Jump to:
Shopping on Amazon is one of life’s greatest conveniences. Tons of great deals at the click of your mouse. Coffee, however, feels like an item that you shouldn’t buy on Amazon. How do you know which of the thousands of options is actually good?
Surprisingly, there are some great coffee options waiting for you on Amazon. Come with us as we delve into the best coffees on Amazon. We’ll give you some hints on how to pick the best coffees on Amazon, and show you some of our favorites.
at a glance: Our Top 5 Coffees on Amazon
How to Pick the Best Coffee on Amazon
With so many coffee options on Amazon, it’s pretty hard to figure out which are best. To help you find the best coffee on Amazon, we’ve put together a list of some of the things to look for when shopping for coffee on Amazon.
Roast Types
The first thing that you need to consider when shopping for coffee on Amazon is the type of roast that you prefer. Coffee roasts range from very light to extra dark. These different roasting levels alter the flavor of the beans, creating the tastes and aromas that we enjoy so much.
Light Roasted
Light roasting is the best way to enjoy the natural flavors of the coffee bean. Light roast beans spend the shortest amount of time in the coffee roaster. They will generally be removed just after the beans first start showing cracking.
Coffees that are roasted lightly will have a bright flavor. Many light roast coffees are single-origin coffees, allowing you to experience the flavor of the bean without influence from other bean types.
Medium Roasted
Medium roasts are a good choice for a wide range of people. This is a great option if you have coffee drinkers in your house who like their coffee black, or with additions of milk and sugar.
Medium roast beans stay in the roaster for longer, but not so long that they lose the original flavor character of the bean. Medium roast coffees tend to have flavors that range from chocolate to nutty to floral. M
edium roast beans can be either single origin or mixed origin. Medium roast beans also have a light oil coating.
Dark Roasted
It is probably obvious at this point, but dark roast beans have been roasted the longest and have the darkest color of the bean profiles. You’ll also notice that dark roasted beans are very oily.
Roasting coffee beans for this long generally diminishes the original flavor of the bean. You’ll notice bitter, chocolate, and caramel flavors in dark roast coffees. These are great for strong brewing techniques like espresso, Moka Pot, or French press.
If you love strong flavors of coffee you’ll love a dark roast. However, if you are looking for a morning caffeine jolt, stick with the light roast; it has the most caffeine.
Bean Types
There are two general classifications of beans when you are talking about coffee: Arabica and Robusta. These general bean types then have a variety of different subtypes that are usually named for the area where the beans are grown.
Arabica beans are generally used in more expensive, higher-quality coffees. These beans come from a smaller plant that takes longer to produce beans. It takes more work to get a bean from Arabica coffee plants, so naturally, they are considered the most desirable. You will certainly pay more for coffee blends that use arabica beans.
Robusta beans come from a larger and more hardy coffee plant. Robusta plants grow in a wider variety of climates, so they are easy to use in large-scale farming operations. So, Robusta beans are easy to mass produce and are frequently considered a lower quality bean. You will pay less for Robusta beans, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t capable of giving you a good cup of coffee.
Organic Vs Non-Organic
Organic beans will be grown using only natural products for fertilizers or pesticides. Man-made chemical pesticides and fertilizers cannot be used on coffee beans to be considered organic.
Organic beans can be difficult to cultivate efficiently as they generally require Arabica beans to be grown under the canopy of a forest and requires a more hands-on approach.
Ensuring that plants stay healthy using organic growing standards can be challenging which is often reflected in the price, you will notice a significant difference between organic and non-organic bean prices.
Blend Vs Single Origin
Coffee blends vs single-origin coffees are another consideration when shopping for the best coffee on Amazon. Single origin and blends tend to create very different flavor profiles for your coffee.
Single-origin coffees come from a single region, farm, or a particular variety of coffee plant. When you pick a single-origin coffee you have the opportunity to enjoy the flavors that are particular to that plant, farm, or region. Single-origin coffees are best as a light or medium roast so you get the full flavor of the bean.
Blended coffees are a mix of beans from different regions, plant types, or farms. Blends tend to provide a more moderate flavor profile than single-origin coffees. They are also more affordable. Because you’re not looking for a particular flavor in blended beans, these are great for coffee with milk or sugar. Blended beans are also great for dark roasts for espresso or French press.
Whole Bean Vs Pre-Ground Coffee
Honestly, for us, there really is no question about the better option here. Whole-bean coffee is always the best. Grinding your own beans just before brewing your coffee means you get the best flavor and aroma from the grounds.
