10 Best Espresso Beans: Reviews & Ultimate Buyer’s Guide 2019

Good coffee can give us a much-needed dose of caffeine in the morning or offer up a tantalizing drink in the afternoon. With so many varieties of espresso coffee beans at our fingertips, which one do you choose for the right occasion.

By adding rich milk froth and foam to your drink you can easily turn your favorite espresso into a latte or cappuccino. However, different types of espresso beans vary greatly in taste and caffiene potency. Since every individual has his or her own preferences, the process of picking the right espresso beans will greatly vary from person to person.

Very few companies in the world have mastered the art of growing and roasting the perfect espresso coffee beans so we are here to help you find those needles in the haystack.

What Makes a Good Espresso, A Great Espresso?

Essentially, it is not the type of roasting or grinding grade that makes a great cup of espresso coffee. Rather, it is the process of these two steps.

Espresso needs about 200F of water temperature, 9-10 bars of pressure and 25-30 seconds of extraction time to turn coffee beans into delicious and powerful caffeine injections! (source)

Unfortunately, to have an exact nine bars of pressure usually requires a special espresso machine that isn’t cheap.

10 Best Espresso Beans Reviews in 2019

#1. Koffee Kult Dark Roast Coffee Beans

Koffee Kult was reviewed by thousands of coffee lovers as an exceptional dark roast Arabica coffee.

These coffee beans have a distinctive rich taste that you will remember and recognize instantly far into the future.

The beans are carefully roasted in the U.S. at a state-of-the-art factory plant; consequently, the beans have been certified and meet the strict guidelines of the SCAA speciality grade coffee standards.

Plus, the beans are sourced 100% organically from Columbian mountain lands through local fair-trade programs.

Overall, the coffee beans are not bitter and contain mild acid content. To control the strength of the coffee, simply measure the right amount of coffee for an average 6-ounce cup.

What We Like:

Organic coffee
The low acid content of the coffee beans
Roasted in the US
SCAA certified

What We Didn’t Like:

Probably will not be very strong for extreme caffeine boost lovers
Poor customer service
Some users have reported finding rocks in the packaging and then damaging their grinders as a result

#2. Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee Blend Medium Roast

Lavazza Super Crema is a great option for individuals that love a medium roasted coffee with a light and sweet aftertaste. The blend is a mix of coffee beans harvested from Central American highlands and with the sweet coffee beans found in Indonesian farmlands.

Coffee lovers have described this coffee blend as very smooth and delicious with a velvety aftertaste. It goes great with semi-sweet desserts and even chocolate ice-cream.

It can be used to create much fancier drinks by adding frothed heavy cream or freshly made whipped cream.

Moreover, these beans are great for semi-automatic espresso machines as they are not very oily, yet offer a richly dark cup of coffee.

What We Like:

The rich brown colour of ready coffee
Works great with automatic espresso coffee machine
Can be used to make fancier drinks with the help of heavy or whipped cream

What We Didn’t Like:

Taste can be very mild for strong coffee lovers
Mass produced and used in coffee shops hence taste can be very regular for some
The coffee bags are not properly sealed thus the bags have a shorter shelf life

#3. Kicking Horse Coffee, Cliff Hanger Espresso

Kicking Horse Coffee in Cliff Hanger Espresso can be compared to its milder cousin, the 454 Horse Power coffee. It is definitely loved by mild taste coffee lovers around the world.

It is sourced from the highlands and farms in Central Africa, South America and Indonesia. Plus, these beans are certified as organic, fair-trade and even kosher.

They have a distinct chocolaty flavor to them and do not taste dark or bitter. Hence, they can be used to make coffee at any time of the day, including late evenings.

Moreover, they are described by the manufacturer as bold Rocky roasted which means they are roasted using the latest technologies at 3,000 feet above sea level for a super-premium taste.

