Cold brew coffee was virtually unheard of a couple of decades ago. Nowadays, though, it’s everywhere. Even the big chains like Starbucks have been getting in on the act.
What is so special about cold brew coffee?
It’s the lack of bitterness and acidity, coupled with a very mild and smooth flavour that makes it easy to drink and incredibly moreish. Many consider it to be the best way to draw out the more subtle flavours of coffee beans.
Just because all coffee beans can be prepared using cold brew methods, though, does not necessarily mean they are all going to work well and produce a nice tasting beverage. That is why you need to be selective when choosing the best coffee beans for cold brew. We know only too well that there is such a diverse selection of beans on the market these days, all pushed forward by their producers, roasters and suppliers as being the best.
This can make things very stressful. Therefore, to help you out and get the benefit of a truly delicious cold brew, we have helped pick out a small number (three to be exact) of coffee beans that we think work perfectly in cold brews. We have also put together a helpful buying guide that covers everything you need to know about making cold brew.
Before we go any further, we feel it’s necessary, for all the complete newbies, to explain the difference between cold brew and iced coffee.
Cold-brew coffee involves the beans being soaked in filtered cold water over a long period, which extracts all those nice flavours from them. There is no heat used in the process whatsoever. For, iced coffee, however, you make coffee in the normal way, with hot water and then cool it down and pour it over ice cubes.
Coffee Masters Colombian Cold Brew Ground Coffee, Single Origin, 500g
First on our short but sweet list of the best coffee beans for cold brew drinks is this excellent single-origin Columbian coffee beans, sourced from Antioquia and Medellin. It consists solely of 100% Arabica beans that are organic and ethically sourced as a fair-trade product, so you can be sure you can have a good conscience while sipping on a cold brew. With a capacity of 500-grams, you can make a total of 5-litres of cold brew coffee.
The kind of flavours you can expect from this single-origin coffee is chocolate with orange peel and very bright levels of acidity. Coffee Masters have been in the business long enough and well established that they have developed a ground coffee that is very easy to turn into a delicious cold brew. You just need to immerse the grounds in cold water for at least 12 to 24 hours.
Key Features
100% single-origin Arabica coffee bean grounds
Fair-trade and organic
Makes a total of 5-litres of cold brew coffee
Light and balanced with flavour notes of chocolate, orange and bright levels of acidity
Last on our list is this great single-origin 100% Arabica coffee that’s ideal for cold brew beverages. It is sourced from Honduras and comes in a high-quality resealable bag, designed with foil and natural Kraft with 3-layers. Again, you may not have heard of the brand, but it is worth considering it. Especially if you want a smooth and sweet beverage.
The grounds have been ground coarsely to ensure extraction of all the important flavours is slow and nothing goes to waste. That in combination with the light-medium roast of the beans gives it a characteristic light and easy to drink flavour featuring bold notes with a minimum level of acidity and a nice balanced body.
Key Features
100% Arabica beans
Single-origin beans from Honduras
Light, bold, sweet and smooth cold brew coffee
Resealable bag built to last and ensure you can enjoy tasty cold brew for a long time
Buying Guide
To help you make the right choice of coffee beans for your cold brews, so you have the best-flavoured beverage possible, we have put together this buying guide. In it, we are going to discuss the effects temperature has on taste, the two main methods used to make cold brew coffee, why grind size is important and although roast comes down to personal taste, why you should always use single-origin beans for cold brew coffee.
How Temperature Affects Taste
While tradition, hot coffee is extracted from beans at around 91 to 96-degrees, cold brew coffee is extracted at around 2 to 21-degrees. It’s the lack of heat, as explained earlier, during the process, that gives cold brew its very distinctive and subtle flavour profile and characteristics. However, it is important to note that choosing to make cold brew requires approximately double the number of grounds and some additional hours when it comes to brewing in comparison to making a hot cup of joe. It is very much a labour of love.
One of the problems is that because much of the solubles and acids that create the mild and floral flavour notes in your favourite coffee can only be extracted at specific temperatures. As a result, cold brews may be easier to drink and digest and contain less acid, but also tend to be more subdued and muted in the flavour department. The best way to make sure you have a cold brew coffee full of flavour and with a satisfying smooth texture is by picking the right coffee beans to start with.
Different Methods of Making Cold Brew Coffee – Cold Drip and Immersion
When it comes to cold brewing, there are two main methods used – slow drip and immersion.
With the slow drip cold brew method, as the name suggests, ice-cold water is dripped slowly onto ground coffee and then collected in a carafe underneath. The biggest advantage of the slow drip method is how quick it is. Though it should be noted it can still take anything from 3 to 5 hours to make just one cup of the delicious cold brew. There is also the major downside that the equipment is very expensive.
Flavour-wise, the resulting beverage from this brewing technique is quite a dilute and medium-bodied coffee.
Immersion is more popular with home cold brewers because it is a lot simpler than a slow drip. You basically take ground beans and place them inside cold water for around 12 to 24 hours before filtering it. The flavour from immersion cold brews is a lot stronger and fuller-bodied.
The Importance of Grind Size and Consistency
The grind is really important. It doesn’t matter if you are grinding coffee beans yourself or if you buy pre-ground beans.
Finer grounds will provide more bitter and even harsh flavours, whereas a coarse ground will have a much smoother and enjoyable flavour and is, therefore, more popular.
However, there is one time when the grind size and consistency is especially important when you are making a cold brew with the slow drip. Bigger and coarser grinds are much quicker to get started, whereas finer grinds can be too dense and therefore restrict the water flow.
Light Roast or Dark Roast – It’s All Down to Personal Choice
Although we have covered things that really can have an impact on how your cold brew coffee can turn out and there are right and wrong ways to do it, when it comes to the roast, it is more about personal preference than anything else. The best way to figure out what you prefer is to try and experiment with both dark and light roasts.
You also need to avoid assuming that the type of roast you like for hot coffee will be the same for cold brew coffee.
There is a lot of debate among experts. Some feel darker roasts are best as cold brew suits the earthiness and the dark nutty and chocolate notes. While others prefer lighter and medium roasts as they have a higher acidity, because cold brewing removes the acidity, so it is preserved a little better.
There is also the fact that the brighter acidity than lighter roasts are known for are harder to extract using the cold brew method. Regardless of the roast you choose, you need to keep in mind that the flavours in light roasts take longer to extract because the structure of the bean’s cells is not as damaged by roasting as it is with dark roasts.
Blend or Single-Origin Beans
There may be a huge amount of debate about whether dark or light roasts are best. One thing there is no debate about among coffee experts is that single-origin coffee beans are ideal for cold brewing. This is because you get to taste subtler notes of the coffee beans and can develop a greater appreciation for single-origin products.
Although blends may be sensible when it comes to regular coffee or espresso, as a barista balances bitterness, sweetness and acidity, whereas with the cold brewing process there is little to no acidity and bitterness.
Should You Add Milk To It or Not?
