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Coffee – the most widely consumed substance in the world – but what is the best coffee out there? While there are many opinions, the astute online readers of hundreds of review sites have spoken.
And we have the data. After aggregating thousands of online reviews, and our staff testing and trying many different varieties – these are our picks for best coffee.
Our Top Pick
Death Wish Coffee
With over 17,000 glowing online reviews, this is the single best coffee to get. The skull and crossbones are very apt – plenty of caffeine fuels every cup of Death Wish. It’s also USDA-certified organic, and will give you the most energy you’ve had in years.
Other Great Picks
Caribou Coffee
Made with sustainably sourced coffee beans, this medium roast is mild and pleasant, as well as ethically prepared. If you don’t like the acidity of most coffee – this is the brand for you. Caribou is also Rainforest Alliance Certified, so you can sip this every morning, with a clear conscience.
Koffee Kult
With over 2,900 positive online reviews, this dark roast from Koffee Kult is gourmet and delicious. Our staff loved the smooth bold flavor. And since Koffee Kult is family owned and operated – every batch is fresher than the normal coffee you’re used to drinking. Our staff liked the flavor of this coffee better than any other batch we tried.
Dunkin’ Donuts Original Blend
Dunkin’ Donuts is (of course) most famous for their sugary morning treats – but their coffee is no joke. This ground coffee is perfect to make at home every morning, and it packs a great punch. It also comes in at a lower price point than gourmet coffees, so your wallet will love it too.
Peet’s Coffee Major Dickason’s Blend
Peet’s is well-known on the west coast, and with over 1,400 positive online reviews – it’s well-known on the internet, too. Most people do not know that Starbucks actually wanted to model their coffee after Peet’s – but it’s true. This dark roast is a perfect way to start the day, and we also liked brewing a second cup in the early afternoon – just when we needed a little caffeine buzz.
Starbucks Breakfast Blend
Of course Starbucks is the most well-known coffee brand on the planet – and for good reason. This medium roast is a top-seller online, and with over 1,000 positive online reviews – the critics all agree that the flavor is unbeatable. A perfect choice for winter, spring, summer, or fall.
Kicking Horse Coffee
Kicking Horse is USDA-certified organic, and it packs quite a punch. If you’re looking for a coffee that will wake you up and get you going in the morning – this is your choice. We especially liked the smoky flavor, and the fact that it’s fair-trade certified.
Blackbeard’s Delight
This extra dark roast is made with beans 100% from Brazil. If you like your coffee strong – this is a great choice. It’s strong, smooth – all with no bitterness. Made for a great pick-me-up whenever we had rainy, office afternoons.
Valhalla Java Ground Coffee
This ground coffee from Death Wish is USDA-certified organic, and fair trade. This mega-roast was created by rock and roll star Zakk Wylde – but it has a surprisingly refined flavor. If you are looking for a massive caffeine boost – this is the product to choose, as it has around 3x the normal amount of caffeine found in one cup of regular coffee.
Fat Burning Keto Coffee
Weight loss is one of the most-coveted health goals, year-in and year-out. This fat burning coffee adds green tea – making it a great way to help you stay trim. It’s also keto-friendly, kosher, and imported fresh from Colombia.
When Was Coffee Discovered?
Coffee traces its beginnings to Ethiopia in the ninth century. Whether folklore or truth, the story states that a goat herder named Kaldi, noticed his goats could not sleep after eating berries from a tree. He remarked upon this to others and locals decided to dry and boil the berries to drink themselves, and thus coffee was born.
It would take hundreds of years for the drink to spread across the globe. By the 15th century coffee was being enjoyed widely along the Arabian Peninsula and by the 17th century it had reached Europe. Soon afterwards it spread to the Americas and has been widely loved by billions of people since.
Is Coffee Good For You?
Every few years the data seems to change on the benefits and risks associated with coffee drinking. The good news is as of the most recent studies, coffee has been deemed a possible protection against diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
Coffee also provides cancer-fighting antioxidants, is low in calories, and has been tied to lower risk of coronary heart disease in women. Experts agree that moderation and drinking coffee with little sugar or creams can be a healthy addition to a diet. National dietary guidelines allow 3-5 cups of black coffee as part of a healthy diet.
Is Coffee Bad For You?
As we just discussed the health benefits of coffee above, it’s only fair we also look at some of the risks associated with coffee consumption. The largest issue in America is the tendency to drink coffee heavily sweetened with sugary creams and syrups, which negates any health benefits. It also increases the calorie count as well.
In addition to the sugar and calorie problem, excess amounts of caffeine can be dangerous too. It can contribute to sleep issues like insomnia and lead to heart palpitations and arrhythmia. The risks associated with coffee consumption are controllable by the individual, however, so thoughtful coffee drinkers should be able to avoid these pitfalls.
Does Coffee Dehydrate You?
