The 17 Best Coffee Beans Of 2024
Whole beans = more flavor.
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Whether you prefer cold brew or old-fashioned drip coffee, fresh coffee beans are a top choice for making any type of coffee at home. Compared to grounds, whole beans yield far more flavorful, fresh, and aromatic roasts.
Simply grab your coffee grinder, creamer and/or sugar of choice, and you've got all the fixings to make your perfect morning pick-me-up. From light and smooth to rich and full-bodied, we've found the 17 best coffee beans to meet every java preference. Scroll on to shop the best-tested beans both our team and experts recommend.
Our Top Picks for the Best Coffee Beans of 2024
How Fresh Is Fresh Enough?
To maximize flavor and aroma, Gurpreet Singh, owner of the New York City all-day restaurant Sunday to Sunday, says that you'll want to use coffee beans that are no older than 14 to 24 days from the date they were roasted. The fresher the grind, the more flavorful the coffee. If possible, you should grind your beans with a coffee grinder right before brewing.
How We Picked These Products
We take our coffee seriously, so we went to experts including Delish editors, chefs, and restaurateurs. From well-known offerings like Dunkin' and Starbucks to beans from artisanal roasters, this list has them all. We also made sure to select products that are easy to get your hands on—there's no need to go on a bean-hunting expedition—and hail from across the price spectrum. It's time to get caffeinated!
Stumptown Coffee Roasters' Holler Mountain
Pros
- Balanced
- Medium roast
Cons
Former Delish Deputy Editor Rachel Tepper Paley drinks a cup of Stumptown's Holler Mountain every day. "I hate super bitter brews, but these beans make a balanced cup with notes of caramel and berries," she says, adding that she uses it for both French press coffee and homemade cold brew.
- Roast: Medium
- Size: 12 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Citrus, berry jam, caramel
Partner's Coffee Roasters's Brooklyn
Pros
- Balanced
- Medium roast
Cons
Ever since we stumbled across Partner's Brooklyn roast, we've been using it nearly every day. It's balanced, with notes of milk chocolate and toffee, but isn't too strong. It makes a perfect pour-over every morning.
- Roast: Medium
- Size: 12 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Cocoa, toffee, and dried fruits
BLK & Bold Limu, Ethiopia Whole Bean Coffee
Pros
- Smooth body
- Sweet flavor profiles
Cons
"Hailing from the birthplace of coffee, this single-origin light roast is special," says Katie Kissell, senior director of marketing at Steeped Coffee. "We love this roast, as it's packed with well-rounded flavor notes of chocolate, blueberry, and honey, upheld by a soft and silky body."
BLK & Bold also pledges five percent of its profits to support children in need, "so your daily coffee routine can make an impact in the community," Kissell adds.
- Roast: Light
- Size: 12 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Honey, chocolate, and blueberry
Nguyen Coffee Supply Loyalty Beans
Pros
- Blend of beans
- Rich in antioxidants
Cons
Nguyen Coffee Supply's bestselling Loyalty bag includes a mix of Vietnamese arabica beans, famed for their sweet and smooth taste, and robusta beans, known for featuring higher amounts of caffeine and antioxidants. The beans are imported through direct-trade relationships with Vietnamese farmers and roasted in Brooklyn using a special technique meant to bring out their "sweet, smooth, and nutty" flavor profiles.
- Roast: Medium
- Size: 12 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Cacao, pomelo, almond, and smoked caramel
Pros
- Hints of fruit and chocolate flavors
- Bold profile
Cons
Want to make a rich cup of coffee? Consider Red Bay Coffee's East Fourteenth beans, sourced from East Africa-based Sweet Unity Farms and crafted to offer a full-bodied, fruity, and chocolate-y taste.
"East Fourteenth is my favorite coffee flavor," says one reviewer. "Smooth and great taste. No need to add too much cream."
- Roast: Dark
- Size: 12 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Blackberry, dark chocolate, and date
Dunkin' Original Blend Medium Roast
Pros
- Medium roast
- Budget-friendly
Cons
Joanna Saltz, Delish's Editorial Director, is a big fan of Dunkin's Original Blend. It's classic, easy to drink, and consistent. Best of all, it won't break the bank.
- Roast: Medium
- Size: 12 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon
Pros
- Mild and easy to drink
- Budget-friendly
Cons
Breakfast Blend is the lightest medium blend Starbucks offers, with notes of sweet orange and brown sugar.