Whether you have milk with a cup of cold brew coffee or not, is again, like the type of bean roast you use, more about personal preference and taste than anything else. However, many coffee experts suggest it is best to drink cold brew black as the flavours are already very subdued and mellow. The thought is that using dairy would only dilute it further.
If coffee with cream or milk is how you would normally drink it, you should still give drinking black cold brew coffee a try, because you could be very surprised. If it still isn’t doing enough for you then, you should have a try at mixing one part of milk and three parts of cold brew coffee.
Summary
There you go, folks, if you are looking for something different to the usual hot coffee, whether you enjoy a mocha, espresso or something else. A cold brew coffee can be a great diversion and another great way to enjoy coffee beans. You may even discover that you find flavours and notes you didn’t know you could get from coffee.
As well as the coffee bean grounds, we have picked out above, you have all the information you need to pick out the right cold brew coffee for you. It may take some trial and error, but for many of us, that is what it was first like getting into coffee.
When you get it right, an espresso coffee can be a near-magical experience. A dark and rich taste with a buzz that helps invigorate you and feel great from head to toe.
Whether it’s first thing in the morning when you are trying to get rid of the sleepy dust from your eyes or during your afternoon slump when you’re trying to kickstart your engines to complete your busy day.
However, when you get an espresso wrong, it can be a bitter and unpleasant experience, with an aftertaste that stays with you for some time afterwards.
Obviously, it is important to choose the right method and tools for making your espresso.
However, even if you have a reliable machine, or are just using a Moka pot if you don’t have good quality espresso beans (we should point out here, as we have in another post on this site, that espresso beans are not actually a type of coffee bean, but rather those that have been identified as being great for use in making this form of coffee), the resulting drink you make will not be all you hoped and be closer to the latter than the former described above.
To help you get that glorious thing of wonder that is a perfect cup of espresso every single time, we have highlighted what we believe are the best coffee beans for espresso below.
You know you are getting a high-quality coffee bean when you purchase any product with the Lavazza branding. With over 120 years’ worth of experience in the industry, the company was established in 1895 in Turin by Luigi Lavazza. It is still based in Turin and is now run by third and fourth generation Lavazza family members.
There is a reason Lavazza is favoured over other brands throughout the world. Even within the home country, it is considered the favourite coffee. Lavazza was compelled to give their products that tagline as there has been studies that show around 16 million of the 20 million families who purchase coffee in Italy pick Lavazza.
If you are looking for a tasty and distinctly Italian espresso with a rich and intense aroma and flavour, then look no further than the company’s Cafe Espresso whole beans. Rated with an intensity level of 5, these medium roast beans are 100% Arabica and sourced from Central and South America and Africa, but the processing is all completed in Settimo Torinese in Italy.
Key Features
Intensity level 5
Full body and rich
Compatible with all coffee makers and machines
Suitable for all types of coffee (not just Espresso)
The next great espresso beans we have to discuss come courtesy of the renowned and popular Cafe Royal. With more than 65 years of experience producing coffee, the Swiss company know a thing or two about their craft. Despite their longevity in the industry, they haven’t become complacent and are always looking to tweak and enhance their already delicious products. As a brand, they are committed to producing the finest coffee they can to help customers enjoy the best. And that’s what you get with the Espresso coffee beans from the company.
Made in Switzerland, using only the finest blend of Arabica and Robusta beans sourced from UTZ-certified farms. Although it definitely has some strong initial notes of roasting, it has a slightly less intense flavour compared to the Lavazza beans above, scoring 4 out of 5. That being said, it makes an exquisite flavoured coffee with pointed roasted beans notes and a very spicy and intense taste with only the slight hint of acidity. We would recommend these coffee beans for anyone who is looking for an espresso that has a lightness to it.
Key Features
Swiss coffee from the masters
Arabica and Robusta beans sourced from UTZ-certified farms
Low acidity level
Roasted notes with a spicy flavour
Coffee Masters Super Crema Espresso Coffee Beans, 1Kg
Coffee Masters is an independent coffee wholesaler based in Worcestershire. As well as selling their extremely high-quality coffee beans and blends to customers, the company also supplies offices, bars, hotels, cafes, coffee shops, bistros and restaurants throughout the country with ingredients and machines all at reasonably affordable wholesale prices. Although this particular blend is not solely made from Arabica beans and instead is a mixture of 40% Arabica beans with 30% washed Robusta beans and 30% Robusta beans, it still has a delicious flavour.
They are very dark roast beans that produce bold and deep flavours that will allow you to reminisce about Italian coffee shops. You should also be able to detect notes of hazelnut, cream and milk chocolate with a decidedly subtle level of acidity, bitter cocoa and nutty sweetness. As the name suggests, the espresso you make should have a perfect Crema topping. Even if you are looking to have something other than espresso, this will work just as well, and milk can be added to make a softer drink.
Key Features
Perfect for other types of coffee as well as Espresso
A richly dark roast mix of Arabica and Robusta beans
High-quality beans sourced from India, Brazil and Central America
Spiller & Tait were set up in January 2014 by David Tait and Simon Spiller. In a relatively short time, it has been in operation since then, Spiller & Tait has grown to become one of the biggest and best-loved brands of fresh coffee in the country. This product is the Signature Blend of coffee beans from the company that comprises five different varieties of Arabica beans from India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Brazil and Columbia. The resulting blend is perfect for a full-body, rich and very rounded flavoured espresso blend.
The Signature Blend has been devised to appeal to a wide array of palates and is favoured for those looking for a complex flavour without any bitter aftertaste. Although picked out as being great for espresso, these coffee beans will work well to make just about any coffee using any type of coffee machine or espresso maker. It doesn’t matter whether you have it at the start of the day, at the halfway point or towards the end, the Spiller & Tait Signature Blend will never disappoint.
Key Features
A unique blend of Arabica beans from 5 fine regions
Full-bodied and rich flavour, without bitterness
Can be used in all coffee machines and makers
Intensity level 4
Taylors of Harrogate Espresso Beans, 1kg (Pack of 3)
The final product in our choice of the best espresso beans comes from Taylors of Harrogate. Taylors is another great family-run, independent company that specialises in tea and coffee. The brand was first established back in 1886, the company remains in Harrogate and remains directed by members of the Taylors family. One thing that really hasn’t changed since its formative days is its commitment to exquisite and memorable flavour.
Blend from 100% Arabica beans from Ethiopia, Kenya, Indonesia and Brazil to exquisitely smooth coffee with a strong and bittersweet chocolate tone to it all. You know you are getting good value for money if you are looking for the strength of the roast and it’s rated a 5. The big flavours and robust coffee beans may be sourced from outside this country, but all of the roasting action takes place in the company’s very traditional and reliable drum roaster from their base in Harrogate.
