Rule 8 Beware The Heat
Water that is too hot will extract compounds in the coffee that are bitter rather than pleasant. The proper water temperature for brewing is 200°F, or about 45 seconds off a full boil. Once brewed, don’t expect coffee to hold its best flavors for long. Reheating, boiling or prolonged holding on a warming platform will turn even the best coffee bitter and foul-tasting.
Best Whole Bean Coffee: Stumptown
Stumptown has become a real force in the coffee landscape and for good reason. The Pacific Northwest operation sources amazing beans and delivers them freshly roasted so you can take on the joy of grinding at home. The companys whole bean lineup is noteworthy and generally as aromatic as it is flavorful.
Indonesian Sulawesi Toraja Coffee Beans
Sulawesi, formerly known as Celebes, is an Indonesian island to the east of Borneo. Toraja is the name of the group of people who grow and harvest the coffee in the northern highlands of the island.
Coffee is a family business on this island. Families grow coffee on their property as a means of adding some income to their household but is often not a priority. Therefore, the coffee infrastructure isnt very strong. This may be the reason these beans arent very common.
Coffee beans are partially processed by the family before being sold to a middleman at the local markets. These middlemen then go to the larger processing mills where the beans are completely dried and the work is finished.
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The best coffees from Sulawesi will be very sweet and complex, with low acidity, full-body, and some earthy and herbal notes to it. This coffee will make for a great medium-dark roast, highlighting the sweetness and full body present in the coffee .
Perfect for those who hate the bitternessbecause the bitter aftertaste of coffee seems to magically disappear after the first sip, leaving a pleasant sensation on your tongue
Brew up a french press or pull a shot with this solid, unique coffee.
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Best Overall Coffee: Water Avenue
Portland, Oregon, knows coffee, and Water Avenue has long been a model roaster in the caffeine-addicted city. The outfit reigns supreme in all facets, from flavor and variety to presentation and packaging. The beans the most important part are roasted so deftly that you can recreate the quintessential coffee shop experience at home with ease.
Best Light Roast: Starbucks Veranda Blend
Opinions on Starbucks famously vary. Those who avoid the ubiquitous coffee giant often do so because of taste, as the company’s signature flavor is extremely robust. The Veranda Blend could be a crowd-pleaser for all, however, as this blonde roast is much mellower. The primary flavor notes are soft cocoa and lightly toasted nuts. You’ll even see a difference in the coffee’s lighter shade. The price is surprisingly affordable for a Starbucks product and you can purchase a bag in several sizes.
Roast: Light | Size: 12, 20, 28, and 40 ounces | Available In: Whole bean, ground, instant, K-Cup, and Nespresso capsule | Origin: Latin America
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Where Does The Best Coffee Grow
The flavors and aromas contained in fresh coffee beans are influenced by many factors such as climatic conditions, the altitude above sea level, and the quality of the soil. The same variety of coffee cultivated in different parts of the world will not taste the same.
They might not taste the same from one season to another, as flavors also depend on precipitation and sun exposure. Of all the countries in the world, only 80 have the required climatic conditions for coffee cultivation. Of these, only 50 are capable of cultivating coffee on an industrial scale.
Conventional wisdom is that the best quality beans are grown in a range of tropical regions along the equator, called the Coffee Belt, so no wonder countries like Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, Ethiopia, or Indonesia are known to produce the most delicious coffee in the world.
Whats So Special About Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee
Google Jamaica Blue Mountain and before the actual Blue Mountains, youll get hits on Blue Mountain Coffee. This exceedingly high-quality coffee can only be grown on the steep slopes of Jamaicas Blue Mountains, and even then, it is required to go through one of the most rigorous quality assurance and tasting processes of any beverage on the planet.
Even if youre lucky enough to be a grower of Blue Mountain coffee, it doesnt guarantee you export. If your batch doesnt meet the strict standards of the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica, youre not going anywhere.
This means that if you do manage to track down some genuine, authentic Blue Mountain, youll be assured an unforgettable cup of coffee, providing you dont mess up the brewing.
Why wouldnt you be able to track it down? Because 80% of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee gets shipped straight to China, presumably for the highest of high-end business meetings.
This silky, seductive coffee really is the real deal, but how does it taste?
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How Did We Reach Our Conclusions
Going into a discourse about being the best will always represent a challenge.
When laymen say something like: Indonesian coffee is the best in the world, they are being imprecise.
Theres a range of different varieties grown in that country, and the coffee can be processed in many different ways.
Not to mention, Indonesia is a vast country , so there will be a lot of variations in terroir across places such as Java, Bali and Sumatra.
A combination of all these aspects will have a massive impact on the final flavor of a given coffee.
Most likely, Indonesia produces some lots of coffee that are extraordinary and some that are below average. So how do we quantify the output and compare it to other countries?
While, its interesting to see where in the world the best coffees come from country-wise, we need to be precise. As an example, it would also be nonsensical to say that French wine is the best in the world.
