Best German Coffee

Every coffee lover understands just how critical a good cup of joe is. Whether you take it iced or hot, with sugar or cream, or in some fancy mixture of flavors and foam, that first sip is life-giving.

At a Glance: Our Top 5 Picks For Best German Coffee

Through our research (both personal and otherwise), we’ve found that German coffee, in particular, has acquired quite the reputation. It’s an excellent option for every coffee lover, no matter how you take your drink of choice.

If you’re new to the world of German coffee, you’re in the right place. But, don’t worry – it’s not as complicated as it sounds. We can help you find the best German coffee, and we’ll also give you some helpful tips for buying coffee in general.

The Best German Coffees

What better place to start than with the products themselves? We’ll dive right into our favorite German coffees before getting into the nitty-gritty of buying coffee. These are some of our top choices based on flavor, quality, and brand popularity. 

Dallmayr Prodomo Coffee

Dallmayr is a very popular and highly-rated German coffee brand. It’s made from 100% Arabica beans, which means it’s of the highest quality. In addition, the Prodomo coffee is pre-ground, so there’s no need to wait around for a grinder; it’s already good to go. 

Dallmayr Prodomo coffee is a medium roast, which many coffee drinkers prefer. It has a full-bodied taste and a strong aroma, along with medium acidity. 

The best thing about this blend is that it is specially refined to get rid of irritants and bitterness, but it does so without losing any caffeine or flavor. 

Things We Love

• 100% high-quality Arabica beans
• Medium roast suits a wider audience 
• Free of coffee irritants and not bitter

Things We Don’t Love

• Pre-ground becomes stale over time 
• Flavor is not bold enough for stronger tastes

Jacobs Kronung Whole Bean Coffee

Jacobs is one of the oldest and best coffees out of Germany. This brand has been around since the late 1800s and has stayed strong in the lead ever since. While their coffee is sold in Germany, Russia, and Austria, it’s known worldwide. 

Kronung is one of the many types of coffee that stems from the Jacobs brand. This one is a whole bean coffee, meaning you have to grind it yourself. One of the benefits of whole beans is they remain fresher for longer, and every morning you get the best possible cup of coffee. 

Plus, you can control the grind to use for different drinks, like coffee or espresso. 

Kronung is a medium roast with a nutty, mellow flavor. It has low acidity, a smooth texture and is highly popular with the average coffee drinker. 

Things We Love

• Pleasant natural flavor and aroma
• Whole beans stay fresh longer
• Reputable company with a strong history

Things We Don’t Love

• Mellow flavor may not be strong enough for bold-lovers

Barissimo Ground Coffee German Regular Roast

Another popular German brand made from 100% Arabica coffee beans, the Barissimo ground coffee is a regular roast grown under strictly organic farming methods. So while it’s often hard to tell where your coffee comes from, you can count on these grounds to be completely natural. 

Aside from responsible farming, what you get in this Barissimo blend is a high-quality product, a smooth texture, and a rich, full-bodied flavor. In addition, this coffee gives you a nice, warm taste without the bitter aftertaste that some coffees leave behind. 

For most aficionados, this roast is the perfect middle ground; it’s not too dark, but it’s also not too light. Therefore, you can enjoy it on its own or with your favorite creamer and a dash of sugar. The 12-ounce bags aren’t too big, so you shouldn’t have to worry about your grounds going stale from sitting too long.

Things We Love

• Perfect middle ground for average coffee drinkers
• Responsibly sourced and Fair Trade certified 
• Smooth and rich flavor

Things We Don’t Love

• Pre-ground coffee has the potential to go stale over time
• No seal closure on the bag 

Tchibo Feine Milde Ground Coffee

Tchibo is definitely on the list of the most popular coffee brands out of Germany. For the past 60+ years, this brand has created high-quality roasts from the coveted Arabica premium whole grain coffee beans. 

Tchibo’s Feine Milde quite literally means “fine mild,” which should tell you a lot about its flavor profile. It boasts a quiet and mild flavor in a caffeinated form, making it ideal for a smooth and slow start to a busy day. 

