Like most dedicated coffee drinkers and aspiring home baristas, you probably purchase your coffee from the local grocery store, café, or coffee roaster. But did you know Amazon is rapidly becoming the go-to retailer for specialty roasts?
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Coffee on Amazon
Why buy your coffee on Amazon?
There are several advantages to buying your coffee from Amazon, including lots of variety, exclusive products, plenty of Fair and Direct Trade options, and fast shipping. Most of what you’ll find comes at a pretty reasonable price, too. Spend a while perusing Amazon’s selection, and you won’t soon run out of delicious flavors and roasts to choose from.
Sounds great, right? And since there are countless coffees listed on Amazon, we’ve gone ahead and saved you valuable coffee brewing (and drinking) time by sifting through the website’s extensive range of coffee offerings to bring you the best of the best.
A Buyer’s Checklist
Before you check out our product recommendations or head to Amazon to do some exploring on your own, here are a few things to keep in mind as you shop around for good beans.
Consider Your Needs
The kind of coffee you buy largely depends on your preferences, and to help you figure out what you’d like, there are several factors you need to consider — organic versus non-organic beans, the coffee’s country of origin, caffeine content, arabica or robusta, flavor, and roast levels (which we’ll get into later on) — before you make a purchase. Do a bit of research, and maybe a bit of taste-testing, to see which joe would please your taste buds most.
Understand the Label
As you browse the many offerings on Amazon, you’ll probably see all kinds of certifications printed on the bags of beans. But what do these mean?
- USDA-Certified Organic: When USDA-certified organic foods and beverages are produced, they adhere to federal guidelines that address things like soil quality, pest control, and whether or not additives are used. To get this certification, no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or artificial preservatives can be used during the growing process.
- Fair Trade: If the bag of coffee has a Fair Trade stamp on its label, the beans were grown, processed, and packaged according to sustainable standards, and everyone involved in the coffee’s production, from farmer to roaster, was treated and compensated fairly.
- Compact By Design: Compact by Design is an Amazon label that means the bag of beans you’ve purchased has the most efficient packaging possible. Excess air and water are removed from the bag, box, or bottle, making shipping easier and more efficient.
- Rainforest Alliance Certified: A Rainforest Alliance seal means some or all of the ingredients in a product were produced with methods that support the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental. In other words, chemical use was limited, natural resources were conserved, and everyone involved was treated and compensated fairly.
Look for the Roast Date
Any serious coffee drinker knows that coffee beans are at their best one to two weeks after roasting, and the only way to be sure you’re brewing your beans within that timeframe is to check the roast date.
While you can find both of these dates printed somewhere on your bag of beans, the roast date isn’t the same as an expiration date. While the latter tells you when it’s time to toss your food or drink into the trash, the former tells you exactly when the coffee was torched in the roaster.
If you’re concerned about maximum freshness and optimal flavor, having this little bit of information is crucial.
Quick Summary: Best Coffee On Amazon
 | Our Top Pick COFFEE BROS. MEDIUM ROAST COFFEE |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | JAVA PLANET COLOMBIAN USDA-ORGANIC COFFEE |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | LAVAZZA SUPER CREMA WHOLE BEAN COFFEE BLEND |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | KICKING HORSE COFFEE KICK ASS DARK ROAST |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | SAN FRANCISCO BAY COFFEE HAZELNUT CRÈME |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | DEATH WISH COFFEE |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | EIGHT O’CLOCK THE ORIGINAL COFFEE |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | KOFFEE KULT MEDIUM ROAST COFFEE |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | CAFÉ DON PABLO SUBTLE EARTH ORGANIC MEDIUM-DARK ROAST COFFEE |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | COOPER’S CASK BARREL AGED COFFEE |
| Check on Amazon → |
Roasty Recommends: Our Top Picks for the Best Coffee on Amazon
Whether your coffee journey has led you to grind your beans yourself, use pre-ground joe, or pop a coffee capsule into a single-serve brewer, you’re sure to find exactly what you need among the vast variety of coffee beans for sale on Amazon.
Read on to get the full low-down on all of the best interesting and flavor-filled coffees you’ll find on the site!
Coffee Bros. Medium Roast Coffee
The Coffee Bros. coffee company is a relatively new player in the java game, only having been founded by brothers Nick and Dan Hunnewell in 2019. But since then, the brand has released an entire line of beans that even the most serious coffee purists would be impressed with, while on a mission to get ethically sourced, freshly-roasted coffee to your doorstep.
Roasty was fortunate enough to connect with Dan, who sent us samples of the brand’s espresso, medium, and light roasts (check out our photos of the rather fantastic packaging and unboxing experience). Though each of the three coffee roasts sent was good, we particularly enjoyed the bright aspects of the light roast; it’s got subtle fruity flavors, which we really enjoyed.
