A real connoisseur uses whole bean coffee to brew coffee. But does that mean using any coffee beans? If you love your caffeine in the morning, you need to use the right coffee beans.
Arabica and Robusta are the two main types of coffee beans. However, Robusta coffee beans are bitter than Arabica coffee since they have more caffeine. There’s so much flexibility with whole bean coffee.
First, you can buy green coffee beans and roast them at home. Second, grinding coffee beans gives you control of the grind size. Grinding coffee beans before you brew results in a fresh cup of joe, rich in flavor and aroma.
But, how do you select the best whole bean coffee? It is not always easy. But, our guide simplifies it for you.
You can pick your favorite coffee from our list of top 15 whole coffee beans.
- Balanced, full-bodied medium roast with a smooth finish
- One 32-ounce bag of whole bean coffee
- 100% Arabica coffee grown in Colombia
- Roasted and packed in the U.S.A.
- Shown as a serving suggestion
- One 2.2 pound bag of Lavazza Espresso Italiano whole bean coffee
- Roast: Medium
- Intensity: 5/10 Delicate
- Aromatic Notes: Fruity and Floral
- Blend: 100% arabica
- Dark roast with full, bold flavor
- One 32-ounce bag of whole bean coffee
- 100% Arabica coffee grown in Central and South America
- Roasted and packed in the U.S.A.
- Shown as a serving suggestion
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Let’s dive in.
Guide to Selecting the Best Whole Bean Coffee
For a connoisseur, an authentic cup of coffee in the morning is the best way to start a day. Making a perfect coffee beverage relies on the coffee you use.
The troubling question is – how do you pick the best whole bean coffee? Let’s find out more!
Check the roast date
To start us off the list is the roasting date. Coffee beans with a recent roast date are fresh and can maintain their freshness for longer.
You can ask the brand to roast the coffee beans for you. The roasting date is the most preferred than the best fore. It’s easier to estimate how long you can use the beans before losing their original taste.
But if you have a popcorn popper at home, you can roast the coffee beans and store them in an airtight container after cooling.
Are the coffee beans from a single-origin or blend
You can identify whether the coffee beans are from a single-origin or a blend from the packaging bag. An example of single-origin coffee is Hawaiian coffee.
The coffee bean is from the same area, type, or country. However, for blended, this coffee is sourced from various regions or a mix of Arabica and Robusta. Blended coffee has a balanced flavor, acidity, and body.
Type of coffee
As we mentioned earlier, coffee beans can be Arabica or Robusta. Arabica coffee is the most preferred for its taste. Most brands will have a 100% Arabica coffee label on the packaging bags. But, some will blend the Robusta and Arabica for an even better taste.
Caffeine content
Don’t forget to check the caffeine content of the coffee beans. Whether you take caffeinated or whole bean decaf coffee, make sure you buy coffee specific to your coffee needs.
Coffee beans certifications
Coffee boards and organizations certify coffee brands that maintain the regulated standards. Examples are Kosher, Fairtrade, and USDA organic.
Coffee brands that meet the guidelines will have a certified seal on the packaging bag. USDA organic certified coffee beans do not use chemicals in planting, harvesting, or processing stages.
Using organic fertilizers helps to reduce chemical waste in the environment. It also protects the farmers from harmful substances that can compromise their health.
Fair Trade means that the farmers sell coffee to the processing companies, and the profits are shared with the coffee farmers and workers to improve their lives.
The type of coffee brewer you’re using
Most brands will list the recommended brewing methods for the coffee beans. You can use most coffee beans with a pour-over, french press, or a drip coffee maker. For instance, if you prefer espresso brewing, make sure you buy whole bean coffee for espresso.
Consider the acidity and bitterness.
Although it can be hard to identify the bitterness and acidity when buying, you can tell by checking the roast level. Dark roast coffee has lower bitterness and acidity than light roast coffee.
In addition, the growing conditions affect the acidity and bitterness of the coffee. Coffee beans grown in lower altitude areas have less acidity than high altitude coffee.
Check the flavors
For instance, a brand like Kicking Horse will have multiple flavors. As you make a selection, check the tasting notes of the coffee beans.
Top 15 Whole Bean Coffee for Coffee Сonnoisseurs
One of the world’s most popular beverages is coffee. You can make a hot beverage or a cold brew. The biggest country in coffee production in the world is Brazil.
With so many brewing methods, you can make coffee at home, office, or on the move. For instance, an automatic coffee maker brews coffee before you wake up.
To make coffee using whole bean coffee, you will need a coffee grinder. There are so many options in the market, ranging from manual to automatic.
The advantage of grinding your coffee beans is control of the grind size. Let’s look at the best whole bean coffee for coffee brewing.
1. Lavazza Espresso Italiano Whole Bean Coffee
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you cannot roast green coffee beans at home, you can buy roasted beans from the top brands. The Lavazza coffee beans have a medium roast and are 100% Arabica.
You can identify that the coffee beans are best for espresso. However, you can also use them with a french press, Moka Pot, cold brew, drip coffee maker, and pour-over.