What We Like:

Strong caffeine boost without a burnt aftertaste
Organic and fair-trade certified
Kosher certified
Roasted at 3,000 feet above sea level
Beans sourced from Central Africa, Central America and Indonesia

What We Didn’t Like:

Tastes much stronger than typical medium roasted coffee of other producers
Users have reported a very faint aroma
Very dry beans
The packaging does not have a roasting date printed on a visible spot

#4. Coffee Bean Direct Italian Roast Espresso

Coffee Bean Direct is for aromatic and rich tasting coffee lovers, these beans are great for home coffee machines as well as more professional office ones.

The beans are slowly roasted at an Italian factory plant to give you the most delicate and unique flavor possible.

The packaging has been thoroughly designed and tested to ensure that the beans stay fresh for longer periods of time.

Plus, the beans have a dark, velvety and heavy flavor as well as an oily bean texture making this type of coffee just perfect for authentic Italian espressos and other cold or iced drinks.

Moreover, the beans have a low acidic content and do not leave a burnt aftertaste that is disliked by most coffee lovers.

However, make sure that your coffee machine can handle the oiliness of the coffee beans

What We Like:

Great choice for authentic Italian espressos
Rich and velvety taste
Right packaging to ensure longer freshness

What We Didn’t Like:

Very oily beans that most coffee machines will have trouble with
Flavored coffee beans which means they have artificial flavoring added
Poor customer service
Also Read: Best BPA Free Coffee – Maker Brands Choices for Creating Coffee

#5. Lavazza Cafe Espresso Whole Bean Coffee Blend in Medium Roast

Blue Horse Kona Dark Roast beans are harvested from the Big Island Kona in Hawaii. This island has a rich volcanic history thereby contributing to the delicious taste of its coffee beans.

The beans are roasted to have a slightly ashy taste to them, so these coffee beans are definitely not for everybody.

The beans are, however, perfectly suitable to be used on most automatic and semi-automatic coffee machines as the beans are not very greasy.

Lastly, these coffee beans have been reported to have a mild vanilla and almond aftertaste.

What We Like:

100% GMO-free coffee beans
Nitrogen packed for longer shelf life and better freshness preservation
Without added flavourings

What We Didn’t Like:

This coffee will not be appreciated by strong coffee lovers
Rather oily coffee beans that might clog some coffee machines
Some packages have small rocks in them thereby causing coffee machines and grinders to malfunction

#6. Kicking Horse Coffee 454 Horse Power

The name itself of this coffee screams that you can expect a super strong flavor, and the charcoal black packaging enhances this feel.

These Canadian beans are roasted at the Rocky Mountains and are currently some of the best coffee beans you can find on the market at this price range.

The taste is very smooth and low in acidity. Plus, the beans are lightly flavored in chocolate powder.

Some people have mentioned discovering a light nutmeg flavor, so be cautious of that if you don’t like nutmeg.

Furthermore, these beans are certified as organic and are only sourced from fair-trade farmlands in South America and Indonesia.

Remember, if you like you mild coffee, then these coffee beans are not for you.

What We Like:

Very strong taste and caffeine boost
Roasted high up in the Rocky Mountains
Beans lightly covered in chocolate powder

What We Didn’t Like:

Not for mild coffee lovers
Very greasy beans that might clog coffee machines
The roasting date is hard to read on the packaging

#7. Blue Horse 100% Kona Dark Roast

Blue Horse Kona Dark Roast beans are harvested from the Big Island Kona in Hawaii, an island that has a rich volcanic history thereby contributing to the delicious taste of its coffee beans.

The beans are roasted to have a slightly ashy taste to them, so this coffee is definitely not for everybody.

The beans are, however, perfectly suitable to be used on most automatic and semi-automatic coffee machines as the beans are not greasy.

Perfect for people that appreciate a good cup of coffee but not the coffee maintenance that follows after few months of brewing oily coffee beans.

Moreover, these coffee beans have been reported to have mild vanilla and almond aftertaste.

What We Like:

Sourced from a family farm that has been owned through generations
Super rich taste with almond and vanilla aftertaste
Beans are not greasy
Government inspected and certified

What We Didn’t Like:

Hefty price tag
Some packages have arrived damaged
Long shipping

#8. Lavazza Crema e Gusto

Lavazza Crema e Gusto is a great option for individuals that do not wish to experiment with all the different roasts and blends that the coffee market has to offer.