If light or espresso roasts aren’t your jam, the company’s medium roast coffee blend is a popular seller on Amazon that’s well worth considering. With hints of brown sugar, strawberry, and hazelnut, it’s easy to understand why so many have opted to purchase a 12-ounce bag of these Brazilian, Colombian, and Ethiopian small-batch roasted beans.
Java Planet Colombian USDA-Organic Coffee
Java Planet’s medium-dark coffee is an excellent choice for anyone who wants their fresh coffee to be low-acid and full of body. The Colombian beans sourced for this joe, which is Java Planet’s bestselling product, are packed with fruit flavor. For your peace of mind, know that they’re Smithsonian Bird Friendly and Rainforest Alliance Certified, too!
Discerning coffee drinkers will find that these 100 percent arabica beans tick plenty of other boxes, including Fair Trade and organic certifications and being shade-grown. And since there are no pesticides or any other unpleasantries involved in the growing or production processes, the resulting brew is clean-tasting and full of flavor.
Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee Blend
Thanks to its characteristically creamy finish, Lavazza’s Super Crema is one of Amazon’s best sellers, so keep this blend of coffee in mind the next time you’re looking for high-quality coffee beans to brew in your drip coffee or espresso machine.
This blend of organically-grown arabica and robusta coffee beans are combined and roasted in Italy, and the brew they produce has a strong flavor reminiscent of dried fruit, almonds, and honey. This delicious coffee is the perfect partner for your breakfast or a mid-afternoon biscotti.
Kicking Horse Coffee Kick Ass Dark Roast
Although Kicking Horse Coffee has a wide range of coffee products for sale on Amazon, the Kick Ass blend is the brand’s most popular type of coffee beans available on the site.
As the more perceptive among you have likely already gleaned from this blend’s name, the excellent coffee it delivers packs a punchy jolt of energy guaranteed to get you up and going. This brew is ideal for those who enjoy their coffee strong with smoky, sweet overtones to offset its bitter taste.
All Kicking Horse Coffee products are sourced from Fair Trade plantations, organic, and kosher, and these South American and Indonesian beans are no exception.
San Francisco Bay Coffee Hazelnut Crème
Flavored coffees have established themselves as a popular niche product, although it’s fair to say that coffee drinkers either love or hate them. San Francisco Bay is among the coffee brands with a pretty wide selection of flavored coffees, but the Hazelnut Crème is their most popular type of joe in this category.
These 100 percent arabica beans are drawn from single Fair Trade estates where organic cultivation is used, and they make a creamy and slightly nutty-flavored brew that’s ideal for sipping alongside a breakfast pastry or making a hazelnut iced coffee, no flavored coffee syrup necessary — unless you like your drink extra sweet, that is!
Death Wish Coffee
Purportedly the strongest coffee in the world and next on our list of best coffees on Amazon is Death Wish Coffee.
The USDA-certified organic coffee has a strong, ready-to-go flavor and twice the caffeine content of other coffees, making it a great choice for those who need a hefty kick in the pants to get the day started.
This coffee, complete with sweet notes of cherry and chocolate, is sourced only from Fair Trade plantations. It’s organic, too, which helps the dark roast keep the bold flavor that characterizes a successful bean.
Find this joe on Amazon in whole bean or Keurig coffee pod form. You can find the mixture of arabica and robusta beans in a pre-ground option, too.
Eight O’Clock The Original Coffee
Eight O’Clock Coffee’s Original blend is next on our list of favorite types of coffee beans available on Amazon.
The sweet and fruity notes of this brew combine well with the drier notes found in the Colombian beans used to make it. And, with that beautiful partnership, it’s no surprise that this medium roast blend is one of the most popular ground coffee products in the United States. The well-balanced flavor profile gives the joe a very broad appeal.
If pre-ground isn’t your thing, buy Eight O’Clock Coffee through Amazon as whole beans and Keurig coffee pods.
Koffee Kult Medium Roast Coffee
If you want a cup of coffee that’s low on acidity but big on body, reach for a bag of medium-roasted beans (whole or pre-ground — coffee lover’s choice) from South Florida-based Koffee Kult. This joe consistently does well on Amazon, probably because it suits almost every brewing process.
The 100 percent arabica beans are sourced from Brazil and Colombia; they give your brew a smooth mouthfeel and robust flavor you’ll love on its own or with a splash of milk or creamer.
Café Don Pablo Subtle Earth Organic Medium-Dark Roast Coffee
Not all coffee brands have bags of organic coffee beans on their product rosters, but luckily for you, Roasty reader, Cafe Don Pablo does. The brand’s Subtle Earth organic beans boast low acidity, and a clean finish, which is perfect for coffee lovers with sensitive stomachs.
A cup of coffee brewed with these beans has a strong, rich flavor, and the milk chocolate, honey, and caramel tasting notes give the brew a pleasant, sweet taste. These organic beans are available in different roast levels, so whether you’re a fan of lighter roasts or darker beans, you’ll be able to pop these beans into your drip machine and enjoy!
