

Pros:

• Rich and delicious medium roast
• USDA organic certification
• Fairtrade Certified
• Excellent for all coffee brewing processes.
• a big bag (2.2 pounds)

Cons:

• Pricey, but greater amount than most.

4.5 out of 5 ratings from users

Allegro Coffee Organic Whole Bean Light Roast Coffee

Allegro Coffee is a Whole Foods Market brand of coffee that is organic, GMO-free, and Fairtrade certified. The Organic Morning Blend coffee bean is a mild roast consisting of 100% Arabica coffee beans from South America and Ethiopia.

The Morning Mix smells and tastes like milk chocolate, caramel, and citrus. Since it is a light roast coffee bean, it is suitable for all kinds of coffee makers but not for espresso machines. Pour-over coffee is recommended by Allegro Coffee roastmasters for optimum brewing.

Allegro Coffee Organic Morning Blend is one of the more cheap alternatives on our list, particularly when buying Fairtrade certified 100% USDA certified organic coffee beans.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Flavorful
• USDA organic certified
• Fairtrade certified at 100%

Cons:

• Not suitable for espresso machines or people who want black, powerful coffee.

4.5 out of 5 ratings from users

Bulletproof French Kick Dark Roast Whole Bean Coffee

Last but not least on our list is Bulletproof’s French Kick dark roast coffee bean.

Bulletproof Coffee has been around since 2004 and was created for folks who are active yet do not want to give up coffee. It is keto-friendly, clean, and made entirely of Direct Trade coffee beans. It is toxin-free, so you won’t get the jitters or other harmful crashes that coffee may cause.

Bulletproof Coffee’s French Kick mix is a dark roast whole bean coffee with chocolate and smokiness overtones. The beans are always sourced from Central and South American jungles, particularly in Guatemala and Colombia. Bulletproof’s Rainforest Alliance partnership with coffee producers ensures that farmers and forests are preserved while producing coffee beans.

French Kick Bulletproof Coffee may be made in coffee makers as well as espresso machines. This is because to the beans’ dark roast and smokey taste, which makes them an excellent option for trademark coffee beverages and espresso machines.

Pros:

• Keto-friendly
• Toxin-free
• Trading is entirely direct.
• Rainforest Alliance Certified
• Full taste is suitable for use in coffee makers and espresso machines.

Cons:

• Heavy roast coffee has a strong taste and is not suggested for individuals who prefer a milder mix.

4.6 out of 5 ratings from users

The Ultimate Buying Guide for Choosing the Best Coffee Beans

Now that we’ve covered the top 9 coffee beans, it’s time to assist you in making your pick. Since we realize how crucial the roast level is when selecting the finest coffee beans, we made sure to include a variety of light, medium, and dark roast coffee beans across this list.

While selecting the finest coffee beans, the roast of the coffee is not the only crucial thing to consider. The kind of coffee bean, the roasting date of the coffee, and the location of the coffee bean all play a role in determining which coffee beans are the finest to pick.

What is the Difference Between the Different Types of Roasts?

Coffee roasts are classified as light, medium, or dark. If you don’t understand the differences between these roasts, you can wind up with a bag of coffee beans that don’t match your taste preferences. The appropriate coffee roast combined with the right brewing procedure will result in the ideal cup of joe every time.

Light Roast Coffee Beans

Lightly roasted coffee beans are those that have been roasted between 350 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit and have hardly cracked. They are light brown in color and have no oils on the outside.

Light roast coffee beans preserve the taste of the coffee bean rather than the flavor generated by extensive roasting. This is why light roast coffee beans are popular among new coffee drinkers; they are mild and filled with the most flavor that the coffee has to give, rather than the taste provided by the roast.

If you are new to coffee and will be using an automated drip coffee maker, you should pick a light roast coffee. Light coffee retains the taste of the coffee bean without adding the bitterness and smokiness seen in dark roasted coffee.

Medium Roast Coffee Beans

Medium roasted coffee beans are roasted between 400 and 430 degrees Fahrenheit. They are medium-brown in hue and have an oily surface.