Instead, Lavazza Crema e Gusto is great for someone wishing to drink a good cup of coffee at home without paying any extra money.

Despite being mass-produced, Lavazza Crema e Gusto is a mix of fairly good coffee beans, 80% of Robusta and 20% Arabica coffee beans.

However, they are not organic but do have a good level of roasting without leaving the common burnt aftertaste in the mouth.

Customers have reported these coffee beans to have an authentic taste and many Italians flavours this type of coffee, especially the ones that like hassle-free coffee making.

What We Like:

Very affordable price
Delicious taste with a sweet and earthy aftertaste
Can be used to make fancier drinks by adding heavy cream or frothed milk

What We Didn’t Like:

Not organic
Not fair-trade
Mass produced

#9. Death Wish Ground Coffee

Death Wish Ground Coffee is not for people with a faint of heart; rather it is for the ones wanting a deadly dose of caffeine in the morning to kick start their day.

Despite its super caffeine level, the coffee has a nice and smooth taste that will surely be liked by many coffee lovers.

The coffee beans are organic and harvested from mountain lands of Peru through local fair-trade programs.

Plus, the beans have a very light chocolate and cherry flavouring that contributes to the overall taste of the coffee.

But, Death Wish Ground Coffee is not cheap and should not be drank in the evenings because it will 100% make you pull an all-nighter.

What We Like:

Premium high-quality coffee beans
Organic coffee beans harvested from Peru
Does not have a burnt aftertaste
Very strong

What We Didn’t Like:

Hefty price tag
Can be very strong for some individuals
Not suitable to be drunk in the evenings
Also Read:Top 5 Best Kona Coffee Brands Review ! You Should Try

#10. Lavazza Super Crema Espresso

Mass produced coffee beans that have a medium roast and are fairly dry thereby being a good option for most home espresso coffee machines.

Plus, they have a very reasonable price and can be afforded by any individuals looking to drink good coffee in the comfort of their home or office.

However, like other Lavazza coffee beans, these are not organically grown or harvested through the fair-trade program.

But, the package does include a good mixture of Robust and Arabica beans that have a smooth and creamy flavor to them.

What We Like:

Affordable
Creamy and smooth taste
A mixture of Robust and Arabica beans
Suitable for all espresso coffee machines

What We Didn’t Like:

Not organic
Not very strong
Rocks can be found in the packaging

What Factors to Look At When Choosing Best Espresso Beans?

Firstly, look at the freshness of the coffee beans. Look for a pack that has been harvested and roasted not more than a month ago.

Fresh coffee beans have a distinct aroma and taste that every good cup of coffee should have. Never buy a pack of coffee beans that do not have a clear date of roast on it.

Secondly, look at the packaging to make sure that it is leak-proof and does not have any holes so as to prevent oxidation of the coffee beans.

Thirdly, look at the type of roast to determine whether it is an espresso roast or the more common filter roast. Espresso roast is great for coffee machines while the filter roast is great for manual brewing. Plus, the filter roast has a far more acidic taste.

Moreover, always pay special attention to the origin of coffee and its blend to determine how good the coffee will be.

Single origin beans make the best cup of espresso coffee while the mixed blends are great for milk based hot or cold drinks.

Conclusion

For beginners, it is not suggested to brew dark roasts of espresso, especially if the beans are single sourced. Instead, it is highly suggested to get the best coffee machine you can afford and to start experimenting with the process in order to master it.

Of course, always remember that average beans will not handle the 9 bar pressure required to brew a good cup of espresso coffee. Instead, these beans will give you a very bland taste with a strong burnt aftertaste.

If you are not sure what coffee you would like the most to have in the morning before work, go on a coffee testing spree with a friend or a soulmate.

Aim to test and try as many different blends you can, and once you find the taste that not only satisfies your taste buds but highly energizes you- bingo, you will no longer have to stay in the queue of your local coffee shop.