Cooper’s Cask Barrel Aged Coffee
Artisan coffee is the way to go if you’re looking for something a bit more special than the run-of-the-mill pre-ground coffee you’ll find on your local grocery store shelf. We’re not knocking those beans — if your favorite coffee falls into that category, then so be it — but there’s nothing like a bag of high-quality coffee beans from skilled roasters.
Cooper’s Cask Coffee specializes in whiskey, bourbon, rum, and wine barrel-aged joe, which is great news for those who love really flavorful coffee. If you’re not sure where to start with Cooper’s Cask, we recommend purchasing the box set. This includes four single-origins of varying roast levels: Malt Whiskey and Sumatran, Kentucky Bourbon and Colombian, Rye Whiskey and Ethiopian, and Thomas Tew Rum and Rwandan.
You can’t go wrong with any of the coffees included in the box set, as they’re all small-batch roasted for the most consistent flavor possible, but trying all four will help you best determine which of these beans you’d rather use to fill your coffee cup every morning.
So many roasts, so little time…
Experienced home baristas and longstanding coffee experts will already be familiar with the kind of roast they prefer. However, those of you who are still catching up to the java-drinking habits of longtime fans may find it tricky to decide what roast to go for. That can make it doubly difficult to narrow down the wide selection of coffees available on Amazon.
Not to worry, though; we have your back. Here’s a quick overview of what to expect from each type of roast.
Light Roast
Light roast coffee is designed to draw out the natural taste of the coffee, not the flavors added by the roasting process. For this reason, light roasts are best enjoyed black. Typical flavor notes in a good light roast can include floral and earthy tones, citrus, and moss.
If you like a very robust brew, are a dedicated espresso fan, or like your coffee with lots of enhancements and add-ins like creamer, milk, sugar, or flavored syrup, you’ll probably find that these additions overwhelm the flavor of a light roast.
Medium Roast
When it comes to everyday brewing, a good medium roast option is the most popular way to go. With these beans, the roasting process ends before the coffee becomes too burnt or bitter. This means the beans retain the best of their natural flavors while gaining a new layer of aroma and roasting flavor.
Tasting notes for medium-roasted coffee can range from floral and citrus to a combination of nutty and chocolate flavors, depending on the length of the roasting process and the origin of the beans.
Dark Roast
Dark roast coffees mean dark flavors, which can be too bitter and burnt-tasting for some palates. These are perfect if you like your coffee with a robust, bold taste.
Good-quality dark roasts have hints of chocolate and caramel, depending on the skill of the person doing the roasting. Dark roasts are the favorite for espresso, but they can also happily tolerate the addition of cream, milk, and sugar.
Ground Coffee vs. Whole Beans
Okay, so now you have a better idea as to what roast to choose. But should you go for ready-ground coffee or whole beans? While coffee connoisseurs have long debated whether ground coffee or whole beans are best, there are pros and cons to using both.
Ground Coffee
Advantages
Perhaps the biggest advantage of using pre-ground coffee is that it’s convenient and easy to use. It comes ready to brew, so you don’t need any special skills or expensive extra equipment.
These already-ground beans usually cost less than whole beans, too, so if you’re brewing on a budget, they’re probably your best bet.
Disadvantages
Coffee begins losing its freshness as soon as it has been roasted and ground, so a bag of ground beans won’t be as flavorful as whole beans would. So, unless you go through coffee quickly, you’ll find your joe becoming a bit staler as time goes on.
Another disadvantage of ground coffee lies in the grind size. Your preferred brewing method determines how fine or coarse your beans need to be, and while a good burr grinder gives you the freedom to control that, most ground coffee brands don’t allow you that luxury — you get what you’re given.
Whole Bean Coffee
Advantages
If you buy whole beans and grind them moments before loading them into your brewer, you’ll get coffee with a stronger, more robust flavor that retains the subtle tasting notes of your specific type of bean.
Grinding your own coffee beans gives you total control over the size of your final grind, meaning you won’t be stuck with a whole bag of coarse coffee when you need finer joe or vice versa.
Disadvantages
DIY coffee grinding means you’ll have to purchase a coffee grinder, and if you’re going to have good results, you’ll need a decent grinder. That, unfortunately, can be a pretty pricey purchase.
Grinding your beans is also more time-consuming than buying pre-ground coffee, so if you’re already pressed for time in the morning, this probably isn’t the best option for you. Plus, cleaning out the grinder can be a pain, and it adds to the time you’ll spend preparing your brew.
*Pro-Tip: Whether you’re buying ground or whole beans, make sure the package has a one-way valve on it. This little plastic piece allows freshly roasted coffee to degas (release carbon dioxide) without letting oxygen and other contaminants enter the bag.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to buying your beans on Amazon, you’ve got plenty of options. There are light, medium, and dark roasts available in ground, whole bean, instant, or coffee capsule form — there’s truly something for everyone!
Start browsing the thousands of beans for sale on Amazon, and use our suggestions as a guide. Go on, get to it; brewing time’s a-wastin’!
Happy caffeinating!
