The 8 Best Espresso Beans
December 15, 2022 | Kurt Parker
When you buy your next bag of coffee beans, make sure they are fresh because that is what will give them their best flavor. Coffee beans will start to lose their flavor just days after they have been roasted, so it is important to buy them as soon as you can.
If you don’t have time to roast your own coffee beans, then you can buy them pre-roasted. However, you will want to make sure that they are fresh because that is what will give them their best flavor.
The best espresso beans for coffee drinkers come in many different flavors. From bright and medium roast to rich, deep dark roast varieties there’s sure to be one that will suit your taste buds.
With a week spent trying out different types of espresso beans, our entire team was able to find the best espresso beans for different people – the one that will suit you just right.
What’s in the Article
Lifeboost Coffee Espresso Beans (Best Espresso Beans Overall)
Koffee Kult Thunder Bolt (Best Dark Roast Espresso Coffee Beans)
Kicking Horse Cliff Hanger Espresso (Best Medium Roast Espresso Coffee beans)
Lavazza Super Crema (Best Crema)
Death Wish Organic Whole Bean (Strongest Espresso beans)
Stumptown Hair Bender Whole Bean Coffee (Most Complex-Tasting Espresso Bean)
Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso Classic (Sweetest Taste)
Coffee Bros. Espresso Roast (Lightest Espresso Coffee)
What is the difference between Robusta and Arabica Espresso beans?
The 8 Best Espresso Beans
Can’t wait to taste the best espresso coffee beans? Let’s jump right in shall we?
#1 Lifeboost Coffee Espresso Beans – Best Espresso Beans Overall
The beans are sourced from Nicaragua. They are then roasted in micro-batches to ensure the highest quality and flavor. The unique process of roasting the beans produces a rich, bold flavor that is perfect for coffee connoisseurs.
If you are looking for a bag of coffee that will give you more energy, Lifeboost Coffee Espresso Beans is perfect. This blend will give you an invigorating buzz with no negative side effects in sight – perfect for waking up or staying awake all day long.
Lifeboost’s coffee is the best. It was grown without pesticides so it tastes really good with no strong taste of pesticides. You will enjoy coffee more when you drink it with Lifeboost.
Why we love it
- 100% Organic
- Fairly traded Arabica beans from Nicaragua
- A mixture of rich, bold flavors with undertones that are much more subtle. It has hints of chocolate and caramel but it is not overwhelming in any way
- Handpicked and sun-dried naturally
- Also great for cold brew
#2 Koffee Kult Thunder Bolt – Best Dark Roast Espresso Beans
This coffee bean is made with 100% Colombian beans and has a rich, earthy flavor.
If you’re looking for a coffee that will remind you of your travels to Central America, this is the one for you. It has a slightly smoky flavor that will make you feel like you’re sitting on a sunny patio in Colombia.
This rich coffee is also great for people who are new to coffee. It has a moderate level of caffeine that will boost your energy without making you feel jittery.
The coffee beans are grown at high altitudes in Colombia which helps to give them their nice flavor. It’s the perfect coffee to enjoy when you’re looking for something smooth and easy to drink. No bitter aftertaste here!
You’ll notice that this coffee has a smoky aroma with hints of cocoa and nuts. There are also hints of fruit, which you might not be able to smell until after you brew it. The aroma is perhaps the most complex feature of these Colombian coffee beans. It’s definitely something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a coffee that will impress your friends.
Why we love it
- Single-origin beans from Colombia
- Organic
- Fair trade
- Smoky / Earthy Aroma
- Artisan Roasted Coffee
#3 Kicking Horse Cliff Hanger Espresso – Best Medium Roast Espresso Beans
Kicking Horse Cliff Hanger Espresso Bean is an organic, shade-grown coffee that is fair trade and from Canada. It is a light roast with a smooth finish.
If you are looking for rich, dark roast coffee beans, Kicking Horse Cliff Hanger Espresso is not the coffee for you. However, if you enjoy a light, smooth cup of coffee with a hint of sweetness, then this is the perfect coffee for you.
Kicking Horse Coffee is certified organic by the USDA and Fair Trade USA. The coffee is grown in the shade of other trees, which helps to preserve the environment. In addition, the coffee is roasted in small batches to ensure quality.
Kicking Horse Cliff Hanger Espresso bean is full of rich flavor with a smooth finish. Kicking Horse Cliff Hanger Espresso beans are good for people who like lighter coffee. The gentle roast leaves this coffee tasting like a delicate treat.
