Best Popular Coffee Beans

Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee – Specifically blended for excellent espresso preparation.

The Lavazza Super Crema is a whole bean coffee designed specifically for espresso lovers. This 2.2 lb bag contains a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans sourced from various countries, which contributes to its signature characteristic: a thick, persistent crema. As a full-bodied medium roast, it strikes a nice balance, avoiding the intense bitterness of a dark roast while still delivering a bold, creamy flavor.

The preparation guide is helpful for dialing in a single shot. The beans are versatile enough for a standard espresso machine or a super-automatic. While the blend is a classic Italian style, the presence of Robusta beans gives it a distinct body and caffeine kick that differs from 100% Arabica blends.

Overall, it’s a reliable and consistent choice for daily espresso, providing the taste and texture many associate with a traditional café experience. It’s a great workhorse bean for a home setup.

Amazon Fresh, Colombia Whole Bean Coffee Medium Roast – Large 32-ounce bag provides excellent value.

I purchased this 32-ounce bag of whole bean coffee and found it to be a reliable choice for my daily brew. The beans are 100% Colombian Arabica and have a pleasant, classic coffee aroma upon opening the bag. After grinding them for my drip machine, the coffee brewed into a very smooth and balanced cup, true to its description as a medium roast.

The flavor is full-bodied without being overpowering, and it has a clean finish with very little bitterness, making it easy to drink. While it may not have the complex notes of a specialty-brand coffee, it serves as an excellent, consistent staple for a morning routine. The large bag size is also a significant plus, offering great value and convenience for regular coffee drinkers who have their own grinder.

It’s a solid, no-frills coffee that gets the job done well.

Illy Intenso Whole Bean Coffee – Rich, full-bodied flavor with a robust finish.

The illy Classico whole bean coffee provides a consistent and traditional Italian coffee experience. As described, the beans deliver a bold, full-bodied flavor with a robust finish that is characteristic of a classic espresso roast. The advertised notes of cocoa and dried fruit are subtly present, adding a pleasant depth to the overall taste without being overwhelming.

Being whole beans, they require grinding before use, which is a key step for anyone prioritizing freshness in their brew. The coffee performs well across different preparation methods, from espresso to drip. It’s a reliable choice for those who enjoy the ritual of making coffee and appreciate a strong, balanced, and classic flavor profile.

The brand’s focus on sustainability is also a noteworthy aspect for conscious consumers. It’s a quality, straightforward coffee that lives up to its heritage.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters – Certified organic and 100% Arabica beans.

Stumptown’s Holler Mountain is a solid choice for those seeking a versatile, organic whole bean coffee. The 12-ounce bag offers fresh beans, allowing you to grind them to your preference for various brewing methods, from drip to espresso. The flavor profile is quite balanced, starting with a bright, citrusy acidity and jam-like sweetness that transitions into a smooth, creamy caramel finish.

This complexity makes it interesting without being overpowering. Being a 100% Arabica, Direct Trade product adds to its appeal, suggesting a commitment to quality and ethical sourcing. While the flavor notes are distinct, they blend well, making it an approachable yet sophisticated option for a daily brew.

It’s a reliable coffee that performs well across different preparations, living up to its reputation as a versatile hometown favorite. It’s a great introduction to the Stumptown brand for those who appreciate a medium roast with nuanced flavors.

Lavazza Crema E Aroma Whole Bean Coffee Blend – Produces a thick and long-lasting crema, ideal for espresso.

The Lavazza Crema e Aroma is a solid, dependable choice for daily espresso. The 2.2 lb bag offers excellent value for frequent coffee drinkers. The blend of Arabica and Robusta beans is classic for Italian-style espresso, delivering on its promise of a rich, stable crema.

The medium roast provides a full-bodied flavor without being overly bitter or acidic. With an intensity rating of 8 out of 10, it’s certainly a robust coffee that stands up well in milk-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. The advertised chocolate notes are present, providing a pleasant and aromatic finish.

While it shines in an espresso machine, these beans are versatile enough for other preparations if ground appropriately. For those seeking a consistent and strong coffee experience, this blend is a reliable workhorse that delivers what you’d expect from a well-established brand like Lavazza. It’s a great option for stocking your pantry.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters – Balanced and complex flavor profile with notes of citrus and dark chocolate.