Medium roast coffee beans are sometimes regarded as the ideal roast since they appeal to both novice coffee consumers and those who like a somewhat stronger taste. Medium-roasted coffee beans will fracture through the first layer but not the second.

The taste of the coffee bean will be combined with the flavor created by the roasting process in medium roast coffee beans. This results in a coffee bean that has tastes from both the bean and the roasting procedure.

If you appreciate the natural tastes of the coffee bean as they mingle with the flavors created during the roasting process, consider a medium roast coffee. Medium roast coffee beans are suitable for almost all brewing techniques.

Dark Roast Coffee Beans

Dark roast coffee beans have an oily appearance and reach the second crack after being roasted at temperatures greater than 430 degrees Fahrenheit. Many dark roast coffee roasters will continue the roasting process through the second crack to ensure that the coffee bean has a nutty and smokey taste. This is why many coffee lovers favor dark roast coffee beans; the nuttiness, smokiness, and chocolate tastes are enhanced.

If you like a more strong taste, go for a dark roast coffee. Dark roast coffee is ideal for speciality coffee beverages and espresso machines. This is because a tiny bit of coffee can carry a big taste punch, which is how espresso and specialty coffee beverages are prepared.

Robusta or Arabica Beans? What’s the Difference?

You’ve undoubtedly noticed that many of the coffee beans on this list have the designation 100% Arabica Beans. Yet, certain mixes may include Robusta coffee beans. Understanding the difference between Arabica and Robusta coffee beans can assist you in determining which coffee mix is ideal for you.

Arabica Coffee Beans

Arabica coffee beans account for 60 to 70% of all coffee bean output on the market today. Arabica coffee beans are farmed mostly in Ethiopia, but also in Central and South America.

Arabica coffee beans are oval in shape and have less caffeine than Robusta coffee beans, comprising around 1.5% caffeine.

Arabica beans grow best in volcanic areas or rainforests, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Rainforest Arabica beans retain freshness and prevent mold concerns, but volcanic Arabica beans cultivated in volcanic soil are often richer and smoother in flavor.

Arabica beans are always utilized in coffee blends, while robust coffee is usually used as a filler or supplement. Although you will almost certainly purchase a bag of 100% Arabica bean coffee, you will almost certainly not purchase a bag of 100% Robusta bean coffee. This is due to the fact that the Robusta plant is bitterer and more rubbery than the Arabica plant.

Robusta Coffee Beans

Since Robusta coffee beans are more bitter than Arabica coffee beans, 100% Robusta bean coffee is uncommon. Instead, Robusta beans are often mixed with at least 60% Arabica beans to produce a full-flavored coffee with more caffeine than others. Robusta coffee beans have around 2.7% caffeine, compared to 1.5% caffeine in Arabica beans.

The Benefits of Choosing Coffee Beans that Support Local Farmers and Communities

Several coffee beans are certified as 100% Direct Trade or 100% Fairtrade. Since coffee beans must be imported into North America for roasting and resale, roasters and merchants depend on local growers to provide coffee beans for processing.

Direct Trade and Fairtrade establish a strong bond between the farmer and the roaster. These initiatives safeguard farmers by assuring that they will always have a buyer to buy their goods.

100% Direct Trade

Since the roaster is 100% Direct Trade certified, the coffee beans are purchased directly from the grower. Direct commerce benefits both parties engaged in the transaction.

Direct Trade involves ensuring that the roaster or merchant receives the greatest price and quality of coffee beans.

Direct Trade means never having to wonder where your next client will come from for the farmer.

These advantages aren’t confined to farmers and merchants. It also makes its way to the customer. Every time they buy coffee, the customer knows they will get the highest taste and quality. This is why the Direct Trade certification logo is one trait you should look for in coffee beans.

100% FairTrade

100% FairTrade is primarily concerned with the farmers who grow the coffee beans. Farmers who sell their products to Fairtrade Certified businesses will see a portion of the proceeds go directly to schools, the economy, the environment, workers’ rights, and gender equality.