For many years popular adage claimed that coffee drinking could lead to dehydration. This is because caffeine is a mild-diuretic, which causes increased urination, which in turn can affect hydration levels. The amount of coffee consumed, however, would have to be pretty large to actually grow dehydrated from urination.
Coffee is considered part of your daily fluid intake and experts no longer caution against dehydration and coffee. Although water is the go-to drink recommended for hydration, coffee (especially black) is a fine way to add to your liquid intake.
How Much Coffee Can I Drink Daily?
When it comes to daily limits of coffee, experts use caffeine as a way to gauge safety limits. The current consensus is that up to 400 mg of caffeine can be safely consumed by most people every day. This translates to 3-5 cups of coffee, depending on the levels of caffeine.
Of course some people will find they can drink more and some less. There are biological indicators that affect the way caffeine is metabolized individually so 400 mg of caffeine per day is just a guideline.
How Much Caffeine Is In A Cup Of Coffee?
The amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee will vary depending on factors such as: the type of coffee, the type of coffee bean used, and how the coffee beans are roasted. Lighter roasts generally contain more caffeine than dark varieties and instant coffee will almost always have less caffeine than fresh brewed coffee.
The average caffeine for a 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee is 95 mg. In reality though, the range can be from about 70 – 145 mg depending on the factors previously stated. And although espresso contains more caffeine than regular coffee, the size of an espresso is much smaller so on average an espresso shot will have 63 mg of caffeine.
Does Decaf Coffee Have Caffeine?
Decaf coffees remove between 95-98% of caffeine in coffee. This means that decaf coffees will have small amounts of caffeine. The average 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains between 3-8 mg of caffeine, far less than a regular cup.
Decaf coffees are a great alternative to those who are sensitive to caffeine. They also tend to have milder flavors as a result of the decaffeinating process.
Does Coffee Have Calories?
An 8-ounce cup of black coffee contains only 1-5 calories making it a great beverage choice. Black coffee also contains no fat.
Calories in coffee drinks, however, can quickly escalate when sugary creamers and syrups are added. Most flavored coffee drinks served at coffee shops have enough calories and fats to count as one whole meal.
Can Pregnant Women Drink Coffee?
Coffee itself is not considered harmful to pregnant women. Studies have, however, linked high caffeine consumption to miscarriages so caffeine in any form (coffee, tea, soda, chocolate) should be limited during pregnancy. Doctors often advise pregnant women to limit themselves to one or two coffees a day.
Alternatively, many pregnant women will switch to decaf coffees during pregnancy and limit the amount of sugars and fats they add to their morning cups of joe.
Does Coffee Go Bad?
Coffee does not tend to spoil, however, it does get stale and lose its quality. Your coffee containers will have an expiration date on them, but coffee can still be consumed past these dates safely. The aroma and flavor will decrease with time, though.
The best way to preserve the quality of coffee is to store it in an airtight container in a dark cupboard. Freezing coffee prolongs its shelf life tremendously, but will dull the flavor when thawed and brewed. Whole beans will retain their flavor profiles longer than ground coffee, so many choose to buy whole beans and grind only what they need each day for their coffee.
What Is Cold Brew Coffee?
Cold brew coffee is coffee made without heat. Coffee grounds are steeped in room temperature water for a minimum of 12 hours and then the grounds are filtered out leaving a cold brewed coffee in its wake. This time consuming brewing style has become popular in the past five years.
Cold brew lovers enjoy the less acidic and smoother profile of the drink. Cold brews tend to be a naturally sweeter flavor and have less complex aromas than their heat brewed counterparts. Due to the time it takes to brew, cold brews tend to be a bit costlier at coffee shops.
Is Iced Coffee The Same As Cold Brew Coffee?
Iced coffee and cold brew coffee are similar in that they are both consumed as cold beverages, however, the way they are brewed is vastly different. The flavor profiles differ too.
Iced coffee is generally a regular brewed coffee (often brewed in double strength) which is cooled and then served over ice. Cold brews are steeped in room temperature water for many hours and served after the coffee grounds have been filtered out. The iced coffee tends to have a stronger flavor, whereas the cold brew is milder and sweeter.
What Is Bulletproof Coffee?
Bulletproof coffee is a diet trend that replaces a breakfast meal with a calorie-rich coffee concoction. It combines filtered water, high-end low-mold coffee beans, grass-fed unsalted butter, and MCT (or coconut) oil to create a creamy and frothy drink meant to replace breakfast foods.
Advocates for this coffee meal say it suppresses hunger for up to 6 hours and provides energy and a clarity of mind. It is a decidedly more expensive and time consuming coffee practice, but its popularity indicates many find it worth the effort and cost.
The Best Coffee
There you have it – our picks for the best coffee. What is life without a nice jolt of caffeine when you need it?
The world of breakfast and kitchen products is certainly not limited to just these blends – be sure to take a look at our other picks, in the home and kitchen categories.