A trip at the grocery store is always overwhelming. Going through stacks and shelves make it harder to decide which of a specific product should you buy. This is true in the case of coffee. With tons of brands that are available, making a choice is not an easy task. Nonetheless, you need to be a picky and responsible buyer to have a good-tasting coffee.
If you are clueless on what to choose for the best grocery store coffee, this guide is for you. We will let you know five of the top options that you can find in the market, including some of the reasons why they are exceptional picks.
Choosing the Best Grocery Store Coffee
To make it easier for you to narrow down the possibilities, below are some of the most important factors that you need to take into consideration.
Caffeinated or Decaffeinated?
Caffeine is the component of coffee that is responsible for its many benefits, such as for making sure that you stay awake and alert. However, it is recommended that you should limit your caffeine intake to 400 milligrams in a day. Otherwise, your health can suffer from setbacks. You may experience palpitation and sleeplessness, among others.
Fortunately, you can drink coffee without caffeine. You can opt for those that are decaffeinated. There are different methods that are used for the removal of caffeine, but as much as possible, this needs to be done without the use of chemical solvents.
Ground, Whole Beans, or Pods?
For an easy and quick way to make your caffeine fix, ground coffee is the best. A lot of people choose it because of its convenience since it is ready to be used and there is no need to exert effort in grinding. The grind is uniform and consistent, although this will highly depend on the brand that you will choose.
Meanwhile, in the case of whole beans, one of the best things is that they offer personalized brewing. You can choose how coarse or fine the grinds are depending on the brewing method that you will choose. It is also excellent in terms of freshness and flavor. It is great that it is not easily prone to oxidation, a common problem in ground grocery store coffee.
Lastly, for coffee pods one of the benefits is that they stay fresher longer, as long as you pay attention to proper storage. You do not need to have extensive coffee-making skills since everything is ready and all that you need is to insert the pods. No need to worry about grinding beans, dosing, and tamping, among other things.
Arabica or Robusta
While there are more than 100 species of coffee, two of the most popular are Arabica and Robusta. They have unique flavors and characteristics, which is basically a result of being grown in two different types of environments, such as in terms of elevation and climate.
Between the two, Arabica is the better choice, especially because it has a richer flavor. Arabica is naturally mild and aromatic. They are grown in mountains that are more than 600 meters in elevation, making cultivation quite difficult. It has a higher sugar content, which makes it slightly sweeter but still with caffeine kick.
Robusta, on the other hand, is for people who prefer bitter coffee. It has a burnt taste, which may not satisfy everyone. Robusta is typically cheaper, which can be because of the fact that its cultivation is a lot easier. It has a higher yield and it is also not as sensitive to pests.
Below is a short video that will show the differences between Arabica and Robusta coffee:
Roast Level
It is important to be familiar with the different roasting levels of coffee as it will have a huge effect on flavor.
- Light Roast: In this kind of coffee, most of the caffeine is retained. The color is light brown and in the case of beans, the surface will not have oil. It also tends to be acidic and toasty.
- Medium Roast: The color is medium brown and the beans are also not oily. It has a well-balanced flavor and is grainy.
- Dark Roast: The beans are oily, which will be evident in your cup of coffee after brewing. The coffee tastes bitter and burnt.
Coffee Growing Region
To determine the flavor profile and overall quality of the grocery store coffee, you also need to look at where the coffee has been grown. In most cases, this will be indicated in the packaging. The following are some of the best regions in the world for growing coffee:
- Brazil: This is the largest producer of coffee in the world. Some people believe that the emphasis on quantity has already compromised quality of their coffee. The finer ones tend to have a medium body and low acidity.
- Colombia: This country is known for having high standard of excellence in their coffee. With a moist climate and high altitude, Colombian coffee is mild and well-balanced.
- Indonesia: This is a country that is popular for their Robusta coffee. To be specific, Sulawesi, Java, and Sumatra are some of the places where coffee is grown in the country.
- Ethiopia: Most of the coffees from Ethiopia are wet-processed. From the label, it is often described as full-flavored.
- Kenya: This is another region in East Africa that is known for their notable coffee. Coffee from this country is fruity and sharp with a rich fragrance.
- Costa Rica: This is the only country that makes wet-processed Arabica coffee. With careful attention to the production, you can expect fine coffee from Costa Rica.
