5 Best Coffee for Drip Coffee Makers: Complete Buying Guide

By Shabbir
Last update:

There’s a saying that goes, “life begins after coffee.”

We totally agree! Choosing the perfect coffee beans can be the most important decision you’ll make for the day.

Whether you’re a coffee newbie, a regular coffee drinker, or a certified aficionado, this article can open up a whole new world of flavorful possibilities.

Before you buy your next batch of coffee beans for your coffee maker, check out our 2021 list of best coffee beans for drip coffee makers.

Top 5 Best Coffee Beans for Drip Coffee Maker

1. Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee Blend

✬ ✬ ✬ ✬ ✬ – BEST OVERALL

lavazza super crema coffee beans

The Italian brand Lavazza boasts their expertise of over a century of roasting, blending, and brewing coffee beans. The Lavazza Super Crema coffee blend is proof that delivering a strong and robust flavor doesn’t necessarily have to come at a steep price.

Highlights

  • Roast Profile: Medium roast
  • Form: Whole bean
  • Flavor: Has a flowery and fruity flavor and aroma
  • Packaging: 2.2-pound silver foil bag
  • Type: 60/40 Arabica and Robusta blend coffee beans

Pros

  • The thick crema sets this medium roast coffee beans apart. It’s the perfect choice for cappuccinos and lattes, as well as the usual drip coffee.
    • NOTE: Crema is the foam that forms on top of the coffee. This happens when it is exposed to high pressure during the brewing process. Once the water returns to normal pressure, it releases gas bubbles, giving it an extra layer of flavor and aroma.
  • The coffee grounds can be used in drip coffee makers and espresso machines
  • Budget-friendly

Cons

  • If you want a really strong cup, Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee might not hit the spot for you

Are These Beans for You?

In a nutshell, the Lavazza Super Crema is suitable for coffee drinkers who want a well-balanced taste because it’s not too strong and it doesn’t leave a bitter aftertaste.

If you drink this beverage every day, you might as well get the best coffee beans from trusted experts.

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2. Kicking Horse Coffee

✬ ✬ ✬ ✬ – ORGANIC CHOICE & BEST TASTE

kicking horse decaf

Originally from the rocky mountain highlands of Canada, Kicking Horse Coffee offers a decaf variety with a deep, full-bodied taste. These dark roast arabica beans are a perfect match with drip coffee machines to give you a top-notch cup of coffee.

Highlights

  • Roast Profile: Dark roast
  • Form: Whole coffee bean
  • Flavor: Has deep chocolate with hazelnut and brown sugar
  • Packaging: 2.2 pounds
  • Caffeine level: Decaffeinated
  • Type: 100% certified organic Arabica

Pros

  • Being organic and using fair trade practices is definitely a WIN for this brand!
    • NOTE: This means Kicking Horse Coffee uses the profits from coffee to empower farmers and help make their livelihood sustainable.
  • It is suitable for those looking for a smooth taste with a hint of nuts and brown sugar.
  • The recommended brew methods include drip coffee machines, espresso machine, french press, pour over, and cold brew.

Cons

  • Coffee beans seem dry because it lacks the light oil sheen normally found in fresh beans
  • Packaging is not resealable, so it can make the beans stale

Are These Beans for You?

In short, if you want to buy one of the best coffee beans for your coffee maker, help farmers, and help save the planet, this bag of beans from Kicking Horse is for you!

3. Real Good Coffee Co. Donut Shop Medium Roast Coffee Beans

✬ ✬ ✬ ✬ – BEST VALUE & BEST AROMA

real good coffee co donut shop

A taste of Real Good Coffee will give you a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of donut shops with its distinct sweetly burnt roasted aroma. Your drip coffee maker will be put to good use with these coffee beans from the coffee capital of Seattle.

Highlights

  • Roast level: Medium Roast
  • Form: Whole bean
  • Packaging: 2 pounds
  • Flavor: Hazelnut and brown sugar with a hint of fruitiness
  • Type: 100% Arabica beans

Pros

  • Starts out strong and ends with a smooth finish
  • The resealable bag keeps the coffee beans airtight, thereby prolonging the freshness

Cons

  • The coffee beans tend to get stuck in the grinder because of some greasy beans. Not a major issue, though, since it happens to other brands too.
  • No roast date is indicated in the bag. We would have preferred to know this information for freshness.

Are These Beans for You?

Our verdict? You wouldn’t dare call yourself Real Good Coffee if it isn’t really good.

This brand from Seattle definitely lives up to its name and is suitable for beginners and coffee pros.

4. Volcanica Sumatran Gayo Coffee

✬✬✬ – BUDGET OPTION

volcanica coffee low acid

Not all coffee lovers have the stomach for it. The Volcanica Sumatran Gayo Coffee has a low acid variant that’s friendly to the digestive system. The earthy flavor mixed with a bit of spice and fruit gives this ground coffee a unique play on the senses.