Stumptown’s Hair Bender is a solid, well-rounded whole bean coffee that serves as a great introduction to the brand. The blend aims for balance, combining beans from Indonesia, Latin America, and Africa to create a complex flavor profile. The advertised tasting notes of citrus and dark chocolate are definitely present, offering a cup that is bright but also has a rich, smooth foundation.

It’s a very versatile coffee that performs consistently across different brewing methods, from drip to espresso. The packaging is excellent, featuring a ‘roasted on’ date which is helpful for gauging freshness, and the bag does a good job of preserving the beans. For a flagship blend, it successfully provides an accessible yet sophisticated experience that can be enjoyed daily.

It’s easy to understand why this is their most popular coffee offering.

Cameron’s Coffee Roasted Whole Bean Coffee – Rich, bold flavor without excessive bitterness or a burnt taste.

I found Cameron’s Organic French Roast to be a very solid and dependable daily coffee. Upon opening the bag, you get a strong, smoky aroma characteristic of a classic French Roast. When brewed, it produces a full-bodied, dark cup with a straightforward, bold flavor.

The primary notes are roasty and reminiscent of dark chocolate, and true to their claim, it avoids the burnt, overly bitter aftertaste that can sometimes ruin a dark roast. It’s noticeably smooth with low acidity, making it easy on the stomach. While it may not have the complex, nuanced flavors of a single-origin specialty coffee, it excels at being a high-quality, classic dark roast.

The fact that it’s organic and comes in a large 28-ounce bag adds to its overall value. It consistently delivers a satisfying, strong cup of coffee without any harshness, making it an excellent pantry staple.

Eight O’Clock Coffee The Original Whole Bean Coffee – Excellent value for the large 42-ounce size.

This 42-ounce bag of Eight O’Clock Original Whole Bean coffee is a solid choice for a daily brew. Upon opening, the beans have a familiar, pleasant coffee aroma. They grind evenly, and the resulting coffee is smooth, balanced, and straightforward.

It’s a classic medium roast without any overpowering acidity or bitterness, making it a crowd-pleaser that works well either black or with cream and sugar. While it may not offer the complex flavor notes of a more artisanal or single-origin coffee, its strength lies in its consistency and reliability. The large, resealable bag provides excellent value for regular coffee drinkers, and it does a decent job of keeping the beans fresh over time.

Overall, it’s a dependable workhorse coffee that delivers exactly what it promises: a good, classic cup every time.

Lavazza Espresso Whole Bean Coffee – Highly versatile for various brewing methods, from espresso to French press.

The Lavazza Espresso Italiano is a reliable choice for a daily coffee, offering considerable versatility in a large 2.2 lb bag. As a 100% Arabica, medium-roast blend, it strikes a pleasant balance with its 5/10 intensity, making it approachable and not overly bitter. The beans grind consistently and work well in various brewing methods, from a traditional espresso machine to a drip coffee maker or French press.

The tasting notes mentioned are primarily floral and fruity, which comes through as a smooth, aromatic, and slightly sweet finish. This isn’t an intensely dark or bold coffee; rather, it’s a well-rounded and consistent bean suitable for those who enjoy a classic, smooth Italian-style coffee. The large bag size offers good value, especially for households with multiple coffee drinkers.

Low Acid Organic Coffee – Whole Bean – Low-acid profile makes it suitable for sensitive stomachs.

This single-origin coffee from Guatemala’s Huehuetenango region is presented as a quality, low-acid option for discerning drinkers. The medium roast is intended to preserve the tasting notes of caramel, chocolate, and subtle fruit, which come from the shade-growing environment. A significant selling point is the brand’s commitment to purity and ethics; the beans are not only certified USDA Organic and Smithsonian Bird Friendly, but are also independently tested for contaminants like mold and heavy metals.

The coffee is sold exclusively as whole beans, which is ideal for preserving freshness and allows for customized grinding for any brewing method, though it does require the consumer to own a grinder. The family-owned business also offers a satisfaction guarantee, which provides some peace of mind for new customers. Overall, it appears to be a well-considered product for the health-conscious and ethically-minded coffee enthusiast.