This collaboration between a roaster and a farmer benefits schools, poverty, and workers’ rights. When you, the customer, buy a FairTrade product, the money from the transaction helps to sustain the connection between the merchant and the producer.

The Advantages of Choosing Whole Bean Coffee Instead of Ground Coffee

As previously stated, purchasing coffee beans that have already been ground implies purchasing stale coffee. Coffee becomes stale within hours after being ground. Bags of ground coffee on grocery store shelves are frequently ground weeks in advance. When brewed, they lose a lot of their taste and fragrance because of this.

Whole bean coffee is often packed and transported within hours after being roasted. If you can buy your whole bean coffee based on the roast date, you should always do so. That way, you’ll know exactly when the coffee was roasted. Coffee that has been roasted days or weeks before being received might naturally cause the coffee beans to lose taste and fragrance.

Finally, after you have your coffee, you should only grind it as required. You should not grind your coffee all at once after getting it since it will grow stale within hours. Instead, grind exactly the quantity of coffee required for the serving of coffee you are preparing.

Different Coffee Grinds for Different Brewing Methods

When you’ve decided on the finest coffee beans, you’ll need to know how to grind them. The greatest coffee beans, including how they are ground, are the key to making the best cup of coffee.

Drip Coffee Makers

While making coffee with an automated drip machine, grind the whole bean coffee to a medium grind. Medium coffee grounds will be tiny enough to steep when hot water falls over them, but not so fine that they will pass through the filter and into the pot of coffee.

Pour-Over Coffee Makers

Pour-over coffee machines gather the coffee as it is made in a vat or carafe. A cheesecloth or another form of filter cloth will be placed in the top hole of the vat or carafe to retain the coffee grounds while hot water is poured over the coffee grounds to brew the coffee and collect it in the container beneath.

Because of this, medium to medium-coarse coffee grounds are ideal for pour-over coffee machines. Any coffee grounds finer than a medium grind will most likely pass through the filter when hot water is poured over the coffee.

French Press Coffee Makers

The French Press is a coffee machine that can produce both hot and cold brew. Since the coffee grounds and water will be mixed in the carafe, they must be roughly ground.

The plunger of the coffee maker will be used by the French Press to push the coffee grinds down to the bottom of the carafe, separate from the brewed coffee. Only if the coffee grounds are coarse enough to pass through the plunger’s filter will the grounds be kept out of the brewed coffee.

Espresso Machines

The more refined, the better. Espresso machines depend on extra-fine coffee grounds to provide enough pressure on the coffee puck to produce a full-bodied espresso with just the perfect amount of crema. Coarse coffee grounds will not produce the compact coffee puck required to make espresso. To tamp a compressed puck of coffee in the espresso machine, you’ll need to crush extra-fine coffee grounds.

What You Need to Enjoy the Best Coffee Beans

When you’ve decided on your coffee beans, you’ll need a coffee grinder. While grinding coffee beans, a coffee grinder is a must-have instrument. When grinding coffee beans, a blender or food processor will not suffice.

Coffee grinders are intended to ground coffee beans rather than crush them. Blenders and food processors just break up the beans, however a coffee grinder produces genuine coffee grounds.

We suggest using a burr coffee grinder when selecting a coffee grinder. A burr coffee grinder consists of two rotating burrs that grind the coffee. This is what gives coffee grinds their distinctive texture, whether coarse or extra-fine.

Your coffee grinder should have settings ranging from extremely coarse to extra fine. This enables you to generate the precise grind of coffee required for the brewing technique you are using.

Conclusion

The greatest coffee beans should be those that you like drinking. Note that light roast coffee will preserve the original characteristics of the coffee beans, but dark roast coffee will have deeper, smokier, and more intense flavors.

Any coffee including Robusta coffee will have a greater caffeine concentration than 100% Arabica coffee, thus if you are caffeine sensitive, you should avoid this mix.

So sit back, grind your favorite coffee beans, and make the perfect cup of coffee directly in your own home.