Key Features
Blended from 5 distinct varieties of Arabica
Traditionally roasted in Harrogate
Powerful and dark roast
Intensity level 5
Espresso Beans Buying Guide
Now that you’ve had a chance to look at our choices for the best espresso coffee beans, you may still be a little unsure which is right for you. With that in mind, we’ve put together a buying guide to help you choose the right espresso coffee beans.
Origin of Beans
Although many, except the Swiss and Italian brands, of the coffees we picked out above are made right here in Blighty, the beans are obviously sourced from various places. The origin of the beans can actually play a hugely influential role in the flavour, texture and consistency, thanks to several factors such as the growing conditions, climate and temperature.
For example, for brews of espresso that are very bright, clean and sweet, look to South and Central American coffee beans, whereas if you want something little more complicated, but ultimately very fruity, look to African coffee beans. And Asian coffee is known for its deliciously rich and earthy flavour.
Blend or Single Origin Coffee Beans
There is a lot of debate about whether it is best to make espresso with a blend or single-origin coffee beans. However, given that coffee flavour is a highly subjective matter, it is more about your personal preference than anything else. Single-origin coffee beans, when used for espresso, will often produce the most powerful, rich and lingering coffee, whereas blends can often be a lot subtler. The truth is, they are both good, in their own way. Consider the flavour profile you are looking for and how strong you need it to be and go from there.
Type of Roast
The kind of roast that, has been used to get the beans to the stage they are now is crucial to finding the right espresso for your palate. Are you looking for something subtle and delicate? opt for a much lighter roast. Whereas if you are looking for something a little on the strong and bitter side, choose a dark roast.
Consider the Packaging
Without being too fastidious, it is a good idea to be aware of the packaging used for any coffee beans you are interested in. Has the best technology and material been used to ensure the beans are kept as fresh as possible between when they were packaged and arriving at your home? Packaging with leakproof features helps prevent oxidation from occurring which obviously reduces the lifespan and freshness of the beans.
It is recommended that you check the packaging also for details related to the coffee beans. We have found that there are inaccuracies when looking at the Amazon listing (for example) and the actual packaging. Check that everything matches up, including the flavour profile, source of the beans, roasting date and the brand.
Freshness
Ultimately, although we’ve left it to last, freshness is one of the most crucial points to consider when choosing any beans, not just those for those espressos you crave. Always look to get coffee with a roasting date as close to the time when you intend on buying it. Avoid any coffee beans and brands that do not share clear details of the roasting date.
Conclusion
Whether you are looking to enjoy an espresso in shot-form as a pick-you-up start to the day, refuelling at lunchtime or need it for those fancy cappuccinos you like to make on your afternoons off, choosing the right coffee beans is imperative. Think about the kind of flavour of coffee you enjoy, or that you are looking to explore (if you are feeling brave and adventurous) and pick the coffee beans from our guide that match up.
If you are still not sure which is best for you, our guide will hopefully help to join any dots and fill in any blanks you have on the path to tasty, dark and decadent coffee. Coffee is very subjective and really the right coffee for you, may not be quite the right coffee for someone else. We’ve tried to keep that in mind by selecting fine coffee beans for espressos that will appeal to a wide selection of people.
Even if you have to try them all, we are sure you Weill find the right for you. If you need any further help, please take the time to look at some of the other great information we have right here at Best Coffee Beans!
Do you prefer to use a drip coffee machine or a French press? Perhaps you use a pour-over method or just a simple Moka pot?
You probably have a specific grind you prefer also, and even if you don’t, the type of coffee you are looking to enjoy will influence the grind you are looking for.
Although you will have preferences regarding the type of coffee you drink and how you make it, those things do not have as big an impact on the resulting drink as does the coffee beans themselves.
If you are not investing in the best coffee beans, it won’t matter how you disguise that fact.
They will still be bad coffee beans.
Grinding them down into a fine consistency and putting them into the most exquisitely cutting-edge and fancy coffee machine won’t make them taste any better, neither will mixing in lots of sweetened cream and chocolate. You will still have awful coffee.
Therefore, the coffee beans you choose are really the first and most crucial decision you make when trying to achieve coffee perfection. If you are new to coffee, though, the marketplace can be a very intimidating place to navigate through.
Don’t worry though, as the team at Best Coffee Beans are here to help. Not only will we highlight the 10 coffee beans we consider to be the best but have put together a practical buying guide that will further help you make the right choice.
Where else would we look first for some of the best coffee beans than Italy and with arguably one of the best coffee manufacturers in the world, Lavazza. Since its inception in 1895 in Torino, the company has remained in the Lavazza family, with third and fourth generation members now at the reins. In that time, it has advanced and evolved, but always kept one thing consistent – producing quality coffee. With more than 16 million out of 20 million coffee drinking families in Italy choosing Lavazza over the competition, that is a great indication of its quality.
The Qualita Rossa coffee beans are a stunning blend of Arabica and Robusta varieties sourced from Africa and Brazil. Medium roasted, the beans produce coffee with an intensity rating of 5, an aroma that has distinctive chocolate notes and a full and rich flavour that is sustained. This is a really great all-rounder and incredibly versatile. It doesn’t really matter if you are looking to make a simple strong black Americano, a mocha or just want a nice coffee with a bit of milk, Qualita Rossa will always deliver a fine cuppa.
Key Features
Intensity level 5
Rich and lasting flavour with chocolatey hints in the aroma
Versatile – will work well in all coffee makers and machines
Sticking with Italian coffee for the next beans we want to discuss, Illy is another brand that has been producing fine coffee made from a distinctive blend of Arabica beans for the best part of 75 years. Illy is a company that really invests in its coffee, from the ground up, literally. It developed the direct trade model for sourcing coffee beans which involved establishing and maintaining long and intimate relationships with the growers.
When buying the beans for their coffee, they pay a lot more than the market value to give the growers a nice profit and also run the Universita Del Caffe to help teach the growers and improve their skills. Why is this important? Because it shows their commitment to people and to making the best coffee possible. The Classico Roast is a stunning blend of fine Arabica beans prepared to a medium roast and packed carefully in nitrogen to help preserve their freshness. In fact, the guarantee from the company is that the coffee beans will remain fresh for up to 2 years if looked after properly. The resulting flavour is balanced and rich with nice hints of chocolate and caramel.
Key Features
Perfect for any type of coffee preparation
Exclusive Illy Blend
100% Arabica
Medium roast
Spiller & Tait Signature Blend Coffee Beans, 1kg Bag
For the next pack of coffee beans, we are staying on home turf with Worcestershire-based Spiller & Tait. Although new to the world of coffee production as a company, both co-founders of the business, David Tait and Simon Spiller have been involved in businesses that serve, wholesale and even roast coffee. The pair used their love and knowledge for the beverage and the beans that are used to create it a delicious blend devised with the British public in mind.
The Signature Blend, their main premium blend of coffee beans had been designed with espresso in mind. However, it is suitable for all forms of coffee preparation. It is the winner of several prestigious awards and when you taste it, you really understand why. There is a smoky richness to its flavour and tasty notes of caramelised demerara and toasted almonds. The blend has been sourced with 100% Arabica beans from India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Brazil and Columbia and perfect at any time of the day.