"We LOVE this coffee for all-day brewing," says one reviewer. "It has the perfect aroma and mild notes making it one of the best home coffees for breakfast." The price is right, too.
- Roast: Medium
- Size: 18 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Brown sugar, sweet orange
Pros
- Organic
- Smooth
- Affordable
- Low acidity
Cons
Mayorga's Café Cubano Roast is a favorite of former Delish Video Editor Karen Curtiss, who uses this smooth, dark roast for her at-home cold brew. It's also organic, with low acidity and heady notes of vanilla.
- Roast: Dark
- Size: 12 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Vanilla, smokiness
Cold Brew Reserve
Pros
Cons
Stone Street's Cold Brew Reserve is dark roasted to bring out rich notes of chocolate. "[I] was surprised that this dark roast was so smooth," says one reviewer. "Makes a great cold brew coffee."
- Roast: Dark
- Size: 16 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Nutty chocolate
Pros
- Affordable
Cons
If you're a fan of espresso drinks or a really strong cup of coffee, Starbucks Espresso Roast is a great choice.
"This is a very smooth, dark coffee," says one reviewer. "Not at all bitter. Just a great coffee flavor."
- Roast: Dark
- Size: 18 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Rich molasses and caramel
Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso
Pros
- Affordable
Cons
Intelligentsia's Black Cat Espresso delivers notes of stone fruit and dark chocolate, making it perfect for espresso-based drinks.
"I absolutely love this espresso," says one reviewer. "It leaves a nice crema and is a smooth-tasting, easy-drinking espresso."
- Roast: Medium
- Size: 12 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Stone fruit, dark sugars, and dark chocolate
La Colombe Nizza Medium Roast
Pros
- Doesn't contain any of the eight major allergens
Cons
Master chef and chocolatier of Éclat Chocolate, Christopher Curtin, enjoys La Colombe's Nizza, a medium roast with notes of milk chocolate, nuts, and brownie. Talk about a sweet morning treat.
- Roast: Medium
- Size: 12 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Milk chocolate, nuts, and brownie
Pros
- Great for coffee nerds
- Smooth, medium roast
Cons
- Pricey
Gabby Romero, Delish's associate editor, recommends any beans from Tandem Coffee Roasters, which includes with every bag information about how the beans within were harvested and roasted. Right now, she's loving the brand's Stoker offering, which is a smooth, medium roast with sweet notes of ripe fruit, vanilla, and milk chocolate.
- Roast: Medium
- Size: 12 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Dark chocolate, cherry, and burnt honey
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Full-bodied and rich
Cons
We love a dark, robust cup of coffee and Major Dickason's Blend from Peet's Coffee never disappoints. It's rich, full-bodied, and a great, affordable choice for anyone who loves a strong cup.
- Roast: Dark
- Size: 10.5 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Rich, full-bodied
Pros
- Organic
- Smooth
Cons
- Not for the faint of heart
For a truly intense cup, you can't go wrong with the Dark Roast from Death Wish Coffee Co, which proclaims to be the "world's strongest coffee."
"I was definitely surprised and impressed by the complex, yet SMOOTH taste of these beans after I ground them for brewing," writes one reviewer. With notes of cherries and chocolate, this bold coffee will give you the jolt of caffeine you need in the morning.
- Roast: Dark
- Size: 1 lb.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Cherry, chocolate
Kicking Horse Coffee Decaf Dark Roast
Pros
- Organic and fair trade
- Decaffeinated
- Budget-friendly
Cons
With notes of roasted hazelnuts and chocolate, Kicking Horse Coffee's Decaf Dark Roast is sure to please. "The flavor of the coffee is bold, strong, and tastes like a true dark roast," notes one reviewer.
- Roast: Dark
- Size: 10 oz.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Roasted hazelnuts, chocolate
Lavazza Dek Whole Bean Coffee Blend
Pros
- Decaffeinated using natural process
Cons
Lavazza's Dek decaffeinated roast doesn't compromise on flavor. It's a creamy, balanced dark roast blended and roasted in Italy, then decaffeinated using a natural process.
"I think this is as close to a perfect blend and roast of coffee as I've ever had," says one reviewer. "There is not even the slightest hint of bitterness and the flavor is exceptional. I can drink this all day."
- Roast: Dark
- Size: 1.1 lb.
- Manufacturer tasting notes: Roasted cereals and hazelnut
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