This ground is made for drip coffee makers,  the most common way to make coffee. While you can’t guarantee a perfectly fresh cup without whole beans, you can count on these grounds to make an amazing cup of joe. 

Mild-lovers will enjoy the rich flavor, while dark-roast lovers may find it too mild. But don’t be fooled by the name – this coffee is anything but weak, flat, or bland. It’s certainly not bitter, either. 

Things We Love

• Made from high-quality Arabica plants
• Does not have contaminants 
• Pure, sweet flavor 

Things We Don’t Love

• Not bold enough for dark lovers

Eduscho Gala Nr. 1 Ground Coffee

The Eduscho Gala Nr. 1 is the first blend on our list of best German coffees. This ground blend features both the Arabica and the Robusta bean, which leads to an intense, robust flavor. It’s very much a full-body coffee bursting with flavor and of obviously high quality. 

Gala Nr. 1 is considered a dark-roasted coffee, so you can expect it to be rich and smooth with just a hint of bittersweet flavor at the end. If you’re a true coffee connoisseur, you will certainly appreciate the elegant taste and sublime aroma. 

This is a pre-ground coffee rather than whole beans, so you won’t be able to grind it fresh every morning. However, the 17-ounce bag is ideal for one or two people to use before it becomes stale. 

Things We Love

• Authentic European taste
• Each brick is securely sealed for long shelf life 
• Finely-ground blend has an excellent taste and aroma 

Things We Don’t Love

• Some may prefer it as an evening coffee due to its milder taste

Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee

Some coffee lovers prefer straight black and bold coffee with nothing but a pure coffee aroma and deep, bitter taste. But others like a touch of flavor with subtle notes of sweetness.

If the latter sounds nice to you, then try checking out Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee. For starters, it’s a blend made from whole premium coffee beans, which is always a good thing. Rather than risk using stale ground coffee, you can grind your beans up fresh every morning to always have the perfect cup.

This Lavazza blend has hazelnut and brown sugar notes – two flavors that mesh well with a medium roast coffee. Its flavor is mild and creamy as it melds a blend of coffee stemming from Robustas, India, Colombia, and Brazil. 

This high-quality German coffee is one of a kind, as it pulls from the natural flavors of neighboring countries to create its own unique taste. 

Things We Love

• Pure blend with no contaminants 
• Unique flavor profile for a sweet and creamy taste
• Whole bean roast for continually fresh cups of coffee

Things We Don’t Love

• Pulls from several countries, so not entirely German

Tchibo Beste Bohne Instant German Coffee

Aromatic and elegant: these are the two elements that come together to create the Tchibo Beste Bohne Instant German Coffee. 

Instant coffee tends to get a bad reputation in the coffee community, but if you choose the right brand and blend, you can make yourself a truly great cup! Tchibo is a popular and trusted German coffee brand, so we think it’s safe to go with their instant coffee.

The Beste Bohne is a 100% Arabica blend, so you already know you’re getting high-quality coffee beans in this ground. This organic coffee uses all-natural products with no artificial flavors or ingredients. 

You can expect a full and smooth flavor with a full-bodied, medium roast experience with this coffee. 

What We Love 

• Mild taste that doesn’t sacrifice flavor
• 100% Arabica beans for high-quality taste
• Completely organic and natural

What We Don’t Love

• May be too mild for strong coffee lovers

Jacobs Espresso Coffee

We couldn’t conclude our list today without offering just one more Jacobs option. As one of the most famous and popular German coffee brands, it’s only natural that it should appear on this list more than once.

This time, we’re raving about Jacobs espresso coffee. This espresso is a dark roast made from Arabica whole beans. The whole bean format allows you to freshly grind your espresso for each use – just be sure to grind it to the correct fineness for espresso. 

You can use these beans in any espresso maker, and the result will be a full-bodied, robust taste. The balanced mixture is perfect for plain espresso, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and any of your other favorite specialty drinks. 

You can even add a shot or two of this espresso to your morning coffee for an extra boost of caffeine. Intense, spicy, and harmonious are just a few ways to describe this bean. 