Key Features
100% Arabica coffee beans
A special blend of beans sourced from India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Brazil and Columbia
Taste of the West 2014 and Great Taste Award 2017 winner
Rounded and rich flavour with sweet and nutty notes
We’re back on the continent again for the next coffee beans in our guide and back with the most celebrated producers of fine Italian coffee, Lavazza. The Crema e Aroma is another very popular, but far more distinctive blend from the company. Featuring a mix of 40% Washed and Natural Arabica beans and 60% Natural Robusta Beans, the resulting drink is strongly aromatic with notes of nutmeg and peanut.
With these beans, Lavazza used a slower roasting process to develop the deeper and more complex flavour. Although packaged with espresso in mind, as is the case with any coffee beans, they will work well in whatever type of coffee you desire to make. Many customers swear by using this blend of beans for a tasty flat white that is more than a match for Starbucks and Costa!
Key Features
Slower roasting gives the beans a richer flavour
An expert blend of Washed and Natural Arabica beans with Robusta beans
Made in Italy and imported directly from the factory in Torino
Designed for espresso, but perfect for all types of coffee
Back in Blighty for another great British-made selection of coffee beans. Coffee Masters is an aptly named brand, especially if their Triple Certified, Organic and Fairtrade Arabica coffee beans are anything to go by. A complex flavour is produced with light and tantalising hints of chocolate and sweet caramel with a subtle citrus acidity, which is all wrapped up with a nice and spicy kick. We can see why it was awarded the Great Taste Award in 2018 and why so many coffee aficionados rave about it.
However, it is not just the flavour and heady aroma that this blend of coffee beans produces that has us sold. It’s the company’s commitment to doing things the right way. Not only are the 100% Arabica beans organic and Fairtrade-certified from Sumatra, Ethiopia and Honduras, but they are also Rainforest Alliance-certified. Therefore, if you are looking to feel good about what you buy, while enjoying a nice espresso, cappuccino or simple black coffee, these beans are a great choice.
Key Features
Triple-Certified – Organic, Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance-certified
2018 Great Taste Award Winner
Perfect for all kinds of coffees, but especially those with an espresso base
Unique medium roasted blend sourced from Sumatra, Ethiopia and Honduras
Taylors of Harrogate, Rich Italian Coffee Beans, 454g, Pack of 3
Another family-run and independent company are responsible for the next great coffee beans we want to discuss. Taylors of Harrogate, based in the Yorkshire city of their name, have been in operation and under the oversight of the Taylors family since 1886. The company has strong values and believes in creativity, respect and fairness. However, when it comes to their coffee, there is one value that takes precedence over all others – high-quality flavour. It is always their end goal when developing and enhancing their blends.
Although they are considered pioneers, they still utilize tried and tested methods to produce their roasts, doing it all in their drum roaster. The fruits of their labour with this particular blend, the Rich Italian is designed to transport you to the cobbled streets of Northern Italy and has a refined flavour of almond and dark chocolate. The beans used are 100& Arabica and like the beans from Coffee Masters, these have been certified by the Rainforest Alliance.
Key Features
Perfect for use in all coffee machines and makers
Certified by the Rainforest Alliance
100% Arabic coffee beans
Money-saving pack of 3
Taylors of Harrogate Indonesia Java Jember Single-Origin Coffee Beans, 1kg
Sticking with Taylors of Harrogate for the next coffee beans, we are taking a trip further afield to Indonesia, though, for these extraordinary single-origin Java Jember coffee beans. They may be sourced from Indonesia, but all the ingenuity and innovation still take place within the traditional drum roaster Taylors have used for numerous decades.
This is definitely not a coffee for the faint-hearted, but one for anyone looking for something deeper, richer and stronger with a greater caffeine kick than many others. Although some have found that when they are used in drip coffee machines the flavour is a bit lacking, these beans are great when used to make espresso or French Press coffee. A truly dark roast, this offers a velvety smooth, but ultimately intense and full flavour with lots of chocolatey notes and a satisfying finish. Taylors consider this to be one of the finest coffees they produce.
Key Features
Single-origin Indonesian Java Jember coffee beans
Velvety, rich and intense flavour with chocolatey notes
Dark roasted to perfection in a traditional drum roaster
Another intriguing offering from Coffee Masters is their highly exclusive Master Blend Beans. This is considered to be among the creme de la creme produced by the company and features a medium-dark roasting of 100% Arabica coffee beans sourced from Brazil, Costa Rica and Honduras. To give some peace of mind while you enjoy a rich and flavoursome cup of your favourite type of coffee, you can keep in mind that this premium blend of beans has been certified by the Rainforest Alliance.
In terms of flavour, it has a full body and rich depth to it with the sweetness of dark chocolate and nice nutty notes and an ever-so-slightly subtle hint of sweet lemon. Coffee Masters have stayed true to their moniker and produced a blend that is perfect any time of the day. Although recommended for those important espressos in your life, it will serve you well and provide you with a delicious filter coffee whether you like to add milk or not.
Key Features
Accredited and certified by the Rainforest Alliance
An exclusive dark roast blend of beans from Brazil, Costa Rica and Honduras
Designed for use in espresso machines, perfect for any type of coffee
If you are feeling a little adventurous and want to try something a bit different, you may want to take a chance on Solimo. It’s fair to say that they are not one of the highly regarded coffee brands with an enduring history and heritage. The company is, after all, one of Amazon’s own. Don’t let that put you off though. Consider the fact that these are 100% Arabica beans that have been sourced by UTZ-certified farmers who utilise better farming practices, that are good for the planet and the local people. It is not the strongest, so if you are looking for a big punch of flavour, this might not be the right choice for you.
However, if you are after a lighter and creamier coffee taste, these beans, which have been roasted, packed and distributed directly from the production plant in Belgium, are an ideal choice. When looking at the customer reviews of this coffee, it is worth keeping in mind that coffee and taste, in general, is a very subjective matter.
Key Features
100% Arabica beans
Roasted and packaged in Belgium
The smooth and mellow flavour
Suitable for all forms of coffee, made in all kinds of machines
Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast, Whole Beans, 200g, Pack of 6
Last but certainly not least in our guide is the best offering we could find from Starbucks. Okay, so this won’t be to everyone’s tastes, thanks to their opinions on the coffee shop chain as a company. However, we think these Blonde Espresso Roast coffee beans produce a delicious cup of coffee. You just need to look at the various positive comments in the review section to see how many people have been won over. There have even been some people who have noted that while it is stated to have a mellow and soft flavour, and it is supposed to be the lightest espresso roast offered by Starbucks, it still packs quite a strong punch.
