The 12 Best Coffee Beans : Reviewed for 2022

The Ultimate Coffee Bean Buying Guide

The Three Secrets To Choosing The Right Beans

Earlier I promised you the 3 simple secrets you need to consider when choosing your perfect coffee beans.

They will help you narrow down the choices and make the whole process less overwhelming.

So without further ado, here you go….

The Flavour You Like

The very first and most important consideration is what type of coffee drinker are you, and what flavour do you enjoy?

The growing region, type of bean, roast and even blend can all have an impact on the flavour profile. But a quick guide is

A Full Flavoured Coffee : If you are a fan of the traditional coffee taste, then go for an Arabica bean or blend with a dark roast. You can alter the strength of taste by adding milk

Exotic and Floral : To enjoy the more subtle floral flavor notes of certain coffees, you will need a lightly roasted bean of single origin. Due to the delicate profile you should have it black, and brew using the pour over method to extract more of the flavours.

Fruity and Mixed : Fans of the more fruity and modern coffees will need a medium roast and look for a quality blend. An experienced blender can balance the exact flavours you require, there are endless flavour choices available.

What Type Of Coffee Maker

The method you use to brew your coffee, should have significant impact on your choice of beans. Certain methods will require a certain type:

Espresso Machine : For an espresso machine you need to use a dark roast that can handle the pressure and the brewing method. I would go for something like an Italian roasted Arabica or a Robusta/Arabica blend.

Cold Brew : You want a high acidity level as the cold brew process will reduce the level over time. For this method I recommend a light roast, single origin bean. Preferably from high altitude.

French Press / Cafetiere : Here you are looking for a medium or even a dark roast, the French Press lowers the bitterness so you can get away with the stronger roasts.

Drip Coffee / Pour Over : This is a very delicate method of brewing. Choose a lightly roasted bean with the flavour hints that excite you.

Other coffee methods such as bean to cup you can get away with anything up from the lighter roasts.

Personal Requirements

Everyone is different and their requirements will be just as different, you probably have a good idea of these already, but here are a few things to bear in mind:

Caffeine Junkie : Look out for a highly caffeinated bean, be careful some can pack a real punch if you’re not used to them

Caffeine Sensitive : If you’re the opposite then look for the best decaf options. Mostly these will be pre ground, but you can find a few whole decaf coffee beans.

Prefer Milk : If you not a fan of black and neat coffee, and you insist on a little milk. Then go for a darker roasted bean.

Low Tolerance : For those like my dear old mum, who love a coffee but find it upsets the tummy, then don’t despair you probably just need a low acid option

Arabica vs Robusta?

98% of the coffee consumed is from either Arabica or Robusta beans, but what’s the difference?

Arabica beans : Are harder to cultivate and therefore cost more. But they do produce a smoother and sweeter coffee (they actually contain more sugars). The Arabica coffee beans contain less caffeine than the Robusta bean

Robusta beans : Due to the higher concentration of caffeine and less sugar the Robusta bean gives a harsher and more bitter flavour. The Robusta is a lot easier to cultivate and is therefore cheaper.

A third and popular option is a blend of the two, which if done by someone who knows what they are doing can produce an excellent coffee.

Single Origin or Blends?

A single origin coffee is as it sounds sourced from a single place, this means all the beans come from the same crop, grown by the same farmer. Think single malt whiskey.

A blend is therefore a mix of beans that can come from all over the world, think blended scotch.

As a rule of thumb single origin will be better quality and a blend will offer more balance.

There is no real right and wrong here, but to go back to my whisky analogy, then a single source should be enjoyed neat, meaning don’t ruin it with milk. You wouldn’t ruin a single malt whiskey with coke?

How Much Should I Buy?

This is not as simple as saying “as much as you can afford” or some other general remark. No there are a couple of points you need to consider first.

A 250 gram pack of whole coffee beans will be enough on average for 15 cups. So you need to consider how much you use, I would suggest not buying more than one months worth at a time. So if you drink one cup a day, the 500 gram is enough, 2 cups a day then 1kg is enough.

You could extend this out to two months at a time if you have adequate storage, such as a specialty airtight beans container.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Beans Make The Best Espresso?

Due to the extraction method used to make an espresso leading to a more sour coffee, I would recommend using a dark roast to add balance to your shot. Check out my full guide to the best espresso beans

Which Are The Best Beans For a French Press?

Generally a medium roast or dark roast will be better in a French Press or cafetiere, due to having a higher oil content.

You will want to grind these coarse as this will give a greater surface area for the brew to take place, resulting in a fuller flavour coffee. A more coarse grind will also ensure none of the grounds escape through the filter into your cup, there’s nothing worse than a mouthful of grounds, yuck!

What Are The Best Beans To Make A Cold Brew?

Cold Brewing your coffee will lower its acidity level, and since the acidity is essential to its distinct flavour profile, I recommend a highly acidic bean. These are usually those that are grown at higher altitudes.

Can You Get A Good Decaffeinated Coffee?

Of the three decaffeination methods the best one is the Swiss Water Method ₍₁₎, this is the only commercially viable method not to use solvents, and as such protects more of the flavour and aroma. This method is also certified organic.

Just look out for the logo or trademark when choosing your decaf coffee.

Which Are The Worlds Best Coffee Beans?

If you believe price is a direct result of quality then the worlds best coffee bean is the Kopi Luwak beans₍₂₎. These are coffee beans that have passed through the digestive tract of Asian palm civet. I personally think this is gimmicky, especially when it works out at £50 a cup.

In reality the best coffee beans are the ones you like the most, that have been responsibly sourced and don’t break the bank.

What Makes The Best Whole Bean Coffee?

What makes a whole beans good can be judged simply by eye. What you should look for is a consistent colour across the beans, a uniform size and shape, and there should be no cracks or broken beans. You are looking for coffee beans that have been grown and handled with love.

FYI All the beans featured on my list of the best coffee beans can be considered a great whole bean.

Why You Should Use Coffee Beans over Pre-Ground?

Simply put using fresh coffee beans over pre-ground will ensure your coffee is a fresh as possible and give you the maximum flavour and aroma. Sure ground coffee offers convenience but as soon as you grind the beans they start to deteriorate.

What Coffee Beans Should I Not Buy?

All decent roasters will have a roasted on date on the pack, this is essential to know how fresh they are. Avoid any roaster that does not disclose this information as they are probably hiding something.

Also I am a huge fan of co-operatives and always ensure I buy from a company that participates in one of these. It doesn’t have to be “fair trade” but something with similar ethics. I would avoid those that don’t, if you knew the extent of the bad labour practices outside of these it would make your coffee taste sour.