The Best Coffee Beans (the Top Coffee Beans Reviewed)

Coffee comes from the Arabica and Robusta species. There are more than 100 unique coffee strains. At SoloEspresso we are here to guide you through this intricate world. Whether you brew on the way to work or are a coffee expert, this article will guide you to pick the best coffee each day.

Kona coffee is one of the best coffee strains, not only in the United States but also in the world. Farmers grow the beans on the slopes of Mauna Lau and Hualalai volcanoes. The altitudes reach 3,000 feet. These rich growing conditions yield complex flavors that make the coffee from this region a standard for excellence. 

The price per pound of Kona coffee isn’t cheap, but the world-class flavors justify the cost. People that get a medium or dark-roast ground premium Hawaiian coffee from Koa Coffee will get the treat of a chocolaty medium-bodied beverage. Make sure when you buy a bag to buy from Hawaiian sellers. This ensures you’re getting an authentic experience and taste.

Kona also has a unique grading system for coffee beans. The highest mark is Extra Fancy, which includes ten percent or less defects per bag, followed by Fancy and No. Besides to whole coffee beans, Koa Coffee offers pre-ground varieties as well.

These propriety blends of 100% Kona coffee beans come in a grind tailored for most coffee consumers. The complexion is granular and sits in the middle of the grind spectrum.

Growing coffee in volcanic mountains regions yields some of the best coffee possible. That is the philosophy that drives Volcanica Coffee Company. They strive to harvest beans from the fertile soils and cool climates that only exist at high elevations around volcanoes.

Volcanica Coffee’s El Salvador Peaberry Coffee is a single origin bean from the region of Santa Barbara. According to the company, the peaberry coffee bean only makes up five percent of the crop from the area. So, the intensive aroma and remarkable tasting notes of the coffee beans are perfect for coffee lovers. 

One of the perks of peaberry coffee is that the beans are more straightforward to roast than flat berries because they are rounder shapes. This complexion allows the coffee beans to rotate in the coffee roaster. So, peaberry beans have a unique flavor, even compared to other coffee beans from the same harvest.

Each batch of El Salvador Peaberry Coffee is fresh roasted in a state of the art roasting facility in Atlanta. The single-origin organic coffee is then packaged and shipped to coffee aficionados across the country. Best of all, this 100 percent peaberry coffee also comes with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. 

Medium-dark roast lovers rejoice at the sight of the five-pound bags of Gourmet Coffee Signature Blend by Café Don Pablo. The blend delivers a low acid flavor with a silky smooth cocoa finish. They package each bag of coffee beans for greatest freshness and quality, so consumers can get the best coffee beans possible.

Café Don Pablo uses a unique blend of Brazilian, Guatemalan, and Colombian coffee beans. Each bean that goes into the bag is 100 percent Arabica and GMO-free. Café Don Pablo grow, pick, and process their beans in an organic way, with more than one million trees in their South American locations alone.

Furthermore, Café Don Pablo never blends Arabica and Robusta coffee beans. Nor do they allow past crops or defective beans into the mix. These subtle measures add up to a sizeable difference in quality when it comes to the brew of the final product.

Before getting your hands on this medium-dark roast, Café Don Pablo has to prepare the coffee beans in the roaster. The company uses small artisanal batches for roasting that develop in sight, smell, and sound until they reach the best complexion. The investment in time and effort yields a caramelization tone from the natural sugars of the bean that gives the coffee a sweet aftertaste.

Café Don Pablo’s Gourmet Coffee Signature Blends works for drip machines, French presses, espresso, hand drips, and more. Regardless of how you brew your cup, it should be smooth, rich, and flavorful. 

A pound of whole coffee beans from the brand Death Wish Coffee Company delivers on multiple fronts. First, the product is USDA certified organic with a perfect dark roast. That alone makes it worth its weight in gold. Second, you will get a jolt of caffeine as this coffee (from the Death Wish organic strain) promises to be The World’s Strongest Coffee.

When something packs this much of a punch, many people might expect a stomach-churning experience to be at the other end. That is not the case. While coffee from the Death Wish organic beans is an intense and bold blend of Arabica and Robusta coffee, the flavor profile is always smooth. That means drinkers can enjoy subtle notes of cherry and chocolate instead of bitterness.

Besides the high caffeine content and fair trade organic certification, Death Wish Coffee Company uses a premium roasting system. The coffee roasters use a unique combination of temperature and time variation for a slow dark roast. The result is a delicious yet low acidity and strong tasting notes.