The beans are 100% Arabica beans, sourced carefully from across Latin America. As you would expect, Starbucks work with Conservation International to ensure that the beans and ingredients they source for their products, both sold in their shops and through their retail section, are 100% ethical. The coffee is given the Blonde title because the beans of the packs in this selection are treated to a much lighter and mellower roast.
Key Features
Incredibly smooth, light and mellow
Ethically sourced 100% Arabica beans
Full-flavoured
Blonde roast, as opposed to the medium to dark you more commonly find
Best Coffee Beans Buying Guide
Now that we’ve looked at the best coffee beans in our opinion on the market, you may still feel unsure of which to choose. To further help you navigate through the many thousands of different coffee beans for sale these days, to find the best for you, we’ve put together an in-depth buying guide. We have tried to cover all of the most important things you need to consider when selecting whole coffee beans.
Understanding The Label
The label, along with any information provided by a site (if you are buying online) or in-store (if you are buying offline), is the key to finding the best coffee beans. Once you know what to look for and what everything means on a coffee bean label, you will find it much easier to pick out the good from the bad.
Always Make Sure It’s Whole Beans
This really should go without saying and we hope that as you have clicked through to a guide to the best coffee beans, you already know it, but you should only ever by whole coffee beans. If you really want to benefit from the freshest coffee and have the means to grind down your coffee beans at home, don’t opt for anything less.
Ground coffee can feel like a convenient and time-saving compromise, but trust us, the time you save in preparation by investing in that type of coffee is not worth the amount you lose in flavour.
The biggest enemy of coffee is the air around us. Once a coffee bean has been cracked open, the oxidation process starts and that means that the freshness of the coffee is compromised. Therefore, the closer brewing the coffee to grinding the coffee beans, the better, the fresher and the tastier the coffee will be.
The date the Coffee Was Roasted
Coffee is one of those products that many people just assume to have a limitless lifespan. When the truth is, it really doesn?t. Now, we are not saying that older coffee beans that were roasted some time ago are less healthy than those roasted very recently, because generally, that is not the case.
However, what we are saying is that fresher coffee beans are always going to produce beverages that taste better than those that have been in your cupboards for months and months.
The moment coffee beans leave the environment they were roasted in, they start to change. Degassing starts, which is the process of carbon dioxide being released that had built up during the roasting process.
Although this is a natural process, once the bean begins degassing, the natural oils inside it that give it the unique flavour notes and aroma you probably bought it for, start to oxidize and the flavour is not quite as strong. There is a lot of debate about what constitutes freshness when it comes to coffee beans. Depending on the method of brewing you use, however, you will still want to try and use coffee for drinks from 4 days to 2 weeks after the date the beans were roasted.
Why did we say it depends on the type of brewing method you use? Well, for example, if you are a fan of the pour-over brewing method, the best time to use coffee beans is during the first week following their roasting as you can benefit from a better and brighter coffee bloom then.
However, if you prefer to drink espressos and espresso-based drinks, you may give the coffee beans a bit of time to rest. Beans that were roasted between 7 and 9 days ago are best for espressos. Whereas anything older than that can be used for cold brews.
When it comes to the freshness of coffee beans, though, you really need to figure out what’s right for you. So, the above should be seen as suggestions more than anything else, rather than hard and fast rules.
Identity of Roaster
If you are not getting coffee beans from one of the branded companies, like the products listed above, you should still be able to find out who actually roasted them. Many roasters become well known within the industry and often have a good name for themselves. You can also find out if they have won awards or other accolades.
Just like with anything, different companies have their own specific ways of doing things and individual roasters have their own techniques and processes they use. Therefore, if there is a roaster named on the label, you may find with a little research that you are definitely getting a good quality bean.
Coffee Bean Origin
The origin of the coffee beans is incredibly important and has a huge impact on the way the flavour of the drinks they produce. The amount of sunlight they are exposed to, the rainfall, soil chemistry and even altitude all play a part. Therefore, pay close attention to the origin of coffee beans.
Coffee beans are grown successfully along the area known as the Bean Belt. This is an area that sits between 30-degrees to the south and 25-degrees to the north of the equator. If you come across a bag of coffee beans that has no highlighted location of origin or you can’t readily find out the information, you might be best looking elsewhere.
There are just over 50 countries make coffee. That number may sound a little intimidating though, so it might be best if you are new to coffee to try the more popular coffee regions and learn what kind of flavour provide you enjoy before trying anything too exotic.
Some of the most popular coffees are highlighted above, to give you an idea of what to expect from beans originating from these parts of the world.
Indonesia
Indonesia may not be the first place that comes to your mind when you think of coffee. However, Sumatran coffee and Java coffee both originate from there, as do mature coffees with a low level of acidity and deep full body.
Kenya
You will find, due to the landscape that coffee grown unshaded and processed with a special fermentation soak. It is both the growing technique and the processing that give Kenyan coffee it’s characteristic sweet/savoury flavour profiles that call to mind fruits and vegetables like blackcurrants and tomatoes.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is where many people believe coffee originates from originally. Although this has been since proven to be nothing more than an apocryphal story, it is still interesting. None of that takes away from the fact that Ethiopia has incredibly large coffee biodiversity. There are simply too many uncatalogued and wild coffee varieties grown here and a wide array of different processing methods used that it would be hard to try them all. Of the more popular Ethiopian coffees, though, you should expect tea and floral-esque brews and very heavy, fruity and almost wine-like versions of our favourite drink.
Brazil
Brazil, with its expansive countryside and various altitudes, is a country home to a wide range of different coffee flavours. Generally, the most common and popular tend to have heavy bodies and peanut flavours, making them ideal for espressos and drinks that use espresso as a base. Brazilian coffee also has a lingering aftertaste that remains in your mouth, long after you’ve sipped and gulped it down.
Columbia
Columbian coffee is incredibly popular and it is all down to the hard work and dedication of lots of small family-run farms that help to produce coffee beans that can be used to create mild drinks with properly balanced levels of acidity and a caramel flavour with hints of nuts.
Hawaii
Kona coffee is the most popular coffee made in Hawaii and is named after the biggest city on the island. Thanks to the regular showers of rainfall, high temperatures and intense sunshine, the coffee produced from Hawaii beans tends to be very rich with nice and gentle aromatic, floral notes.
As there are hugely different climates and processing methods used, it can be hugely enjoyable to try coffees from different areas. Of course, you will have your favourites, but it is always nice to take a step outside of your comfort zone for alternatives.
Fair Trade – What does it Actually Mean?
Fairtrade is something many people will make a point of looking out for when they are choosing products like coffee. You may not have stopped to even consider what it actually means. The truth is what fair trade means on one label will be different from another because there are several fair-trade labels and organisations. Therefore, if you are keenly interested in buying coffee that has come from an ethical, fair-trade source, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the most common labels and what they actually mean.
The Fair-Trade Federation and World Fair Trade Organisation
Both the FTF or Fair-Trade Federation and WTFO or World Fair Trade Organization are groups that hold the companies that have membership through them to incredibly high standards when it comes to fair trade. Whereas the WFTO has 10 basic principles it expects its members to follow, the FTF has 9.
