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When it comes to coffee, we really are living in the age of enlightenment. Whereas 20-30 years ago many coffee products were hard to come by, we have coffee shops, coffee blogs and coffee equipment available to us in a way we perhaps wouldn’t have previously imagined. We’ve reviewed some of the very best whole bean coffee on Amazon.
Best whole bean coffee on amazon (Comparison Chart)
| Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Death Wish Organic USDA | $ | Check Price |
| Costa Rica Tarrazu | $ | Check Price |
| Browny Indonesian Sumatra Organic | $ | Check Price |
Many people incorporate coffee as a part of their daily routine, but for many of us it has gone from instant coffee to gourmet, single-origin coffee which we can grind and brew ourselves.
Coffee is a wonderful product for variation, and all of them are worth a try. It is not like once you have purchased one brand of coffee there’s no going back, and variety is definitely the spice of life.
Buying Guide
Choosing the Best Coffee For You
Though all of the coffees we’ve listed above are great in their own unique ways, it may be that you have your own preferences already.
Experimentation is great, but if you know you don’t like coffee that is overly strong, there are definitely brands to avoid. Many coffee drinkers have their favorite regions.
If you have enjoyed Indonesian coffee before, for example, you may wish to try other coffees from South East Asia such as Vietnam.
The same goes for African coffees and South American coffees. They all have their own unique traits.
Benefits of Whole Bean Coffee
Some coffee lovers have a reputation as being coffee ‘snobs’. We’re nothing like that, and while there’s not too much wrong with pre-ground coffee, coffee that you grind at home is preferable.
The main reason for whole bean coffee being preferred is that it will be fresher when ground. Compare it to a fresh loaf of bread straight out of your oven or bread machine.
Everything from the aroma to the texture is improved. This is exactly the same with coffee, which is more prone to going stale if it has been pre ground.
While it won’t do any harm unless it is left out for a long time, it will lose a lot of its flavor.
Another great benefit of buying coffee whole bean is that you can grind it to purpose. Grind size is hugely important for the brewing methods you will be using, but if you buy a pre-ground bag of coffee, you can only get one grind setting.
Having options for how you grind your coffee will allow you to brew in different ways, say you use an aeropress or espresso maker in the morning and then a cafetiere in the evening, different grind sizes will yield better coffee.
This means your whole bean can be more versatile and taste how it is intended once it has been prepared.
There is a further benefit you may not have considered. Whole bean coffee is also more likely to be a high quality crop.
It is also more likely to be single origin, allowing you to taste the flavors of one beautiful coffee rather than a strange cocktail of different coffees.
In a grind, some companies have been guilty of purchasing cheaper, lower quality crops of coffee, as you are not likely to notice any inconsistencies in the bean shape or roast.
With whole bean coffee, you know exactly what you are getting, and a coffee company can’t sell you a ‘french blend’ and just grind whatever has been sitting in the warehouse the longest.
Whole Bean Coffee Reviews
1Costa Rica Tarrazu, Whole Bean, Fresh Roasted Coffee
Costa Rican coffees are often real gems. The mountainous regions of Costa Rica mean that coffee is usually grown at an altitude, which can lead to a very rich and characterful flavor, as well as a smooth texture.
Tarrazu is grown in the “Land of Saints” mountain range in the South East of the island.
“Fresh Roasted Coffee” is both the description and the name of the company in this case. Their take on the product sees notes of honey and baker’s chocolate mentioned.
The roast is on the darker side of medium, which is where the majority of coffee drinkers like it to be. As you’d expect, this product is 100% arabica bean with additives.
When grinding the Tarrazu, you can see that the oils are still coming out of the coffee, this is a great sign and means it hasn’t been over-roasted.
The Costa Rica Tarrazu is a versatile coffee and works well for espresso as well as pour over and will do a good job for pretty much every other brewing method.
Death Wish Organic USDA Certified Whole Bean Coffee
Another company who seem to have their branding spot on. Death Wish coffee have really made a name for themselves, and their bold imagery (and claims) are backed up with bold coffee in this case.
Death Wish claim this to be the strongest coffee in the world. Quite a claim, but whether you believe it or not, this stuff is strong.
If you like to drink a coffee that hits you in the taste buds and gives you impetus in the morning, look no further than Death Wish.
This coffee is designed to be strong not only in taste terms but also strong in its impact. This has double the caffeine of a ‘normal’ cup of coffee, so be warned.
If you are someone who is sensitive to caffeine then this may not be the best call. If, however, you’re someone who needs their fix in the morning before they really get going, this can be the perfect way to drag yourself out of bed and into the day. This coffee is especially good as espresso, if you can handle the strength.
This is another risk free purchase as Death Wish Coffee will also refund any customer who tries the product and isn’t happy with it.
The fact is that this brand have their corner of the market and unique selling point, if bold, strong flavors and coffee that gives you a buzz is what you’re looking for, there’s every chance you will join the thousands of fans that Death Wish have amassed in recent years.
Browny Indonesian Sumatra Organic Roasted Coffee Whole Beans
This is another coffee with quite a dark roast profile, but nowhere near the strength as the Death Wish Coffee discussed above.
This is the only Asian coffee to make our list, and due to the surroundings in which it is being grown, this has a very unique flavor which you won’t find in South American coffees.
The island of Sumatra is where this coffee varietal is grown. Coffees grown here are renowned for having a smooth body and complicated tasting notes which the roasters describe as intense and herbal.
This is unique to the region and provides a really interesting taste if you are looking for something a little different.
The coffee tasting notes are of licorice and chocolate, and the flavor owes a lot to the tropical climate instead of the altitude which shapes the flavor of many coffees in other parts of the world.
Browny only launched as a roaster in 2015, but offer some beautiful coffees in their range, roasted in New York. The coffees can be used in a variety of different brewers, but we recommend this in espresso machines, coffee drippers and Keurigs.
Conclusion
There are so many different coffees out there, and while it is hard to pick out a single ‘best’ whole bean coffee, something like the Costa Rica Tarrazu will give you a balanced and classic coffee flavor.
This list has weeded out a lot of the ‘imposter’ companies. By purchasing from one of the roasters mentioned above you can ensure that the beans have been selected carefully and that the coffee roasted is all exactly what it claims to be.
On top of that, all of the coffee beans mentioned above are arabica and also fair trade, which should be a minimum expectation of coffee in the modern era!
If you love coffee as much as we do, you will probably get the chance to work your way through the whole list of these coffees. Who could blame you? Working out your favorites is one of the joys of being a coffee lover.
