Like freshly ground black pepper, whole coffee beans are more flavorful than the pre-ground stuff you can buy at the grocery store. Experimenting with different blends and roast levels can help you find your perfect cup.
A good place to start is by trying a high-quality single-origin. Look for Fair-trade and organic labels to support ethical sourcing.
Intelligentsia
At Intelligentsia, they believe that great coffee is an approachable luxury. They are committed to sourcing the finest specialty coffee and roasting it at their cafes in Chicago and Los Angeles. Their goal is to make a cup of coffee a memorable part of any experience. Their commitment to quality and sustainability is reflected in everything they do.
They began roasting on vintage equipment in their first café in 1995, and they pioneered Direct Trade practices before it became a popular concept. They continue to travel the world and develop relationships with farmers, focusing on those who practice sustainable and responsible agriculture. They also focus on developing innovative coffees that are not available in mass markets, including single-origin coffees, espresso, and even instant coffee.
The company recently released its first instant coffee, which is made from roasted beans and can be enjoyed without the equipment or mess of traditional brewing. This coffee is a medium roast, which gives it a smooth flavor with a pleasant aroma. It’s also organic, which means it was grown without synthetic chemicals.
Blue Bottle
As with other premium coffee brands, Blue Bottle’s beans are sourced from small farms and sold at higher prices than their big-box rivals. But they offer a variety of options for everyone, from light roasts to dark. And they also provide detailed descriptions of each blend and its flavors.
Freeman says he started the company in part to challenge the business models of the massive chains like Starbucks and Peet’s. But he has since come to believe that the real opportunity for his company lies in expanding beyond large cities and into smaller markets.
One of its most popular offerings is a blend of beans from the Canadian Rocky Mountains called Kicking Horse. It is on the pricier end of the spectrum, but customers rave about its rich combination of flavors, including toasted nuts and dark chocolate. The brand also makes a decaf blend of its same beans, although the flavor might not be as robust. The beans are organic and fair trade, and the roasting process is carbon-free. It’s a great choice for anyone looking to move away from supermarket pre-ground coffee.
Death Wish Coffee Medium Roast Coffee Ground
A medium roast coffee from Death Wish, this coffee is smooth and full-bodied. It has a complex flavor profile and can be enjoyed on its own or with milk or cream. It has a great mouthfeel and notes of blueberry jam and vanilla. The flavor is very pleasant and it comes in a bag of pre-ground beans. It can be used in a French press, pour over or a drip coffee machine.
The coffee is Fair Trade and USDA certified organic, which means that farmers who grow the beans receive a fair wage and decent working conditions. The company also donates to charity projects. This is an excellent choice for those who want to support a small company.
The coffee is available in a variety of sizes, from one pound to five pounds. You can also get a subscription to save money and receive the coffee on a regular basis. The website has a wide selection of merchandise, including stickers and pins. The brand uses a skull and crossbones motif in their branding, which may seem a bit over the top to some people.
Kicking Horse
Kicking Horse is a Canadian coffee company that specializes in well-balanced blends that work well with all brewing methods. Their Smart Ass medium roast is silky smooth with milk chocolate, red berries, and vanilla. Their 454 Horse Power dark roast uses Indonesian wet-hulled beans to create a full cup of earthy flavors including sweet tobacco and black licorice. The Pacific Pipeline and Hoodoo Jo both use South and Central American beans to produce earthy coffees with a heavy mouthfeel.
The Three Sisters blend uses lighter beans, but it also tastes smooth with a coconut and toasted bread aroma. All Kicking Horse coffee is Fair Trade Certified, which means the farmers get a good price and the environment is protected.
Most of their coffee is shade grown, which means it grows under a variety of trees and plants for better growth and flavor. However, their roasts aren’t traceable, which makes it difficult to know what farms the coffee comes from and whether the beans are of high quality. They do give some of their profits to environmental charities, which is a great gesture.
Lavazza
Lavazza is an Italian coffee company known for its espresso blends. The brand was founded in 1895 by Luigi Lavazza, who opened a small grocery store in Turin. Today, it is one of the top-selling Italian coffee brands and is also committed to sustainability.
Home Grounds recommends choosing whole bean Lavazza coffee for your espresso brew. This will give you the best flavor and aroma. This is a great choice for people who don’t have access to a local roaster or for those on a budget.
The Super Crema blend uses a 60:40 ratio of Arabica and Robusta beans to create an intensely flavored brew with heavy body. This product is grown on Rainforest Alliance certified farms and is naturally processed. The Gran Espresso blend is similar, but reverses the ratio to use 40% Arabica and 60% washed Robusta beans.
Lavazza also offers a decaf option, the Decaffeina – a medium roast with fruity notes and honey sweetness. It is grown on Rainforest Alliance certified farms, and is an excellent choice for those who prefer a less caffeinated brew.
Bourbon coffee bean
The Bourbon coffee bean (pronounced “bour-bone”) is a gourmet Arabica variety that grows in a range of environments. It is named after the island of Reunion, east of Madagascar, where it was first cultivated in the 18th century. It is a high-quality, complex variety that pairs well with a wide range of brewing methods.
Bourbons are known for their sweetness and balanced acidity. This makes them a popular choice for roasters and consumers. They also have a tendency to be less dense than other varieties, which can help improve their flavor. They are often red-skinned, but they can also ripen to yellow or, rarely, orange or pink.
The bourbon coffee plant is less widespread than other arabica varieties because it requires particular soil and climate conditions to thrive. It thrives at higher altitudes, where the climate has distinct wet and dry seasons and moderate rainfall. It must also be grown in shade. Moreover, it is a dwarf plant that is more susceptible to rust and pests than other varieties. Its popularity is declining as new varieties are developed that offer growers more agronomic benefits, such as disease resistance and higher yields.
Counter Culture Big Trouble Coffee
Big Trouble is named for its nutty, caramel, and chocolate flavors that make this coffee so easy to love. Sustainably sourcing clean, low-acidity coffees to deliver this approachable profile is no easy task, and Counter Culture’s buyers are relentless in their efforts to find, roast, and blend precisely the right beans for each batch. Whether you prefer a classic pour over, french press, or espresso, this deliciously sweet coffee is sure to please. This coffee is sustainably sourced, transparently traded, and expertly roasted. It is the perfect choice for those looking to graduate from crappy supermarket pre-ground coffee and embrace quality whole bean.
Craft Coffee
The best craft coffee beans are meticulously sourced and roasted to bring out the unique flavors of each bean. They are then carefully paired with the right grind and brewed to perfection. This results in an amazingly delicious cup of coffee. These beans make the perfect corporate gift, as they are sure to please any coffee lover. They are also a great way to show your employees that you care about them.
The Journey of a Coffee Bean
Specialty coffee starts as cherries on trees, cultivated to their full flavor potential in ideal climates and conditions. They are then meticulously handpicked by experts, ensuring that only the best find their way into your cup. The roasting process is a delicate blend of art and science, turning raw green beans into aromatic delights that will awaken your palate.
In addition to the quality of their coffee, Verve is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and empowering work culture. They source their beans through direct trade with producers who uphold fair wages and ethical working conditions. Their goal is to help farmers and their families achieve economic independence while preserving the environment and promoting sustainability.