Highlights

  • Roast Profile: Medium Roast
  • Form: Whole bean coffee
  • Flavor: Fruity, cacao nib with a hint of moist, fresh-fallen leaves
  • Packaging: 16 ounces
  • Type: Arabica beans

Pros

  • Low acidity level
  • Fair trade certified

Cons

  • A bit pricey for its size. But hey, it’s the price you pay for a specialty coffee like this
  • It has a slight sugar after taste

Are These Beans for You?

We recommend getting the Sumatran Gayo Coffee beans if you like to guzzle cup after cup of high-grade coffee during the day.

The clean and spicy taste will tickle your palate, and you will feel good knowing that the coffee beans were produced in an ethical manner.

Buy direct from Volcanica

5. Starbucks Blonde Roast Whole Bean Coffee – Veranda Blend

✬✬✬ – COFFEE SHOP FAVORITE

starbucks veranda blend blonde roast

The world-renowned coffee brand Starbucks came out with a light-bodied variant for coffee fans looking for a mellow version of their dark roast. It took them more than 80 tries to get this Starbucks Blonde Roast Veranda Blend right— that’s a lot of work they’ve put in to get you that perfect cup of coffee!

Highlights

  • Roast Profile: Light Roast beans
  • Form: Whole bean coffee
  • Packaging: 6 pcs of 12-ounce bags
  • Type: 100% Arabica beans

Pros

  • The light roast beans allow the drinker to taste more of the coffee. The subtle taste of cocoa and lightly roasted nuts is not overwhelming. In fact, as Goldilocks would say, it is just right.

Cons

  • Coffee after taste lingers in the mouth
  • 6 pieces of 12-ounce bags is a bit much. Try getting a pack first.

Are These Beans for You?

Our takeaway? Taste-wise, we like the combination of a smooth body with the delicate taste of nuts and cocoa.

It’s also great that you can enjoy Starbucks’ light roast beans without having to leave the comforts of your home. If your preference is light roast, this is IT!

Coffee 101: What You Should Know Before Buying

Finding the perfect cup of coffee is a matter of personal taste. Some like dark roast, others prefer medium roast or light roast.

So many claims have been made with regards to the best coffee beans.

When it comes to coffee and the quest for the best coffee beans, there is tons of information out there.

We’ve made it digestible for you, so to speak, and came up with a short guide to help you in choosing the best coffee beans for your drip coffee machine.

Welcome to Coffee 101!

#1 Understanding Extraction

Brewing coffee involves extracting the unique compounds of the ground beans and dissolving them into the water. The compounds of coffee beans affect the quality and taste of the coffee.

Some of the water-soluble compounds from coffee beans during extraction are:

  • Caffeine – where the bitter taste comes from
  • Acids – the source of sour and sweet flavors
  • Lipids and fats – responsible for viscosity (thickness)
  • Sugars – where the sweet flavor comes from, as well as viscosity
  • Carbohydrates – for viscosity, bitterness

Since extraction affects the taste, getting it right means using the right GRIND SIZE and BREW METHOD.

#2 Coffee Grind

One of the most overlooked steps in the coffee-making process is the grinding.

Buying pre-ground coffee is the most convenient route compared to buying coffee beans. However, nothing beats freshly ground coffee beans for your drip coffee machines.

Each brewing method requires a particular ground size for the coffee beans. It also depends on the type of coffee maker you use. Take a look at the brewing methods and the recommended coffee grind:

French Press – Coarse Grind

A coarse ground is ideal for a French press because the coffee will be steeped in boiling water.

If it’s overly fine, the coffee will be too bitter. On the other hand, using grounds that are too coarse might result in a bland flavor.

To illustrate, a coarse grind looks a bit like sea salt.

Drip Coffee Maker – Medium Fine Grind

A medium grind looks like regular sand.

For most drip coffee makers, this is the IDEAL size to start with because adjustments can be made along the way.

UNDER-EXTRACTED grounds result in a sour or salty brew, while OVER-EXTRACTED can make it bitter.

Pour Over Coffee – Medium Coarse Grind

There are many kinds of pour over brewers. Experimentation may be needed until you find the right taste for you.

As a general rule, the less time the coffee grind is in touch with water, the finer the grind should be.

For visual reference, a medium coarse grind looks like rough sand.

Siphon Coffee Maker – Medium Grind

Typically, siphon coffee makers use cloth or metal filters.

Too fine coffee grounds can clog the filter, while too big ones won’t bring out the bold flavor.

Medium is a good middle ground.

#3 Coffee Selection Guide

There are no right or wrong answers when choosing the type of roast for your fresh coffee.

Go with coffee beans that are suitable for the drip coffee maker you have.

More importantly, what taste tickles your fancy? Is it light, medium roast, or the more popular dark roast?

Type of Roast

Roasting coffee is referred to as a form of ART. We tend to think it’s both an art and a science. It takes years of careful study to become a master roaster.