Clearly, there will be a gigantic difference between a generic $5 Vin de Supermarché and a bottle from the famous Chateau Lafite Rothschild.
Instead, we will have to look at a combination of all the factors below to get a meaningful understanding:
- Varietal
- Altitude/farm
- Processing method
Unfortunately, there arent that many statistics dealing with this specific question, so I have to be more creative.
Coffee In South America/central America
Nearly every country in Latin America exports coffee, with Brazil , Colombia , Honduras , Mexico , and Guatemala all ranking among the Top 10 nations in terms of annual production.
But Panama, which produces a mere 13 million pounds per year, has emerged over the past decade or so as one of the worlds hottest gourmet coffee markets. According to Jeff Taylor, credit for the regions success can be attributed to the 2004 discovery of a varietal called Geisha, which is indigenous to Ethiopia.
Hacienda La Esmeralda discovered Geisha growing on their farm, he recalls. They immediately separated it from the rest of their crop. The result was very unique, very floral, so they decided to enter it into the Best of Panama Coffee Competition. Now it sells for $60 per pound green, which means its over $120 per pound roasted.
But Geisha is not the most expensive Latin American coffee, by a long shot: Guatemalas Finca el Injerto Mokka sold for $500 per pound in an online auction a few years ago. Unfortunately, thats much too rich for our blood.
While we love the rich, bold flavors of Central American coffees, Ive been a Colombian coffee devotee ever since traveling to the country 10 years ago. The Rafael Núñez International Airport security team was highly suspicious of the 5-pound bag I brought home. These days a Colombian French Roast is part of our regular rotation.
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Where Did Coffee Originate
The origins of coffee can be traced back to at least the 10th century. Coffea arabica , the predominant strain of coffee, originated in the forests of the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia and the mountains of Yemen. There, coffee plants grew 30-39 feet in the wild, with white flowers and red to purple cherries that contained the beans.
Theres considerable debate over who first discovered its benefits as a drink. One story tells of a Sufi mystic from Yemen, who tasted the berries in Ethiopia after seeing their energetic effect on birds there.
Another involves a 9th century Ethiopian goat-herder who took berries to a monk, who threw them into a fire and produced an enticing aroma. A third tale involves a disciple of Sheik Aboul Hasan Schadheli, who discovered the magical beans after being exiled to a desert cave in Yemen.
Regardless of which story you choose to believe, there is archaeological evidence in the Sufi shrines of Yemen suggesting that it was consumed there regularly as early as the 15th century. The Sufi faithful there used it to help them concentrate and as a kind of spiritual intoxication when they chanted the name of God.
From there coffee spread to Mecca and Medina, then larger cities such as Baghdad, Constantinople, and Damascus. Coffee houses started springing up around Cairos religious University of the Azhar, then Aleppo and Istanbul.
Peerless Whole Bean Coffee Direct Trade Organic French Roast
Enjoy the deep, lingering, smoky notes in the French Roast from Peerless. It uses direct trade beans from small farmer-owned co-ops that are also USDA certified organic. Each bag is roasted, packaged, and shipped from Oakland, California, so it arrives on your doorstep as fresh as can be. If you like this coffee but also drink tea, Peerless has a range of teas that you can also browse.
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From Boutique Roasters To Grocery
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the bestproducts youcan learn more about ourreview process here.We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
Best for Espresso:
Its assortment of espresso blends is among the best you can find.
Best for Single Origin:
Each bag is labeled with the coffees roast level, flavor notes, and sourcing region.
Best for K-Cups:
Green Mountain was the first brand to sell its coffee in K-Cup form, and it’s still one of the best.
Every coffee lover has a go-to brand. For some its the time-tested grocery store stock. For others, a boutique roaster you can only order online. But since we drink coffee once a day, it’s easy to get burnt out sipping the same old cup of joe. Thankfully, the coffee world is vast and varied, and another brand is always waiting to fill your cup.
We’ve rounded up our favorite options below and broken down what we like, and even dislike, about each one. Categories cover everything from light roast to dark to decaf.
To start every morning the right way, here are the best coffee brands to try.
Grace Hightower & Coffees Of Rwanda
This brand was founded in 2013 by Grace Hightower DeNiro . Its philanthropic mission focuses on improving the lives of Rwandans by offering locally-sourced coffees to the international market.
The line features a full range of roasts as well as their Signature Series, all of which feature beans that are hand-picked and sorted and repeatedly cupped to ensure maximum flavor.
The result is a sustainably grown coffee you can feel good about drinking. Our favorite bean, the smooth Buf Café, was lightly roasted and boasted a beautiful hint of floral and citrus notes.
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Counter Culture Coffee Colasay Kabeywa And La Golondrina
Founded in North Carolina, Counter Culture has been one of the most enduring and consistent specialty roasters of the past 25 years. Environmentalism, sustainability, and supporting coffee-producing communities have been core ethics since the company’s inception. And the proof is in the taste shade-grown and water-processed beans in regions that haven’t been big parts of coffee production like Uganda are now becoming more well-known.