The problem with whole-bean coffee is that you have to have a grinder. And if you don’t want to invest in a grinder or are traveling you may have a real need for pre-ground coffee.
If you are buying pre-ground coffee make sure that it is coming from a good-quality roaster. We like to get pre-ground coffee from local roasters.
If you’re buying ground coffee from Amazon, make sure you look at the star rating and the number of reviews for the brand you are considering. This will tell you a lot about the quality and flavor of the ground coffee.
Quantity and Price
Just because a coffee is expensive, doesn’t mean that it’s a great coffee or, at least it may not be great for you. There is nothing wrong with enjoying an inexpensive coffee bean if the flavor gives you what you want. Conversely, if you love coffee and it is pretty expensive, you may not mind spending the extra money for a cup of coffee that brings you joy.
When it comes to quantity, you’ll normally find ground and whole beans packaged in 10 or 12-ounce bags. This is probably fine for about a week of coffee.
If you want more coffee or you’re looking for better value, bulk coffee is generally a little more of a value per ounce than the smaller bags you buy in the store.
Should You Buy Coffee Beans on Amazon?
There was a time when we would have said that buying coffee from Amazon is a bad idea. We think that there are great coffee options on Amazon, but you do need to be thoughtful and careful when buying on Amazon.
If you really want to find the best coffee on Amazon, filter your search to use ‘Amazon Fresh’ or ‘Whole Foods Market’. These two options will give you a better selection of higher-quality ground and whole-bean coffee.
Coffee from these suppliers will also be fresher because they’re not sitting in a warehouse for extended periods of time.
While there are some great options on Amazon, if you want the best, freshest coffee, shop locally if you can. Local coffee roasters give you the freshest possible beans and grounds.
However, not everyone has a small-batch, groovy coffee roaster in their town. If you live in smaller communities and your grocery store options aren’t great, Amazon is actually a big improvement and can offer you some great variety and better quality products.
Pros
- Amazon has a huge selection of beans and grounds.
- You just can’t beat Amazon’s shipping time or price
- Fast and convenient
- There are some good quality brands available
Cons
- You don’t know how old the beans or grounds are, so the flavor is a toss-up.
- With so many different brands it can be hard to weed out the bad options.
Some Tips for Buying The Best Coffee On Amazon
If you are committed to shopping for coffee on Amazon, there are ways to ensure that you get a great product. Here are our tips for getting the best coffee on Amazon.
- Only buy whole beans – even older whole beans will offer you more flavor and aroma than an older bag of pre-ground.
- Look for beans that show a roasting date – The great thing about Amazon is if you get a bag of coffee with a really old roasting date, you can return it, just as long as the bag is unopened.
- Buy smaller quantities – Only buy the amount of coffee you will use in about a month. This will keep the coffee fresh.
- Don’t store beans in the bag – The bag your beans come in is great as long as it’s not opened. As soon as you open the bag the beans will start to lose their flavor. For best results, always store your beans or grounds in an airtight container. For even better results, store your coffee beans in the refrigerator.
If you want a comprehensive guide on all the things you should consider when buying coffee, check out this video.
Quick Overview: Our Top Picks for Coffees on Amazon
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
---|---|---|---|
Kicking Horse Coffee Kick Ass |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews | |
Death Wish Coffee |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews | |
Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Founder's Blend |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews | |
Kenya AA Coffee Whole Bean Fresh Roasted |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews | |
Black Rifle Coffee Blackbeard's Delight |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews |
The 5 Best Coffees on Amazon
1. Kicking Horse Coffee Kick Ass Dark Roast
We give you our favorite coffee on Amazon. The Kicking Horse Coffee Company’s Kick Ass Dark Roast is a beast of a coffee. We can’t get enough of the full flavor profile or the great quality blended coffee.
This coffee is great for pour-over, drip brew, and cold brew. You’ll enjoy great flavors of molasses, chocolate, malt, and licorice. It is a huge coffee and is sure to get your morning started off with a bang.
The Kicking Horse Coffee Company uses only organic, fair trade, kosher, Arabica coffee. You can buy it in two different sizes: 10 ounces or 2.2 pounds. The cool thing about buying this coffee on Amazon is that a monthly subscription will actually save you some money.
We really can’t say enough about this coffee. In our mind, it is by far the best coffee on Amazon.