Coffee bean roasts fall into three color categories – Light, Medium, and Dark Roast.

A common misconception is the association between the level of caffeine and COLOR of the whole coffee beans, meaning dark roast coffee beans have more caffeine than medium roast coffee beans.

This is not entirely the case. In fact, the light variety has a slightly higher level of caffeine concentration.

  • Light roast has no oil on the surface because the coffee beans were not roasted long enough for the oil to break out of the surface.
  • Medium roast is also non-oily and medium brown in color. It is often referred to as the American roast because of its popularity in the United States. Medium-dark coffee beans often have a bitter-sweet after-taste.
  • Dark roast has some oil on the surface due to the longer roasting process. Dark roast coffee beans have a distinct bitter taste that gives them the bold full-bodied flavor.

Origin or Blend

We have often heard of the debate between Single Origin versus blend coffee beans.

Simply put, single origin coffee beans refer to the geographical location where the beans originated. This description allows the coffee drinker to appreciate the characteristics of that particular location like Brazil, Sumatra, Colombia, Kenya, etc.

Like wine, the growing conditions in the region affect the outcome of the produce, in this case, the coffee beans. Factors such as altitude, amount of sunlight, soil composition, and rainfall can affect the developing flavor.

FUN FACT: Did you know that coffee is a fruit?

With blended coffee, various single origins are chosen and combined to create a more complex taste.

Freshness

Freshness is important. The best coffee comes from freshly roasted coffee beans.

When buying beans or grounds for your drip coffee, always choose brands that provide information about production, roasting, or best before date.

More Coffee Tips!

What Ratio of Coffee to Water Should You Use?

Let’s not forget a BASIC yet contributory factor when making a great cup of coffee — the Brew Ratio or the measurement between the powder and the water.

The magic numbers seem to be 1:15.

For every gram of coffee, baristas recommend 15 grams of water in the drip coffee maker.

A digital gram scale can be used for precise measurement. Whether you adhere to this is totally up to you. Regular joes like us can just wing it and rely on our taste buds.

Is Whole Bean Better Than Ground?

The answer is YES and here’s why:

  • Whole bean coffee will give you a fresher brew because the impact of grinding can cause loss of flavor and aroma. Grind your beans just before making the brew. This is guaranteed to amplify your coffee experience.
  • Whole bean coffee can be used for a wider variety of coffee makers like French press and espresso machines. Ground coffee is limited to drip coffee makers.
  • When making coffee, you can adjust the taste better with whole beans. How? By making small adjustments on the GRIND SIZE. Is your coffee bitter? That means you over-extracted — grind the beans to make them coarse. Sour? Try to adjust the size and make it finer.

Much Ado About the Brew: Our Final Verdict

When it comes to coffee, there’s really a lot to talk about. But now, it’s time to round up our list of the best coffee beans for drip coffee makers.

Our top three picks are…

  1. Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee Blend – Best Overall
  2. Kicking Horse Coffee – Best in Taste (plus it’s organic and decaf)
  3. Real Good Coffee Co. Donut Shop Medium Roast Coffee Beans – Best in Aroma and Value

We love Lavazza’s thick crema edition because the flavor isn’t overwhelming. Sometimes, when flavors are too strong, the coffee leaves an aftertaste that lingers in the mouth. There was no such thing for our top pick, only a rich flowery and fruity concoction.

Kicking Horse Coffee is a strong number 2. It’s decaffeinated, but it didn’t fall short in the flavor department. Once you put the beans in the drip coffee machine and sip the subtle taste of chocolate and hazelnut, like us, you will agree that it comes from one of the best coffee beans on the market!

Read this article for other coffee beans that taste like chocolate.

Making coffee using Real Good Coffee Co. Donut Shop Coffee Beans is a sensory delight! It tastes and smells good as well. With its hometown vibe, you won’t easily get tired of this donut shop flavor. It can definitely make your drip coffee maker work on overdrive.

Final Words

Is there such a thing as the best coffee beans for your drip coffee maker?

Aren’t all beans created equal, and isn’t it all about choosing the right drip coffee maker?

Coffee makers/machines, whether they are simple drip coffee makers or the complicated espresso machines, can only do so much.

It all starts with a good-quality coffee bean. YES, there is such a thing as the best coffee beans.

But it will be “the best” from YOUR point of view.

Finding the perfect cup takes a lot of hits and misses. For most coffee makers, it takes YEARS and a lot of adjustments to find the right formula.

REMEMBER: Coffee is based on PERSONAL PREFERENCE

Our final advice: Don’t be afraid to experiment with a new coffee brand or flavor.

Try one on our list if you haven’t. Better yet, try ALL of them!

Do you agree with our choices? Let us know, but don’t be too brew-tal.

Last update on 2024-03-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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About Shabbir

Shab is the Chief Caffeine Officer at Coffee Brewster. When he's not weighing out coffee beans for his next brew, you can find him writing about his passion: coffee.