As a coffee lover, you also need to consider the tasting notes. The coffee beans have notes of fruit and flowers. Lavazza espresso coffee beans are caffeinated, with a caffeine intensity of 5 out of 10.
2. Stumptown Coffee Roasters
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You have multiple flavor choices from the Stumptown coffee roasters. The coffee beans are blended from three regions – Indonesia, East Africa, and Central and South America.
The coffee beans are freshly roasted and maintain the freshness for 90 days when unopened and 2 weeks when opened. The whole coffee beans have a medium roast, but you can also select from light and dark roasts.
Stumptown coffee has cupping notes of Citrus and dark chocolate. The whole coffee beans are 100% Arabica.
3. Copper Moon Sumatra Blend
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Copper Moon Coffee is roasted in small batches to achieve the maximum flavor and aroma of coffee. The coffee beans are a blend from 5 continents.
The Sumatra flavor has a dark roast and a herbal taste note with an earthy aroma. You can use the coffee beans with a drip coffee brewer, pour-over, and a french press.
Copper Moon coffee is gluten-free, allergen-free, and non-GMO. If you prefer coffee with caffeine, the coffee beans are caffeinated.
4. Starbucks Pike Place Whole Bean Coffee
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Starbucks whole bean coffee comes in a pack of 6. The caffeinated coffee beans have a medium roast. They have cocoa and roasted nuts tasting notes.
The advantage of using Starbucks coffee beans is that you can use a variety of ways to brew. You can use them with your pour-over coffee maker, French Press, Moka Pot, or drip coffee brewer.
Starbucks gives you multiple selections from blonde roast, medium, dark, flavored coffee, and whole bean decaf coffee.
5. Don Francisco’s Whole Bean Coffee
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The whole coffee beans from Don Francisco have a bold, rich, and smooth taste. They are compatible with pour-over, drip, and french press coffee makers.
The coffee beans are 100% Arabica. They are blended, roasted, and packed in the US. Don Francisco is a family company that has been operational since 1870.
The coffee packaging bags can lead to environmental pollution when poorly disposed of. Don Francisco promotes sustainability by recycling coffee bags through Terracycle.
6. SAN FRANCISCO BAY SF Coffee Whole Bean – Decaf
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Decaf coffee is for coffee lovers who prefer coffee without caffeine. San Francisco Bay uses the swiss water process to remove the caffeine.
The whole bean decaf coffee has medium, dark, and extra dark Italian roast. For the Italian roast, the coffee beans are roasted past the second crack, resulting in oily and dark whole coffee beans with all sugars burnt off.
San Francisco Bay has so many flavor options for coffee connoisseurs. The decaf Gourmet blend has 100% Arabica coffee beans sourced from Central and South America.
You can use the coffee beans with your preferred brewing method, from drip to french press. The coffee beans are Kosher certified.
San Francisco Bay decaf coffee beans have a balanced, medium-bodied taste with a smooth finish.
7. Kicking Horse Coffee
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
You must have come across Kicking Horse Coffee as you’re looking for the best coffee to buy. The decaf coffee beans are certified by Kosher and Fairtrade.
If you’re looking for 100% organic coffee, the whole bean decaf coffee is certified by USDA organic. The recommended brewing methods are pour-over, french press, cold brew, and drip.
Kicking Horse coffee beans have a dark roast with roasted hazelnut taste and a chocolaty balanced body. The origin of the coffee beans in Central and South America.
8. Lavazza Dek Whole Bean Coffee
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Lavazza uses the natural process to decaffeinate the coffee beans. The whole bean coffee is a blend of Robusta and Arabica coffee.
Espresso is the recommended brewing method for the Lavazza Dek whole coffee beans. The decaf coffee beans are blended and roasted in Italy.
The advantage of buying the Lavazza coffee beans is their affordable prices.
9. Counter Culture Coffee
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Whole bean decaf coffee is certified by USDA organic and Kosher. Counter Culture coffee is decaffeinated using the water process, and the beans are roasted to a dark roast.
The flavor profile for the coffee beans is slow motion. They have smooth cocoa and molasses taste notes. Counter Culture coffee is rich in flavor and taste.
10. MAYORGA Whole Bean Coffee
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Mayorga coffee beans are sourced from Peru, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The coffee beans are caffeinated and have a dark roast.
The flavor profile of the coffee beans is cafe Cubano. Mayorga roasts the coffee beans in small batches to achieve maximum flavor.
Besides the organic certification, Mayorga coffee beans are verified as non-GMO and certified by Kosher and direct trade. The coffee beans are shade-grown, roasted, and packed in the USA.
11. Royal Kona 100% Hawaiian Kona Coffee
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Royal Kona Coffee has authentic coffee from the Big Island of Hawaii. The coffee beans have a medium roast and extra fancy grade.
The whole bean coffee is 100% Kona coffee with a medium roast level. When you’re buying Kona coffee, avoid using blends. You will not experience the real taste of Hawaii coffee.
Kona Coffee’s extra fancy grade is the highest and best grade. After harvesting, the coffee beans are roasted in a custom roast profile to achieve the best Kona coffee experience for coffee connoisseurs.