Pros
- This is a fragrant coffee that has a surprisingly smooth flavor
- Beans are Fairtrade, kosher, and 100% certified organic
- The names of the coffees are entertaining
Cons
- This is a slightly more expensive coffee
- The dark roast isn’t as dark as other options
- There’s a slight bitterness to this blend
2. Death Wish Coffee Medium Roast
This is one of our favorite medium roast coffees and it’s our favorite coffee if we need an extra boost in the morning. The name of this coffee brand comes from the fact that their coffees have more caffeine than normal. So, it’s a great line of coffee when you want a pick-me-up.
This medium roast is quite smooth and offers flavors of peanuts, apricot, milk chocolate, and caramel. It’s a bit lighter than many other medium roasts, but it is a great flavored coffee. We like it black, but mixing it with a little cream and a touch of sugar doesn’t diminish the flavors.
Pros
- For a medium roast, this coffee has some amazing flavor
- Super caffeinated for those who love an extra kick
- Organic, fair trade, and vegan
- They have a great money-back guarantee
Cons
- Even though we love the flavors, it was disappointing to learn that Death Wish uses Robusta beans
- This is an oily coffee. So you’ll be cleaning your grinder often
3. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Founder’s Blend Medium Roast
Stumptown is quickly making a great name for itself thanks to its amazing business practices, and equally amazing coffee products.
Their ‘Founders Blend’ is a really tasty medium roast that may inspire you to drink nothing but black coffee after the first sip.
This blend of beans is all the things we love about Central American coffees. The blend of Guatemalan, Nicaraguan, Peruvian, Colombian, and Mexican beans creates the most intense and delicious flavors of bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, and clove.
For the socially conscious consumer, Stumptown coffees are sources of direct trade, instead of fair trade. This practice allows Stumptown to provide coffee growers an incentive for providing a much higher wage and better working conditions for employees. This coffee is also certified organic.
Pros
- A great blend for a wide range of brewing methods
- Sourced by Direct Trade
- Bold and rich flavor
- 100% certified organic
Cons
- From Amazon, this coffee isn’t always as fresh or flavorful
- Only one size, and only whole beans.
4. Kenya AA Coffee Whole Bean Fresh Roasted
This is a delightful single-origin coffee with some unique flavors that you won’t find in many other coffees. Volcanica Coffee’s Kenya AA is a single-origin coffee made from a blend of beans from the country’s best growers.
This Arabica coffee has delightful and exotic flavors including redwood, cranberry, raspberry, and alyssum flower. The flavor is bright and sweet with mild acidity. Some coffee enthusiasts say that the flavor profile is more like wine than coffee.
Besides being Kosher and organic, Volcanica Kenyan coffee is also Rainforest Alliance Certified.
Pros
- Unique flavor profile of tart fruits and florals
- Medium-light roast that highlights the flavors of the beans from a unique region of the world
- Packaged directly after roasting
- Fairtrade, organic, and Rainforest Alliance certified
Cons
- Higher priced than other options
- The only size offered on Amazon is the 16-ounce bag
5. Black Rifle Coffee Blackbeard’s Delight Dark Roast
If you like your dark coffees with a bit of punch, then you’ll like Black Rifle’s Blackbeard’s Delight.
This is a huge dark roast coffee full of flavor and minimal bitterness. This coffee has some of the most bold flavors of any dark roast we’ve tried. With a smoky aroma and flavors of chocolate and nuts with a fruity finish, this is a delightful morning treat.
Made from a blend of 100% Arabica Colombian and Brazilian beans, that are roasted here in the US before being packaged, so you know your coffee is fresh.
This blend is available as whole bean and ground, so you can enjoy the taste sensation, even if you don’t have a grinder.
Pros
- Surprisingly smooth with bold, dark flavors
- Dark roast has less bitterness and lower acidity than others
- This is perfect for pour-over brewing
- Black Rifle gives a portion of profits and products to first responders, law enforcement, and veterans.
Cons
- You’re going to pay a premium for this coffee
- 12-ounce bags are the only size option
Final Thoughts
Buying coffee on Amazon can be a chore. While not all the coffees you’ll find on Amazon are great, there are some good choices if you know what to look for. For us, the best coffee on Amazon is the Kicking Horse Coffee Company’s Kick Ass dark roast.
This delicious coffee is 100% Arabica that is fair trade sourced and organic. With bold flavors, but a mildness that makes it a great coffee for drinking black or with milk and sugar, this is the perfect coffee for all the coffee lovers in your world.
You can find great coffees on Amazon. We’ve given you our list of the best coffee on Amazon, and some helpful buying tips. We hope that if you need to shop on Amazon for your coffee, we’ve given you all the information you need to find the perfect coffee for you.