Top Picks for the Best Grocery Store Coffee
In this section, we will list down five of the products that you might want to consider as well as the things that make them impressive.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-09-21 at 20:57 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Non-Dairy Coffee Creamer: Coffee mate Original Flavor Coffee Creamer is a classic rich, velvety smooth creamer. Our shelf stable liquid creamer singles are perfect for the office or break room
- Shelf Stable Creamer: Stir in our delicious flavored creamer for a rich cup of coffee that's lactose and cholesterol-free! No refrigeration needed. Blends quickly and completely with hot and cold beverages
- Treat Yourself: From liquid creamer singles, powdered creamers, and liquid pump bottles, to bulk creamer stations and more, Coffee mate has the products you need to keep your office stocked for coffee breaks
- Coffee mate: We've been making tasty coffee creamers for over 50 years—from our classic and flavored powdered and liquid creamers to sugar free and plant-based creamers in all the flavors you love
- Satisfaction Guaranteed: Covered by the Nestlé Professional 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee for Select Products. See below for details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-09-29 at 19:27 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Bright, crisp blend with balanced sweetness, nutty flavor, and a clean, silky mouthfeel
- Light roast, caffeinated coffee
- Certified Orthodox Union Kosher (U)
- Ensure high-quality coffee every time with pods specially designed to work in Keurig coffee makers
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-09-29 at 19:27 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- WORLD’S STRONGEST: Our whole coffee beans will transform your basic cup of joe into a delicious, bold, and intense beverage that will revolutionize your morning.
- QUALITY BREW: Hands down, the best whole coffee beans in the world. One sip of our best-selling coffee will have you saying goodbye to store-bought forever. Enjoy the highest quality energy and artisanal flavor with every sip of Death Wish Coffee.
- BOLD FLAVOR: Immerse yourself in a smooth, subtle, never bitter cherry and chocolate flavor profile. We've carefully selected premium Arabica and Robusta whole coffee beans from around the world to deliver you a dark roast coffee beverage with a bold taste you’ll instantly fall in love with.
- FAIR AND ORGANIC: Every 16 oz. bag of Death Wish Coffee is filled to the top with whole Coffee beans that are Fair Trade and USDA Certified Organic, giving you a natural caffeine boost you can be proud to support.
- TRY IT RISK-FREE: Death Wish Coffee comes highly rated by thousands of satisfied customers who can't get enough of our whole coffee beans. But we'll let you be the judge. If you don't fall in love with our coffee, we'll refund your order, no questions asked.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-09-21 at 20:57 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- HOUSE BLEND: The perfect introduction to our signature style, highlighting Alfred Peet’s pioneering of rich, distinctive coffees—strictly high-grown, finest quality, and deeply roasted to maximize flavor
- FOR KEURIG BREWERS: Peet's recyclable* K-Cup Pods are compatible with all Keurig K-Cup Brewers
- PEET’S COMMITMENT: To achieve our signature rich flavor, we source the world’s best coffee beans, hand-roast them in small batches, and uphold the strictest standard of freshness
- QUALITY GUARANTEED: 100% Arabica Coffee, Certified Kosher
- FLAVOR & ROAST: Lively, sweet, familiar Latin blend Dark roast
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-09-21 at 20:57 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- MEDIUM ROAST GROUND COFFEE: Distinct notes of cinnamon, nectarine, and chocolate with a cocoa hazelnut finish; Bundle includes C8 MCT Oil and Grass Fed Ghee
- ORGANICALLY GROWN COFFEE BEANS: Expertly-picked by hand to provide the highest quality beans and maintain maximum integrity and flavor
- CERTIFIED CLEAN: Tested for toxins to help to keep your coffee pure and clean; Keeps you jitter free
- SUSTAINABLE STANDARDS: Rainforest Alliance Certified using ingredients and best practices that support farm, forest communities and families
- GROUND: Perfect for pour over or drip coffee makers
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-09-21 at 20:57 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
In sum, if you will ask for my personal opinion on what is the best grocery store coffee, I would say that it is Death Wish Organic USDA Certified Whole Bean Coffee. This is not your usual coffee. It has two times higher caffeine, making it the perfect drink to perk you up. It is strong, but it is made without using chemicals and artificial additives.