12. Kicking Horse Coffee – 454 Horse Power
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
From Kicking Horse, you can buy multiple flavors of the brand. The coffee beans are Kosher, USDA organic, and Fairtrade certified.
454 Horse Power has a dark roast with the aroma of peat, cacao nibs, and a hint of nutmeg. The recommended brewing methods with the coffee beans are drip, pour-over, cold brew, and french press. Kicking Horse Coffee beans are caffeinated.
13. Illy – Whole Bean Coffee
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you have an Illy coffee maker, you need the Illy coffee beans to make a cup of joe. You only need a grinder to grind the coffee beans finely, coarse, or medium.
The dark roast whole bean coffee is caffeinated. The coffee beans are sealed in an airtight can to maintain freshness, oils, and aroma.
Illy coffee beans have a robust, intense, and full-flavored taste notes of deep cocoa. Upon purchase, you will get a 6-pack of Illy coffee.
The brand blends 100% of bold roast Arabica coffee. Illy coffee beans are sustainably sourced and Kosher-certified.
14. Tiny Footprint Coffee
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Organic coffee is shade-grown and does not use chemicals during growing, harvesting, and processing. Tiny Footprint Coffee beans are Fairtrade and USDA organic certified.
The coffee beans are washed and sun-dried before roasting. This coffee has a bold dark roast with chocolate notes.
15. Puroast Coffee
Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Using coffee beans to make coffee maintains the flavor and aroma of the coffee beans. The coffee beans have low acidity and are best for people with heartburn and gastrointestinal problems.
Puroast coffee beans are sourced from the Andes Mountains. The coffee beans are roasted for quality without using any additives. They are Kosher certified and sustainably sourced.
The brand uses renewable sources to roast coffee beans. Therefore, the coffee beans have low acidity and are without bitterness.
How to Use Whole Bean Coffee to Make Coffee
Coffee connoisseurs use whole coffee beans to make coffee for multiple reasons. First, the coffee beans maintain the flavors and aroma of coffee more than ground coffee.
Second, it gives you control of the grind size. You do not need several bags of coffee with different grind sizes. You can have a coarse grind for french press and a fine grind for espresso.
To use whole bean coffee, you need a coffee grinder. If you do not have one already, we have a guide for manual and electric coffee grinders. Here’s a simple recipe:
What you need
- A coffee grinder
- Coffee beans
- A coffee brewer
- Measuring scale
Preparation Method
How bold do you want your cup of coffee to be? Mostly, this is a personal preference. So, measure the number of coffee beans and place them in a coffee grinder.
Select the grind size to start grinding. Add the ground coffee to your coffee brewer and begin brewing.
If you do not want to go through the grinding process, you can request the brand to roast and grind the coffee beans, then ship them to you.
However, it’s best if you have your coffee grinder. You can get one at an affordable price.
Frequently Asked Questions
As of 2020, there were 37,000 cafes and shops in America, with the most popular coffee shop being Starbucks.
Do you have a question about whole bean coffee? We have the solution to clear the doubts.
How do you maintain the freshness of the coffee beans?
Avoid bulk buying coffee. Coffee can go stale quickly once you open the packaging. That means you can have the coffee within 2-3 weeks. Make sure you buy only the amount you need.
Store the coffee beans in a dry storage area. The packaging bag should also be airtight to avoid trapping in the air.
Which one is preferable between the whole bean vs ground coffee?
It’s a personal preference to use the whole bean vs ground coffee Both have benefits and drawbacks. It can be hard to pick one over the other.
Ground coffee is convenient to use. You only need to scoop and place it in a coffee brewer. Besides, it saves you a couple of bucks instead of buying a coffee grinder.
On a lazy day or late mornings, ground coffee comes in handy. However, there are some drawbacks to using it. It may not be easy to identify the grinding date. As a result, you may end up buying stale ground coffee.
On the other hand, you can easily estimate the freshness of coffee by checking the roast date. Second, you can grind coffee for any brewing method, from espresso to pour-over.
Coffee beans maintain freshness, unlike ground coffee. Most brands ship the coffee beans after cooling.
Where can you buy the best whole bean coffee?
If you love the convenience of shopping from your phone, you can order online. Request a brand to ship freshly roasted coffee beans to your doorstep.
Another option is buying from a supermarket. Make sure you pay attention to the roasting date to ensure the coffee beans remain fresh for long.
How do you identify the best coffee beans?
When shopping for coffee beans, you can easily buy the wrong choice. The best coffee beans should have a roasting date and indicate a source or origin. Make sure that you shop coffee beans from the top brands.
Can you roast coffee beans at home?
Yes. You can use a popcorn popper or a coffee roaster. If you plan to roast green coffee beans at home, we have a comprehensive guide.
Final Thoughts
That’s it for the whole bean coffee. You will need a coffee grinder to grind the coffee beans for your brewer. Don’t forget to check the roasting date for the coffee beans.
From our list, you can pick the top coffee beans for yourself. Avoid bulk buying and only shop for what you need. It maintains the freshness of the coffee beans.
Also, make sure that you store the whole coffee beans in dry storage in airtight packaging. It helps to preserve the flavor and aroma of the coffee beans.
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