Kicking Horse Coffee is an organic and fair trade coffee that is light and smooth. If you like to drink different types of coffee, it is perfect for you.
For a full list of the best medium roast coffee beans, click here.
Why we love it
- A rich and complex blend, with a medium roast taste.
- Organic, Fair trade
- Brown sugar, cocoa, and dark berries
- Awesome cup of espresso
#4 Lavazza Super Crema – Best Crema
Lavazza Super Crema is a coffee that has a sweet taste. It offers a full body and a very deep flavor. The coffee beans come from the mountains of Central America, Africa and India. The resulting coffee is a blend with a medium level of caffeine and acidity.
Arabica and Robusta beans have an 80/20 ratio that comes from Central America, Indonesia, Brazil India as well as Colombia. They’re roasted in Italy for your perfect cup every time.
A perfect staple for any coffee drinkers, this medium roast has notes of hazelnuts and brown sugar to awaken your senses.
This is a medium-to-dark roast that has notes of honey and almonds, with perhaps some more subtle fruit like raisin or raspberry. You might also notice hints of smoke in there for good measure too.
If you prefer Lavazza Coffee Beans, here are best beans from this group.
Why we love it
- Trusted brand
- Works best with Espresso Machines
- Smooth and creamy medium-dark roast
- Roasted and blended in Italy
- Rich coffee and has great crema
#5 Death Wish Organic Whole Bean – Strongest Espresso beans
Claiming to be the strongest coffee in the world, Death Wish Organic Whole Bean coffee is made with arabica and robusta beans. It is a medium-dark roast coffee that has a rich, intense flavor. This coffee is made without any additives or chemicals, and it is Fair Trade USDA certified.
If you’re looking for the perfect afternoon pick me up before a big meeting, these beans will not disappoint. The Double Caffeine Roast is the best way to get through the morning or evening. This strong coffee will wake you up and keep you going.
You won’t find a more potent caffeine blend than this! It contains not only Robusta beans but other dark roast beans for that extra punch. The secret to our coffee is in our time-consuming process. We need to keep it at a certain temperature so that it is the best.
When you drink a Death Wish Organic Whole Bean coffee, the first thing that hits your mouth is a bold and spicy note. They taste like browned butter with candied nuts for Christmas. Even though they’re acidic in nature there’s also earthiness to them too – I would say perhaps even hints of chocolate or cherry flavor come through as well.
The taste of a dark roast is often associated with bitter flavors and intense aromas. If you’re not used to drinking them, it might be too much for your palette.
Strongest Coffee Brands are summarized here.
Why we love it
- Organic and Fair
- Double The Caffeine
- Dark roast
- Strong intense flavor
- Good for cold brew
- A bit expensive
#6 Stumptown Hair Bender Whole Bean Coffee – Most Complex-Tasting Espresso Bean
The Hair Bender blend is a complex one with three key growing regions. Central and South American coffees are mixed with East African Robusta beans to create sweet citrusy tones. The coffee also has chocolate milkiness when mixed together. It’s these harmonics that make this coffee so addicting.
A great cup of coffee starts with expertly roasted whole beans. That is why we have carefully selected beans for light and dark roasts. We want you to enjoy a drink that you like.
The rich, dark and sweet flavor of a good cup is undeniable. Some might say it has an even smoother texture than that of milk. You’ll pick up on hints from toffee or perhaps chocolate with some cherry too for balance–you can’t go wrong when you’re drinking this aromatic brew.
Why we love it
- Smooth and creamy
- Medium-dark roast
- Complex coffee bean
- Fresh roasted
- Very good quality coffee beans
#7 Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso Classic – Sweetest Taste
Intelligentsia’s Black Cat Classic is their signature espresso blend. They bring coffee from countries like Brazil and Colombia. The beans make a good coffee if you drink it right. It tastes like chocolate pie with pear chimney smoke.
This blend is the perfect match for your needs. The flavor changes depending on what season you’re in, but it will never disappoint with its unique brightness.
You won’t believe the complexity of flavor in this espresso. The notes of dark chocolate, almond, and cherry are followed by bright acidity. But don’t let its challenging nature fool you; once mastered on your machine, all those layers will shine through beautifully.