Fair For Life
Fair For Life is a non-profit, third-party organisation that certifies each step in the production of something and the whole company involved in it too. Its goal is to establish partnerships between buyers, sellers, employers, workers and producers that are respectful, fair and ethical.
Fair Trade Certified
Fair Trade Certified was once a member of the organisation known as Fairtrade International and was at one time called TransFair. It is based in the US and was in a partnership with Fairtrade International up until 2011 when the groups went their separate ways because although they shared beliefs, they had different points of view on how to meet their goals.
It welcomes members with different levels of income and is not just for the poorer companies and producers. The goal of the organisation was to empower communities and promote their development through a socially conscious and sustainable trade model with the benefit of everyone who is involved in the process, from the farmers through to the customers.
Fairtrade International
Fairtrade International is an organisation that has the goal of promoting conditions of fairer trade for producers from disadvantaged circumstances and help with the improvement of the economic conditions they experience.
They firmly believe that the poorest producers in the world can experience consistent development when the trade is organised better and more transparent. FLO-CERT is a third-party inspection organisation that works on behalf of Fairtrade International and audits products regularly with that label.
It is debatable whether fair trade certification means the coffee beans are of high quality or not. What having a fair-trade label on coffee beans means is that the environment used, the workers and growers involved didn’t suffer unduly and were not treated poorly.
It is best, given how many different organisations and companies there are offering fair trade certifications, to find those that meet your values best and choose coffee beans with those labels.
Things to Avoid When Choosing Coffee Beans
While ensuring that the above are featured on the labels of coffee beans you are looking at, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are necessarily onto a winning product just yet. There are some things you need to avoid.
Does the Label Have 100% Pure Coffee Written on it?
There are some, believe it or not, coffee beans label that the producers/roasters feel the need to point out that it is made from 100% pure coffee. We recommend that you are very cautious if you come across this though. Why would they feel the need to point this out, unless it was to hide something?
Regardless, we are not actually sure what pure coffee means.
Self-Serve or Scoop Coffee Beans
Obviously, this is not a problem if you are buying coffee beans online, but if you find yourself visiting a shop where beans are not in specially sealed one-way valve bags or airtight containers, be very concerned, If they have coffee beans available in plastic bins like you would see in a store with pick and mix sweeties,
Use By Date
You are more likely to find a use-by date on coffee bought from a supermarket or other general store. However, when you are buying fresh coffee beans, there is no need for a use-by date, because all you really need to know is the date it was roasted.
Large Quantities
It may sound like a good deal, spending a bit extra for more coffee. However, you are not going to get the best cuppa. Especially if it is an oversized bag or another form of container. Coffee beans should be bought in a similar way to fresh loaves of bread. Buy coffee beans in smaller batches that will give you and your household enough for a week or so and top up as necessary.
The problem with buying too much at the same time is that there is the chance that the batch will spoil before you finish it, or you will need to just throw it away.
Choosing The Coffee Beans That Are Best For You
Okay, so you now know how to read coffee bean labels. What kind of coffee beans are best for you? The variety of the bean, more than anything else we have noted in this post is what has the biggest impact on the flavour of the drinks you can make. There are basically two main types of coffee beans – Robusta and Arabica. We have covered these beans in a different post which you can look at to find out more information. To summarise though:
Robusta Coffee Beans
Robusta beans are not as flavoursome as Arabica and are basically chosen because their plants are much easier to grow and cultivate. They are also much higher in caffeine and normally used for instant coffee.
Arabica Coffee Beans
Arabica coffee beans are the best when it comes to making a good cup of coffee. Arabica beans are used in the production of more than 60% of the world’s coffee. It has a higher level of acidity, tastes sweeter and much fruitier than Robusta.
How to Choose Your Roast
Another consideration you need to make when you are choosing the best coffee beans is the roast. The curious thing is there are no industry standards when it comes to coffee bean roasts. However, the general categories of roast coffee beans are separated into are:
Light
Medium
Medium-Dark
Dark
Although these are not the real names of roasts, and many roasters and producers give their roasts their own names, those names are closely associated with the colour of different roasts. To help you understand better what you can expect when buying specific roasts, we have provided a brief guide to each below.
Light Roast Coffee Beans
Light roast coffee beans have a light brown colour and are only roasted for a short time. These have the highest caffeine content of any roasts and often have names like Cinnamon, Half City and Light City.
Medium Roast Coffee Beans
Medium coffee roast beans are a big favourite in America. For this reason, they are often called American Coffee, even if it is used with Kenya coffee beans. Their colour is a medium brown and they have a dry, non-oily texture and a stronger flavour than light roast beans. Other names used to describe medium roast coffee beans include City and Breakfast.
Medium-Dark Roast Coffee Beans
Medium-dark coffee beans have a much darker and richer colour and also have an oily surface, which gives them a bitter with hints of sweet aftertaste that’s not too overpowering. Medium-Dark Roast coffee beans are often called Full City.
Dark Roast Coffee Beans
Dark Roast coffee beans have a very shiny and black colour that looks attractive. They produce a much more bitter flavoured coffee when they are brewed and have a wide range of hues from dark brown through to charred. Dark Roasts often have other names like New Orleans, French, Italian, Viennese, European, continental and high roasts.
How To Look After Coffee Beans
Once you have gone through the above and have the best coffee beans that meet your preferences and give you the unique taste profile you are after, you need to look after them properly. The next thing you need to do is ultimately the most important for ensuring you get as long lifespan out of them as possible and that is storing them properly.
Avoid the Freezer and Fridge, If Possible
There is a lot of debate about this and we have covered some of this in greater detail here. Many people say you should stick fresh coffee beans into the freezer or fridge to keep them for longer. However, this really doesn’t work.
It’s not just that it won’t help keep your coffee beans fresh, putting them in the freezer or fridge could interfere with their flavour.
Coffee has a porous structure, which is why coffee beans are perfect at absorbing aromatics present during the process of roasting them. However, this is also the quality that means your coffee beans will end up tasting like chopped garlic, onions or whatever else you have in your fridge.
Another huge problem with keeping your coffee beans in your fridge or freezer is moisture. Coffee beans can easily condensate in a damp and cold environment, which can force all the tasty oils that give the coffee its distinctive flavour to the surface. This causes the coffee beans to mature faster and their flavour diminishes quicker.
Further to all this, coffee beans can be affected by freezer burns.
Choose Somewhere Dark, Dry and Very Cool
Coffee beans should be treated like a bottle of high-quality fine wine. Coffee, like wine, does not like light. Although we’re not seriously suggesting you invest in your very own coffee cellar. That might be a bit too much. However, wine storage does provide a very apt parallel for coffee storage. Therefore, the best place to store coffee beans are environments that are dark, dry and cold.