When it comes to coffee, Death Wish's organic and quality commitment is so strong that they use only USDA Organic organic beans and only roast in small batches. In fact, every batch that the company roasts is in 65-pound intervals or less. This method allows Death Wish to preserve the quality and taste of the coffee beans from the roast date.

Get the energy you need to make it through the day with a bag of dark roasted coffee beans that packs twice the amount of caffeine per cup. When it comes to packing as much value into the price, Death Wish organic coffee is one of the best options on the market. 

The odds are you have seen 100% Colombian Peaks from Eight O’Clock Ground Coffee at your local grocery store. The medium roasted coffee delivers a complex flavor and full-body finish. Moreover, farmers grow the coffee beans in lush volcanic soils in the high altitudes of Colombian mountains for greatest taste.    

Eight O’Clock Coffee has been around for more than 150 years. Since opening its doors, the company has brought coffee lovers high quality, 100 percent Arabica beans.

After they have harvested the coffee beans, the company performs the roasting at their Maryland facility under the guidance and instruction of master roasters.

The rich taste from the roasting process makes 100% Colombian Peaks one of the best coffee beans there is. Consumers can enjoy wine-esque notes that come with an elegant aroma and a full body profile. The kosher certification of the coffee beans doesn't hurt, either.

100% Colombian Peaks appeals to first time brewers and coffee aficionados alike. The reasonable price, mild roast, and commitment to high-quality sourcing, provide consumers with a drink they are sure to love. 

Death Wish Coffee Company packs a wallop of flavor and caffeine into its brews like no one else. They "harness the power of Odin with this masterful artisan roast", that comes through with a blast of strong coffee taste and a smooth finish.

Death Wish says, “With great flavor and incredible aroma, this blend will bring you back from the nights you thought you’d never wake up from.”

Death Wish also emphasizes fair trade and organic coffee beans in their harvests.  This is due, in part, to their selecting only the highest quality coffee beans for their blends. It is also because they want to produce coffee through sustainable practices.

There are significant benefits to the coffee when a company takes the time to do this. When the USDA does not deem a coffee certified organic, it means the plant gets fertilized with synthetic nitrogen and phosphates. As a result, the compounds deplete the soil of nutrients, and leave toxic chemicals in the ground.

Investing in organic products is, so, beneficial to the end-user. Caffeine consumers enjoy the smooth, yet bold taste of Death Wish's Valhalla Java Whole Bean Coffee, and rest assured knowing that the product will be around for many years to come. 

Bulletproof is the most health-centric coffee on this list. The medium-dark roast comes with certified organic beans grown in the heart of Central America. Additionally, Bulletproof targets people who care about the consumption of toxins or maintain specific diets.

The clean and caramel taste of The Original Whole Bean Coffee is no accident. Bulletproof took an entire decade to identify “every step of performance-robbing toxin formation in coffee," and then find a consistent source. This methodical resource helped mitigate mold toxins grown on coffee beans that can contribute to health issues.

The meticulous preparation doesn't end there. Each bean is grown on a high altitude estate in Guatemala that offers rich and fertile soil for healthy beans. Once the coffee beans reach their perfect point for harvesting, Bulletproof has the best coffee beans handpicked, processed, handled, and roasted.

It is only after the best beans go through proprietary lab testing that the company will release the final product to the market. While the FDA has not verified the statements, Bulletproof says the coffee helps people stay within a keto diet, improve mental acuity, and lower body toxin levels. The coffee also comes with one of the most distinctive preparation styles of any beans on this list.

The first step is to get a blend and add eight ounces of brewed coffee, along with one to two tablespoons of unsalted butter or ghee. Then add one serving of Bulletproof Brain Octane or XCT oil, or as much as two tablespoons. After blending, you can add collagen protein before enjoying the final frothy drink. 

If you want an ethically sourced coffee that also packs health benefits, look no further than Four Sigmatic’s Mushroom Ground Coffee. The coffee markets itself as being compatible with vegan, paleo, keto, dairy-free, and gluten-free diets. Additionally, it does not contain fillers or additives.

Now, we know what you're thinking: "Mushrooms are not something I want to taste in my coffee." Don't worry. There is no mushroom taste. These coffee grounds taste like, well, coffee. Four Sigmatic even recommends adding a splash of coconut milk or almond cream for a touch of creaminess in the body.

The mushroom name comes from the organic Lion’s Mane and Chaga mushroom powder that Four Sigmatic mixes into the blend. The 500 mg per serving is meant to improve mental sharpness, focus, and concentration as well as enhance the immune system. The FDA has not yet verified the accuracy of these claims.