Things We Love 

• Expertly roasted for a dark and intense flavor
• Perfect for specialty drinks or extra caffeine shots
• Whole bean for customized grinding

Things We Don’t Love

• Spicy notes may be an acquired taste for average coffee lovers

German Coffee Buyer’s Guide

Anytime you buy coffee, you have a certain number of factors to keep in mind. How much do you need? What kind of roast is your favorite? Decaf or caffeinated? Whole bean or ground? 

Most of these features come down to personal preference, but learning more about them may help you make a different, more informed decision. 

In this guide, we’ll be focusing on German coffees. German coffee comes with both rich flavor and tradition. In fact, more than 70 percent of the German population over 14 years old drinks coffee. 

Coffee houses have existed in Germany as far back as the 17th century, so the worldwide popularity of their coffees should come as no surprise. 

But even so, buying German coffee is like buying any coffee, so we’re going to take a look at some critical points to help you out. 

Region

The goal here is to find the best German coffee, so the most important part of the search is making sure you’re getting coffee from the right region. You can find coffee sourced from all over the world, and each region makes coffee with its own unique flavor. 

You can typically figure out a coffee’s region by looking at the name, the product label, or the coffee’s description. 

Many coffee brands are based out of the second-largest city in Germany, Hamburg. As a bustling tourist area overflowing with tradition, it’s no surprise most of Germany’s coffee is produced here. 

Beans vs. Grounds

There have been debates over buying coffee beans versus coffee grounds since coffee was first discovered, and everyone has their opinion on the topic. The truth is, there are pros and cons to each side. 

Overall, coffee beans are best for freshness. Someone who prefers fresh, flavorful coffee will grind new beans every morning. Some people view this as too much extra work, while others can appreciate the process and outcome that whole bean coffee promises. 

On the other hand, coffee grounds allow you to simply scoop and go. There’s no waiting around or extra steps, plus you already know the ground you bought is what you’ll get – no guessing at how much you need to grind your beans for the right coarseness.

On the other hand, whole bean coffee is typically more expensive than ground coffee. Surprisingly, more work goes into the overall process of preparing whole beans for sale. Roasters must work by hand to ensure the highest quality, while everything gets tossed in a grinder for ground coffee.

Plus, if you’re going to opt for whole beans, you must also purchase additional equipment. Sure, a grinder doesn’t have to be expensive, but it is one more thing to add to your kitchen. 

But grinding your own coffee at home may be worth it, especially if you’re someone who stops at Starbucks a lot. You can save loads of money by making similar-quality coffee right in your own home when you use whole beans. 

Roast Type

Before any coffee bean comes close to becoming a macchiato or an espresso, it must first be harvested and roasted. Roasting is a process in which beans are heated at different lengths of time between 350 and 500 degrees. The longer a bean is roasted, the stronger the taste will be in the end. 

There are four main different types of roast: 

• Light Roast
• Medium Roast
• Dark Roast
• Darker Roast

A light roast is a quick heating process that basically makes sure there are no oils left on the bean surface, as the oil produces a sour taste. This roast will create mild coffees that are lighter in color. 

On the other end of the spectrum, the darker roast heats the beans for the longest amount of time. During this process, the roasted bean creates an oilier surface and therefore has a more bitter flavor.

The most popular of the four is the medium roast, which is most commonly used in the United States. It seems to be the perfect middle-ground for most coffee drinkers, aside from those who prefer the bittersweet aftertaste of the dark roast. 

Bag Size

Does bag size matter that much? Well, actually, it does! 

Many people are not aware that any coffee you buy will lose flavor just minutes after you open it. That issue has gotten a little better with the invention of air-release, resealing packaging, but it doesn’t eliminate the problem.

So, if you buy too big of a bag, you may take too long to use all the coffee, and you will lose the flavor over time. Before you reach the bottom of the pack, your coffee might not taste as good as it did when it was fresh. 

Larger bags will often cost less overall, the idea being similar to buying in bulk, but smaller bags will leave you with fresher coffee for longer. 

Of course, if you have a lot of coffee drinkers in your home, a larger bag is probably ideal. But if it’s just you, you might want to stick to smaller packets. 

Standard bags can sit on your shelf for a while if they’re still sealed. However, if you plan on stocking up, it’s best to find your coffee in bricks. 