We would suggest a cupboard or even a pantry that is at the opposite of the room to the oven in your kitchen or even in a completely different room, if possible. It makes sense that you would want to keep them close to where the other appliances and items are that you use for making coffee are, but you just need to be careful that they are kept away from areas with high humidity, like where you boil water or make pasta and other boiled foods.
Keep Them in An Airtight Container
The only circumstances in which we would say you could easily ignore the next bit of advice is if you buy coffee beans that come in special foil bags with one-way valves and airtight seals. Those kinds of bags will normally keep the coffee beans fresh for between one and two weeks approximately.
If you get coffee beans in a paper bag, like the products we highlighted above, you need to move them into an airtight, opaque container as quickly as you can once they arrive or you get them home, depending on where you bought them.
Be careful not to tighten the container’s lid too much if you are storing freshly roasted beans as they will be releasing a lot of carbon dioxide. The last thing you want is the container to burst or warp due to the build-up of gas.
Summary
Well, there we have it folks, our indispensable and comprehensive guide to buying the best coffee beans. You now have a good idea of what the best products are. When you’ve given them a try and are ready for something new or if you want to go off on your own coffee adventure, you also have all the information you could ever want and need to make sensible coffee bean choices.
If you are still feeling like you need more information, though, please take a look at the other great posts we have published here at Best Coffee Beans.
If you are going to do something, you need to do it right. And when it comes to making fresh coffee at home, there are some important steps you need to take. Having a good coffee machine is a must. But it doesn’t really matter how good the coffee machine you have is if you are not using the freshest and best coffee beans possible.
Any coffee expert will tell you if you really want a beautifully rich and delicious cup of coffee, you need to grind the beans yourself and only as and when you need them. Choosing just any grinder for your coffee beans isn’t really going to cut it. While they are all made with the same purpose in mind, they are not all equal and some are better than others. To have the best cup of coffee possible, you need to have a grinder that will produce a consistent grind.
Now, given how popular coffee beans have become over the last couple of decades, the market is full to bursting with coffee bean grinders. And each manufacturer claims that their models are the best. If you are finding the prospect of browsing through pages and pages of grinders headache-inducing, don’t worry, as we are here to help.
We have done a lot of the heavy lifting for you and selected the 10 coffee grinders we believe to be the best. In addition to our mini overviews of each product, we also have created a comprehensive buying guide to give you further help to decide which is best for you.
First up, we have the Krups F20342 Coffee Mill. Krups is a German company that was first established in 1846 when it was involved in the production of industrial balances and scales. For more than 110 years that followed, the company was one of the leading names in developing those types of machines.
After the Second World War, they slowly moved on from there to coffee machines and now they make several popular machines and appliances, like this mill. This has a capacity of 75 grams, which translates as 15 cups of coffee and features two stainless-steel blades that turn and chop any beans you pop into it. If you wanted to, you could also use it to grind up various spices too.
We like the fact it has the lid-activated safety feature, which means it won’t be able to turn on until the lid is on top properly With an ergonomic design it is very easy to hold and thanks to its simple and effective single-speed setting, there are no complications involved using it.
From one of the biggest names in the electrical appliances market in general, we now want to discuss this great burr grinder. De’Longhi really needs no introduction as they are a widely recognised and highly renowned brand. This professional-standard burr grinder has an impressive 120-grams capacity which, according to the company, enables you to produce around 12 cups of coffee with one grinding.
You can easily select the coffee grind setting you need for your preferred brewing method from coarse to medium and fine and you can also use the cup selector to determine how many cups worth of coffee beans you ground down. Similarly, to the above, this has a sophisticated safety element in that the dual-safe system it has been designed with means it won’t work if either the bean container is not in the machine or it is empty. Rather than using blades, it uses burr grinding wheels, two to be precise, which are very easy to remove and keep clean.
Key Features
120-grams capacity
Transparent bean container, allows you to see exactly what is going on
Cup selector and grind fineness selector, gives you lots of choices
2 x easy to clean and highly efficient burr grinding wheels
Shardor Electric Coffee Grinder with Removable Bowl
Next up, from the less well-known company of Shardor, we have this swish and very slick looking mill-style grinder with an adjustable speed setting that allows its two blades to turn and chop at 20000 to 24000 revs per minute. That basically means you can grind your favourite coffee beans down into the right consistency for your favourite brewing method in just a few seconds.
As everything can be removed, it is very easy to clean. To select different grinding times, you just press down on the lid, making it simple, but devastatingly effective to get that all-important grind right.
Although it’s for coffee you will be mostly looking at investing in this mill for, it is worth keeping in mind the various other functions it can perform, whether as a salt, spice, pepper or nut grinder. This means that as long as you wash it thoroughly between uses, you can really get an excellent return on your investment.
Key Features
Grinding can be set to between 20000 to 24000 revs per minute speed
You can easily select the grinding time for different consistencies of the grind
Although this is designed and produced by another brand you may not be very familiar with, this Savisto electric coffee bean grinder is available at an extremely low-price and has several great features that mean therefore it should not be dismissed so easily. For one thing, its stainless-steel blades are powered by a robust and strong 150-watts motor and with a 70-gram capacity, it is very easy to make many coffee cup’s worth of ground beans in next to no time.
It is not just the functionality which has been given some thought, as Savisto has designed a very modern and slight accessory that will sit well with existing appliances and gadgets in your kitchen. As is almost standard, it comes equipped with a transparent lid, enabling you to keep a close eye on the progress of your grinding.
Like the others we’ve discussed, this also features a safety mechanism that means the motor will not start and the blades won’t turn unless the lid is in place properly and the grinding button held down.
Key Features
Safety mechanism to stop accidental use and prevent injuries
Easy to use and very aesthetically pleasing design
Powered by robust 150-watts motor for quick and effective grinding
Transparent lid allows you to keep a close eye on the progress of the grinding process
Okay, so admittedly, this next model from the popular and reputable brand Sage is a lot more expensive and at the higher end of the price range. However, if you are in the market for the best of the best coffee bean grinder, this might be the one for you. For such a slickly designed and compact little tool, it doesn’t half pack a lot of power and precision.
For one thing, you can select between a whopping 60 different grind settings, based on your preferred brewing method, and covering everything from plunger through to espresso. No stone is uncovered, and it will be very easy and quick to turn your treasured roasted coffee beans into the grind you desire.
The coffee beans simply go into the top, transparent container, are ground down and then the powder, in your preferred consistency and size, is delivered into the smaller container at the bottom. We are simply blown away by how sexy and elegant this little gizmo is and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who can afford it.
Key Features
Expensive, but offers great value for money in terms of its selectable options and precision
Powered by a direct current drive and high torque motor
60 different grind settings to choose from, to suit your preferred brewing method
Back at a more reasonable price point, we have this simple and easy to use gadget designed in a collaborative effort by esteemed TV chef James Martin and the incredibly popular electrical goods manufacturer and supplier Wahl. This grinder is powered by a 150-watts motor and features two stainless-steel blades like many of the others in our guide.