Why we love it
- Medium-dark roast
- Seasonality, components of blends change throughout the year
- Syrupy sweet espresso
- Excellent combination with milk
- Sweet syrupy taste
- Direct trade
#8 Coffee Bros. Espresso Roast – Lightest Espresso Coffee
One of the most prized qualities of coffee is its rich and buttery taste. A great espresso roast should be sweet, bold with an intense caramelization that only dark roasts can provide but not every cup needs this flavor to make them supremely satisfying -in fact, you may find medium-bodied coffees like these from Coffee Bros have some heavenly flavors all their own.
Coffee Bros not only roast their own beans in small batches, but they also use an old-fashioned process that produces better results. The company takes extra care with light and medium roasts because of their delicate nature – which means you can get fresh coffee every time.
A blend is a perfect way to enjoy the taste of two different types of coffee beans, without having any other bean predominate. Blends typically contain Arabica Coffee which has twice as much flavor and aroma as Robusta-type coffees do.
Why we love it
- Whole beans or ground coffee beans
- Roasted in small batch
- Vibrant and bold
- 100% Arabica beans
Difference between Robusta and Arabica Espresso coffee beans?
There are several noticeable differences between Arabica and Robusta beans. The most obvious is the difference in taste, with Robusta tending to taste more bitter than Arabica. While this might be slightly unpleasant for some coffee drinkers, many enjoy the stronger flavour that comes with Robusta beans.
While Arabica beans are the primary type of bean used in coffee production, Robusta beans can still be found in some specialty coffees. In fact, a small number of coffee drinkers actually prefer the stronger flavour and caffeine kick of Robusta beans.
Arabica beans are favoured by coffee drinkers as they produce a milder flavour and contain less caffeine than Robusta beans. Arabica beans are also more expensive to produce, which is why they can often be found in high-end coffee.
The other key difference is caffeine content. Arabica contains roughly half the caffeine of Robusta beans, making it a better choice for those looking for a milder cup of coffee.
Robusta beans are also cheaper to produce than Arabica, making them a more cost-effective option for coffee roasters. This is the primary reason they are often found in lower-quality coffees.
So, which type of bean is better?
Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. Some coffee drinkers prefer the milder flavour of Arabica beans, while other like the stronger, more bitter taste of Robusta beans. The caffeine content difference between Arabica and Robusta coffee beans is negligible. Some people use it as a selling point for their coffee, while others prefer the milder taste.
Espresso Blend or Single-Origin?
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing an espresso blend or single-origin coffee. It all comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer the taste of espresso blends, while others prefer the taste of single-origin coffees. The ultimate goal is to find a coffee that you enjoy.
Single-origin coffee beans are a rare find. This plant comes from one place and can be tasted in your cup. The flavor is not mixed with something else.
Blends are mixtures of beans that come from different types, or in the same place but at different times. Different roasting processes may also be used to create a more complex flavor profile for each bean’s signature taste while they complement one another after blending together with careful attention paid towards balance.
Types of Coffee Roast
- Light Roast
Blonde roast coffee is like a light-bodied beer. Their beans are strong, but not too strong. They have a citrusy flavor that is different than any other roast. This makes them perfect for milk drinks or espresso because they cut through all flavors.
- Medium Roast
Though medium roast coffees are not as high in caffeine, they can pack a much stronger punch due to their dark flavors. We often find berry-like flavors in our coffee, but it is complex. It can taste like almonds or brown sugar when you drink it with French Presses.
- Dark Roast
Dark roasts are not just for the strong. A dark roast coffee can be used to make espresso. There are many different types of blends that you can choose from. Some people like their coffee black, but want it without any bitterness or burnt taste. This blend may be perfect for them because we use several ingredients to make sure the beans are fresh and bright during shipping.
Conclusion
The best espresso coffee beans are Lifeboost Coffee’s Espresso. These dark roast, single-origin coffees will give you that rich and robust taste with a hint of complexity in every sip. Koffee Kult Thunder Bolt also offers an excellent brew just like it’s namesake. This coffee has a smoky and earthy flavor that is perfect for the espresso lover.
If you are looking for espresso beans with a bit more acidity, try Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso Classic. This coffee has bright notes of chocolate cake and pear chimney smoke, making it a great choice for those who want something different in their cup.
You can find a bean that suits your palate on this list! Whether you prefer intense, caffeine-packed brews or lighter more complex medium roasts and dark roast coffees; there’s something for everyone here.
Do you want to learn how to make an americano coffee? Here’s how.
If you got the best coffee beans and espresso machine, what’s left is the brewing methods and skills, then poof! the best coffee cup is within your hands.