Best Overall
Stumptown Coffee Roasters' Holler Mountain
Credit: Stumptown Coffee Roasters
Pros
Balanced
Medium roast
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
Best Overall Runner-Up
Partner's Coffee Roasters's Brooklyn
Credit: Partner's Coffee Poasters
Pros
Balanced
Medium roast
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
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Best Light Roast
BLK & Bold Limu, Ethiopia Whole Bean Coffee
Now 12% Off
Credit: TargetPros
Smooth body
Sweet flavor profiles
"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
Best Arabica and Robusta
Nguyen Coffee Supply Loyalty Beans
Credit: Nguyen Coffee Supply
Pros
Blend of beans
Rich in antioxidants
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
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Best Full-Bodied
Red Bay Coffee East Fourteenth Tanzanian Coffee Beans
Credit: Amazon
Pros
Hints of fruit and chocolate flavors
Bold profile
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
Best Budget
Dunkin' Original Blend Medium Roast
Credit: Dunkin'
Pros
Medium roast
Budget-friendly
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
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Best Budget Runner-Up
Starbucks Breakfast Blend
Credit: Starbucks
Pros
Mild and easy to drink
Budget-friendly
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
Best for Cold Brew
Mayorga Organics Coffee Cafe Cubano
Credit: Mayorga
Pros
Organic
Smooth
Affordable
Low acidity
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
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Best for Cold Brew Runner-Up
Cold Brew Reserve
Credit: Stone Street Coffee Company
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
Best For Espresso
Starbucks Espresso Roast
Credit: Starbucks
Pros
Affordable
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
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Best For Espresso Runner-Up
Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso
Credit: Intelligentsia
Pros
Affordable
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
Best Medium Roast (Sweet)
La Colombe Nizza Medium Roast
Now 13% Off
Credit: La ColombePros
Doesn't contain any of the eight major allergens
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
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Best Medium Roast (Smooth)
Stoker Blend
Credit: Misto Box
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
Best Dark Roast
Peet's Coffee Major Dickason's Blend
Credit: Peet's Coffee
Pros
Budget-friendly
Full-bodied and rich
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
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Best Dark Roast Runner-Up
Death Wish Coffee Co. Dark Roast
Credit: Death Wish Coffee Co
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
Best Decaf
Kicking Horse Coffee Decaf Dark Roast
Now 25% Off
Credit: Kicking Horse CoffeePros
Organic and fair trade
Decaffeinated
Budget-friendly
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
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Best Decaf For Espresso
Lavazza Dek Whole Bean Coffee Blend
Now 20% Off
Credit: LavazzaPros
Decaffeinated using natural process
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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