We love how slick this really is. Rather than standing out like a sore thumb, this could be placed on the worktop in your kitchen and it would just keep up with the rest of the appliances and decor, particularly if you had a very contemporary colour scheme and furnishings. It is also as easy to use as you would want when it’s something you are possibly going to use early in the morning when you are still knocking the sleepy dust from your eyes.
You simply press the button on the front to pulse grind the beans and do this until you reach the consistency you are after for your favourite brewing technique. Thanks to its stainless-steel housing, it is very easy to clean on the outside and inside.
Key Features
Easy to use and just as easy to clean
One button operation, pulse it until it grinds your beans to the consistency you want
The powerful 150-watts motor makes it exceptionally efficient
Very contemporary and slick design, not garish at all
Although you are probably looking for an automatic and electric coffee bean grinder, we wanted to throw this curveball of a product in for a bit of balance. There is something incredibly attractive, we feel, about being able to grind your favourite whole coffee beans down into the grind size and consistency you prefer with just the use of your hand. However, more than that, thanks to its wireless, manual design, it means you can have a high-quality grinder to take with you, wherever you go.
The burr grinding core is made from very high quality, food-safe ceramic and thanks to the different settings you can get the perfect grind for your chosen brewing method every single time. Even if that brewing method changes from day to day and hour to hour.
We are also impressed by how ergonomic its design is, with a triangular-shaped body that many customers have suggested is a real joy to hold and won’t cause discomfort or fatigue. It’s also exceptionally lightweight and compact.
Key Features
Compact, wireless, ergonomically designed and exceptionally lightweight
Easy to adjust for all popular types of coffee brewing methods, from espresso to Turkish and everything in-between
Easy to use
Ceramic burr grinders and stainless-steel housing means it will last for a very long time
Sticking with manual for our final product, which comes in the form of the Maison & White hand-crank operated coffee bean grinder. This has a very elegant and almost old-fashioned look and feel to its design, which is incredibly attractive. It is also very easy to adjust so that you can achieve the perfect grind in terms of size and consistency for your favourite and preferred brewing method. You simply lower or raise the locking nut and then grind.
We really just love how easy this grinder is to use. There is no complicated setup, no fussy and convoluted settings. You simply fill the pot and grind the beans. As it does not require any wiring, along with the fact it has such a slick and streamlined design, it does not take up too much space. Not only is this perfect for your kitchen, but it also means you can take it with you wherever you go, whether it’s just to the office or on holiday so you always have access to the type of coffee grind you prefer.
Key Features
Lightweight, slick and attractive design
Easy to adjust to produce the perfect grind for your preferred brewing method
Easy to use and even easier to clean, as all the components can be taken apart
Affordable and portable
Coffee Bean Grinder Buying Guide
To help you pick out from the 10 products above and make your job a little easier, we have put together this buying guide. In it we will discuss why grinding your own coffee is a must, why, if possible, you should use a grinder as opposed to any alternative implement, tool or appliance and the different options there are out there for coffee grinding machines.
Let’s start.
Why Should You Bother Grinding Your Own Coffee Beans In The First Place?
Although it may seem like an unnecessary and labour-intensive task when you could easily just buy pre-ground roasted coffee, if you are after the most delicious coffee possible, you need to grind the beans yourself.
The flavour developed during the roasting process comes from the oil in the beans and the only way you can really have a tasty cup of coffee is if the oils are released as evenly as possible. And that means they need to be ground evenly.
If coffee means more to you than just a drink you have in the morning that you slam down your throat before getting on with your day, then you need to give it the attention and care it deserves. This is even more important if you have invested a lot of money into a coffee maker or machine and whole coffee beans.
Why Should You Bother Using a Proper Coffee Bean Grinder, Though?
As there are lots of other devices and appliances out there, ones that you may even have in your own home right now, you may justifiably wonder why you should bother buying a proper coffee bean grinder.
As coffee bean grinders are designed with the sole purpose of grinding coffee beans, they are much easier to use than any alternatives. There is also the fact that with most good quality coffee bean grinders, you can alter the grind consistency, which enables you to grind them perfectly for your chosen brewing method.
Therefore, it doesn’t matter if you like to use an AeroPress, Drip machine, French Press or even Moka Pot, you can pick the best type of grind for the type of coffee you want to make.
Which Coffee Bean Grinder Should You Choose?
Now that you know why you should grind your own coffee beans and that you should indeed use a coffee bean grinder, it’s time to discuss which type of grinder you should invest in. Because, as you may already know, there is a lot of different products out there. Fortunately, they can be essentially split up into two distinct categories:
Blade grinders
Burr grinders
Which is best, though? Let’s look at them both a little closer.
Blade Grinders
Blade grinders are fairly easy to understand. They have a blade that spins similarly to the propeller on a plane (which is why you will sometimes find that this kind of appliance is often referred to as a propeller grinder). Due to the indiscriminate and not exactly thorough way that it slices through beans, it produces a grind that is not as consistent as you may want, which means the coffee you make with the ground beans is not going to be quite as rich or powerful as what you can achieve with a burr grinder.
However, a blade grinder is still a relatively good choice. Especially if you are not looking to try one of the alternatives, as outlined in our post here, but have a tight budget. While it may not produce the consistent and fine grinding that a burr can, beans ground in a blade grinder is still much better than the pre-ground coffee you’ve bought in the past.
Burr Grinders
Burr grinders, at least for the team here at Best Coffee Beans when we first came across them, were not nearly as self-explanatory as blade grinders. The name alone is simply a bit off. We did at one point think that maybe we had misread it and it was meant to be a Blur grinder because the blades moved so fast.
That, however, is not what it means at all. The burrs are the two serrated, oscillating plates that move together and essentially grind any coffee beans between them down, instead of simply cutting them down. They have a reputation for producing the most uniform grinds in terms of size.
As you may or may not know, concerning coffee bean grinds, the size is incredibly important. And when you adjust the distance between burrs, it gives you an incredible amount of control over how the grinds turn out.
Professional baristas choose burr grinders and if we were pushed to pick one over the other, they would come out on top rather than blade grinders. For the maximum, balanced oil extraction and flavour, they really are the best.
Summary
Well, we hope you feel better informed about coffee bean grinders than perhaps you were when you clicked through to this post. You have 10 great products to choose from, all picked because of their effectiveness and so we covered all the main kinds, from manual to electric and burr to blade grinders.
Not only that, but you have a lot of additional information from our buying guide that will help you to make sure you buy the best coffee bean grinder for you. That is really the key right there to the whole thing – it’s the coffee grinder that’s right for you. We’ve said it many times in many of our posts – coffee is hugely subjective. Not everyone has the same preferences for each individual part of the coffee-making process. Therefore, there is no real right or wrong.
With that in mind, happy grinding and if you choose one of the grinders, we highlighted, we hope it serves you well!
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