I’ve been a fan of Counter Culture for years and used to order their natural processed single-origin offerings all the time. After a long break, I was ready to be reacquainted.
Origins: Peru, South America Kapchorwa, Uganda Timbio, Colombia
Varietals: SL-14 and SL-34 , Castillo and Caturra
Roasts: Light-medium , Light-medium
Tasting notes: I opened a bag of their Peru Colasay and was instantly impressed with its floral, fruity aroma, which became more intense while brewing. South American coffee tends to be known for its balanced and chocolatey flavors, but this Peru is an exception. Its fruit-forward profile has notes of apricot and grape, and I could have been fooled into thinking this coffee was grown in Africa. Unfortunately, this one is unavailable, but I also tried others that are still available.
Best Instant: Mount Hagen Instant Coffee
Mount Hagen defies the instant-coffee stigma with a product that’s as tasty as it is easy to make. While this coffee won’t quite compete with the real stuff, many customers say it’s the best alternative. Made from 100 percent Arabica beans, the flavor is smooth and milda straightforward medium roast.
It’s pretty expensive as far as instant goes, but since most people keep it around for a pinch or use it while traveling it won’t break the bank. Each 3.53-ounce jar yields about 60 cups of coffee. The company makes a decaf variety in the same size and at a similar price point. Both options are available in single-serve sticks, which can be used for on-the-go joe. Mount Hagen is also great for making delicious whipped coffee.
Roast: Medium | Size: 3.53-ounce jar or box of 25 sticks | Available In: Instant | Origin: Papua New Guinea
A unique and dynamic flavor sets No Fun Jo Decaf apart from the competition. Many options seem like watered-down versions of the real thing, but not here. The two primary notes in this medium to medium-dark roast are sweet blueberry and milk chocolate. While this might not appeal to everyone’s palate, customers largely rave about the coffee’s taste. The blueberry is noticeable but not overpowering, as it’s balanced out by the smoother hints of chocolate.
Roast: Medium-dark | Size: 12 ounces or 2 pounds | Available In: Whole bean, ground, and K-Cup | Origin: Blend origin is proprietary information
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Countries With The Highest Quality Coffee Beans
Its generally believed the most optimal conditions for growing coffee exist in well-established growing countries like those of Central America. However, there are some lesser-known but equally prestigious farmers in nations like Madagascar, which also has some of the highest quality coffee beans. There are only 80 countries in the world that have climatic conditions that suite the needs of coffee trees. While only 50 countries are capable of industrial coffee production.
Coffee, like grapes, have their taste influenced by a variety of factors such as social, climatic conditions, altitudes above sea level, and other growing conditions. So, what is the most important when trying to figure out which country has the highest quality coffee beans? After all, the same species and type of coffee can vary dramatically in its flavor depending on precipitation, sun exposure, and soil composition. Lets take a look at the countries with the highest quality of coffee beans.
Swiss Water Decaf Kona
This Swiss water Decaf Kona by Koa Coffee has all the flavor of coffee without the caffeine. The Swiss Water method is 100% chemical free.
In this process, caffeine is extracted from the bean and percolated through activated charcoal. The coffee beans are then returned to the hot water, so that they reabsorb the caffeine-free flavor elements in the water.
This method creates coffee that is 99.9% caffeine free, ideal for those who have trouble sleeping but want a rich tasting coffee. Its packaged to taste as fresh when you open the bag as when the Koa Coffee team sealed it.
Swiss Water Decaf is grown on the slopes of the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii. This decaffeinated coffee is available in whole bean and pre-ground packs.
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Organix Medium Roast Coffee By Lifeboost Coffee
This kind of coffee bean is really great also it is good for health too. The companys goal and vision is to provide healthy, organic coffee that benefits farmers, drinkers, and the environment. And it also tastes fantastic.
They sell a whole range of coffees, but this medium organic roast is where youre meant to stand. It has an impressive number of certification statements and tastes fantastic when brewed with most brew types.
Big Shoulders Coffee: Best Organic Coffee Brand
From the humble roots of roasting coffee in his garage to forging a national reputation for great coffee, Tim Coonan is both inspiring and inspired.
The Honduras FTO blend is crafted from the Typica and Caturra varietals which flourish in the hot, sticky climate of Honduras. Known for their sweet and slightly acidic cherries, the result of the fusion is quite delicious. And, theyre organic. Never underestimate the power of organically-grown coffee beans. So, thats a win-win if we ever saw one.
Big Shoulders Coffee roasts their beans to order which maximises the freshness. They come in whole beans, so check which grind is best for your coffee maker.
The bittersweet aroma, medium-body and organic production mean Big Shoulders Honduras FTO blend proves itself as the best organic coffee to boot.
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