Finding the Best Grocery Store Coffee ⋆ The Java Press

So, you want to find the best grocery store whole bean coffee. The supermarket is a low-pressure environment where you can browse at your own pace, read package info, and discover new coffee. If you are just starting to get your feet wet with coffee culture, it can definitely be a little intimidating.

Believe me, I understand.

As soon as you start to explore the world of coffee you’ll encounter words like origin, roast, blend and brew type, just to name a few. Not to mention all the different types of equipment and the coffees with exotic names like Ethiopian Yirgacheffe and Tanzanian Peaberry. It seems like learning a foreign language. In the beginning, you might feel more comfortable easing your way in with something more familiar, like your local grocery store.

If you are interested in learning more about the language of coffee, take a look at this post: Coffee Jargon that Every Coffee Lover Should Know.

Best Grocery Store Whole Bean Coffee

One of the first and easiest ways to improve your coffee experience is to start with grinding your own coffee beans.

Good news, you can find whole bean coffee right in the supermarket. This can be a great place to start. You can learn about the different types of coffee that are available and your particular tastes.

Coffee from roasters can be a little expensive, especially when you’re not sure if you will like what you’re buying. You could easily spend $25 or more on a 12oz bag.

Starting out in your grocery store coffee aisle can save you some money while you’re learning. Then, when you when you know what type of coffee you enjoy, you can look for local roasters or try ordering online if you want. For more about ordering coffee online check out this post.

What to Look for in Grocery Store Coffee Beans

You want to look for bags with a “roasted on” date rather than a “best by” or “use by” date. This can be difficult to find but it will give you an idea of how fresh the coffee is. You also want to pay attention to origin, and roast, so you can learn how they affect the taste, and find out your preferences.

How Far Back is an Acceptable Roast Date

You want to find beans within 4 weeks of being roasted. The closer to the roast date it is the better. Generally, coffee beans are in their prime 4 to 10 days from the roast date. You want to wait 4 or 5 days after roasting. Coffee needs time for degassing, the process of releasing CO2, after it is roasted. If you can find coffee with a month of the roast date in your local grocery store, you will be in good shape.

Best Grocery Store Coffee Beans

Some of the best supermarket coffee beans you can find are from the from the following brands:

Peet’s Coffee

Peet’s has many origins and blends for you to try out. Most are dark roasts, but they do have some light roasts available too. The best thing about Peet’s is that they do have the roast date printed on the bag. Peet’s is probably the moste widely available whole bean coffee. I’ve seen them in Acme, Giant, Target, and Walmart. Check their store locator to find a retailer near you.

Light Roasts: Columbia Luminosa, Costa Rica Aurora

Medium Roasts: Big Bang, Baridi Blend, Brazil Minas Naturals, Cafe Domingo

Dark Roasts: Organic French Roast, Aged Sumatra, Arabian Mocha Sanani, Arabian Mocha-Java, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopian Fancy, Major Dickason’s Blend

Cafe Don Pablo

Cafe Don Pablo is available in Sam’s Club, Costco and Walmart. They understand that the shorter the time between roasting and your cup the better the coffee will taste. They roast to order in small batches to ensure maximum freshness, and they ship right after roasting. Their roasting facilities are located in the US, so their coffee arrives in stores a day or 2 after roasting. This makes them a great choice for grocery store whole bean coffee.

Products include: Signature Blend, Colombian Supremo, Brazil Cerrado, Euro Blend, Cafe Cubano, Pablo’s Pride, Gustavo’s Reserve, and Artisan Blend

Kicking Horse Coffee

Kicking Horse is a Canadian company making organic, fairtrade coffee that kicks ass. It’s sold in Giant and Target in my area. Check their store locator to find a store near you.

Light: Hola

Medium: Smart Ass, Three Sisters, HooDoo Jo, Pacific Pipeline, Z-Wrangler

Dark: Kick Ass, Grizzly Claw, 454 Horse Power, Half Ass

Peet’s, Cafe Don Pablo, and Kicking Horse are great whole bean coffees that are available in your local grocery store. What is your favorite grocery store whole bean coffee? Let me know in the comments.

Best Grocery Store Coffee for Espresso

If you are grinding your own beans, any of the above brands will be great. You just have to grind them fine. However, if you don’t have a grinder and are looking to pick up some ready to go coffee at the supermarket, you have some options.

Cafe Bustelo

You can find Cafe Bustelo in pretty much any grocery store. Once you know what you are looking for it is hard to miss. The bright yellow and red cans really stand out. The important thing is that is bold, ground fine, and makes a great shot of espresso.

Pilon

Pilon generally comes in a 16 ounce brick. It doesn’t stand out as much as the bright Bustelo cans, but don’t let that fool you. Pilon espresso is one of the best grocery store coffee brands for making espresso.