The effort to curate a healthy and organic product extends to the sourcing side as well. Four Sigmatic gets its best coffee bean from the La Paz region of Honduras, which is more than a mile above sea level. The hospitable environment helps cultivate a bean that results in a fair roast with a balanced flavor and no finishing bitterness.

Four Sigmatic pre-grinds its coffee beans to ensure the maximum effectiveness of the product. The delicate bittersweet complexion comes in a medium-coarse blend, which makes it ideal for Chemex coffee makers, Clever Drippers, and Café Solo Brewers. 

Kona coffee is synonymous with Hawaii as the strain of Arabica grows on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa. The climate is textbook when it comes to growing conditions, which makes Kona one of the best coffee beans in the world. Kona coffee is also one of the most expensive.

Currently, there are nearly 800 coffee farms in the state. While there is some variety, the beans generally have a slightly syrupy body and floral aromas. Companies like Koa Coffee, Volcanica Coffee, and Keala’s Hawaiian Coffee are known for having authentic coffee from Hawaii.

Jamaica doesn’t have the name cache of Italy or Ethiopian. Still, the country produces some of the best coffee in the world. The cream of the crop comes from the Blue Mountains, which tower over the city of Kingston.

Jamaican coffee has a distinctive smooth texture. Drinkers can also detect rich and nutty flavors that are low in overall acidity. If you want to try the real deal, know that authentic Jamaican coffee will have a Blue Mountain Coffee certification and you will understand why Jamaica is considered one of the best coffee beans country.

Kenya is one of the largest suppliers of coffee in the world as it sells to brands such as Starbucks and retailers on Amazon. The beans are robust, yet sweet with an intense profile comparable to strains in Ethiopia. Many Kenyan coffee beans exhibit flavors of winey richness and citrus. We have a full article dedicated to Kenya coffee beans if you want to know more.

The distinctive profile is one of the reasons why many people believe Kenya has some of the best coffee in the world. The easiest way to get your hands on a cup of Kenyan coffee is to visit your local Starbucks. You can also check out Coffee Bean Direct.

The elevation of 4,000 to 6,000 feet combined with moderate temperatures and fertile soil has made Colombia a destination for coffee lovers. The country grows 100 percent Arabica beans with hundreds of thousands of families invested in the industry. Many Colombian coffee beans come from small family-run operations in the countryside.

Flavor-wise, Colombia’s coffee beans are distinct in their flavors of chocolate, nuts, fruits, and acid. Of course, these tastes vary from region to region. Don Pablo, Eight O’Clock, and Volcanica Coffee are a few of the companies that offer bags of pure Colombian coffee.

When people want bright and vibrant coffee, they select Tanzanian beans. The medium-bodied coffee comes with flavors ranging from chocolate to black tea to kiwi. Additionally, you may detect notes similar to tobacco. 

Coffee bean farmers reside primarily in Meru, Oldeani, Pare, and the Moshi district. These locations are specifically advantageous because of the altitude and ideal drying conditions. One of the most famous Tanzanian coffees is from Lavanta, which has a seamless balance of sweetness and acid.

The best coffee beans for espresso are a mix of Arabica and Robusta. A mixture will give consumers the intense aroma and robust flavor they want with the benefits of caffeine, respectively. Lavazza, for instance, uses an 80/20 blend in its Super Crema Espresso. If you love brewing your espresso with on the stovetop, here are the best coffee beans for moka pot reviews.

In our opinion the best coffee beans for French Press lean towards 100 percent Arabica coffee beans. Koffee Kult offers a variety with a dark roast that has hints of cinnamon and cocoa. The key with any tasty French press brew, though, is to make sure the grind is coarse for maximum efficiency.  

Starbucks uses coffee beans from across the world, including farms in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The lighter varieties, such as Veranda, Breakfast Blend, and Pike's Place, all come from Latin America while the dark blends, such as the Italian and French Roasts, come from Asia. The company also has stated its commitment to getting the best Arabica strains possible. 

Yes, coffee can go stale. Generally speaking, coffee beans last for three to five months, or up to two years in the freezer. You can extend the life expectancy of your coffee beans by placing the contents in a cool, dry, and airtight container. If you use coffee powder, it can last even less. Also consider that fresh ground coffee is a better option than pre ground.

Roasting a coffee bean can alter the final taste of the product. A light roast will allow for the grainier flavors to shine through while a medium or fair color provides more balance overall. A dark or extra dark roast brings a smokier or more substantial flavor profile. If you wish you can also try to roast the beans at home.