Coffee bricks are simply air-tight, sealed packages of coffee. The manufacturer works to eliminate any air inside the package, which results in tightly packed coffee. As a result, these packages will last much longer on your shelf and retain the natural flavor of coffee – some even say for years and years. 

Beans

When you pick up any kind of coffee, there’s a significant chance it will be made from one of three bean blends:

• Robusta Beans
• Arabica Beans
• Robusta-Arabica Blend

For the most part, German coffee is made from Arabica beans. This is good news because the Arabica bean yields better-tasting coffee. 

Robusta beans aren’t bad beans, but they are easy to grow, and the process requires less attention. On the other hand, Arabica beans require a more fine-tuned process, and those strict guidelines lead to a higher quality bean. 

Best German Coffee Brands

Germany boasts many popular coffee brands. As the home of the coffee filter and one of the largest coffee-drinking populations in the world, market competition makes for a great product. 

Jacobs Kronung Coffee

Jacobs Kronung is one of the most well-known coffee brands in Germany. It’s available in instant, whole bean, and ground with decaffeinated options and various roasts. Many note Jacobs as being both smooth and balanced. 

The brand has been in business since 1895, with roots in Bremen, Germany. Its operations were founded on the notion that a coffee’s aroma is essential to its taste. That idea holds true to the brand today. 

Dallmayr

Although any good German would agree that Dallmayr coffee is good all on its own, this brand has a wide range of options and flavors. From the 100% Arabica blend to the specialty blends, coffee lovers of all kinds can enjoy this brand. 

Tchibo

Tchibo Exclusive Ground coffee is an all-around great brand with options across stovetop, espresso, and instant. The brand uses only the best available beans, which are carefully processed and roasted. 

FAQ

As a consumer, it’s natural for you to have questions about the products you buy. German coffee is no different. Below, we have a few frequently asked questions for you to explore. 

Is German coffee better than other coffee?

In general, coffee served in Germany tends to be milder than coffee in most other regions. This is likely due to the notion that German residents have milder tastes and tend to tone down flavors. As a result, even foreign foods served in Germany have less flavor.

That being said, there are bolder flavors and roasts of German coffee that you can buy. Whether it’s better than other coffee or not is for you to determine for yourself. 

What kind of beans do German coffees use?

Because coffee trees don’t thrive very well in northern Europe, most European countries have to import their coffee beans from other countries. The well-known brands typically use Arabica beans, but they each use a unique roasting process. 

What does German coffee taste like?

In recent years, German coffee has made quite the splash in the coffee industry. Its most popular brands, which you can buy in the United States, are typically characterized by strong, full flavors. 

Many individuals also describe German coffee as smooth and lacking any kind of bitter aftertaste. 

What can I do with my coffee grounds when I’m done?

Most people simply toss their coffee grounds in the trash once they’ve brewed their morning coffee. Some like to reuse coffee grounds for a second batch, but we don’t recommend doing that as they lose their flavor. 

However, there is a surprisingly wide variety of uses for coffee grounds. 

One way to use old coffee grounds is to put them in your garden as a natural fertilizer. The grounds contain several minerals essential for plant growth, like calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, and more. You can help your garden thrive by sprinkling your old coffee ground on the soil surrounding the base of your plants. 

Coffee also contains ingredients that are naturally toxic to insects, including caffeine and diterpenes. So if you’re struggling with mosquitos, fruit flies, or beetles, you can set bowls of grounds out around your home or sprinkle them near windows and outdoor seating areas.

Finally, coffee grounds are often used as a DIY skin treatment. The grounds make for the perfect exfoliant. When combined with water or coconut oil, you can have yourself a spa day and scrub your face and body to remove dead skin. 

Conclusion

If you’re a coffee lover who has never strayed from their go-to brand of grounds, this is your chance to give German coffee a try. As a country obsessed with this particular form of caffeine, Germany has proven that its coffee beans and grounds are anything but ordinary. 

The brands and grounds listed above are just a few of the many popular and tasty German coffee roasts, but they offer a great place to start. 

Take our word for it and try one. It may just open up a world of coffee you’ve never thought of exploring before now!

Happy Caffienating!