What Are The Best Espresso Beans?

There’s something about a great shot of espresso: the aroma, the tartness, the satisfying taste, the tingle it leaves on the palate. It is much more than a cup of coffee. when done right, it can be the best coffee you’ve ever tasted.

but there is a catch. If you don’t get the beans right, even the best espresso machine and world-class barista will come up with something weak, bitter, or bland. how can you prevent this?

Reading: What’s the best espresso coffee

don’t worry. In this article, we share nine of the best espresso bean reviews so you can make the espresso you love every day.

9 best coffee beans for espresso

Our list of the best coffee beans are the cream of the crop, but not all of them taste appropriate for espresso. So now, let’s take a look at the best espresso beans in a little more depth below:

A great espresso roast should be sweet, bold, and richly caramelized, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a dark roast. a medium roast like this one from coffee bros. can make an exceptional espresso, provided the roaster is skilled enough to bring out the coffee’s inherent sweetness. that’s why coffee brothers. espresso blend is the best home grounds option for your espresso.

Founded by two brothers inspired by nothing more than their love of coffee, it is clear that the main roaster of coffee bros. knows his way around an espresso roast. This is made up of a blend of 100% Arabica beans from Colombia and Ethiopia. It’s as sweet as you’d expect, but with more complexity than you’d expect, with irresistible flavors of cane sugar, strawberry, and vanilla.

If you’re the kind of espresso lover who thinks exploring new flavors and origins is half the fun, a personalized coffee subscription is the perfect option! Drift coffee is at the top of our list for its high-quality single-origin beans, sustainable sourcing practices, and fun membership benefits.

When you sign up for a drift subscription, you’ll first receive a kit for a blind coffee tasting. not sure how it works? don’t worry because you also have access to personalized time with a coffee professional to guide you. it’s fun, educational, and delicious.

The blind taste test will reveal your preferred flavor profile: Fruity, Balanced, Classic, Bold or Extra Bold. the last three are generally best suited for espresso, but if you love a light roast, we won’t stop you. Each month, a new specialty grade coffee that matches your preferences will be delivered to your door. it’s a great way to try new coffees without straying too far from what you know and love.

Temple Coffee Roasters’ Dharma Espresso Blend, available through Trade Coffee, is a crowd pleaser. offers classic flavors of chocolate, nuts, and caramel, plus a hint of sweet berries to keep things interesting.

temple crafts this blend from three different origins: costa rica, brazil, and ethiopia, each using a different processing method. Costa Rican honey-processed beans are naturally sweet, with flavors of almonds and hazelnuts. washed Brazilian beans add a darker chocolaty sweetness and heavy body. and natural Ethiopian beans add the fruity character that makes this espresso blend more exciting than most.

Whether you’re taking shots of espresso, sipping an Americano, or enjoying a latte with milk, this is a coffee to enjoy all day. And we are not the only ones who think so. received an astonishingly high score of 92 in the coffee review in 2021.

Sure, our list of the best coffee beans are the cream of the crop, but not all of them taste just right for espresso. So now, let’s take a look at the best espresso beans in a little more depth below:

lifeboost coffee’s mission is to provide healthy, organic and ethically sourced whole beans from Nicaraguan coffee farmers to the coffee world. and indeed it seems that they are successfully achieving this goal, however they recently released these espresso beans that are worth trying.

There are many labels for this brand, so bear with me as I list them: 100% Certified Organic, Spring Water Washed and Sun Dried, Mycotoxin Free, Sustainably Sourced, and Hand Roasted Coffee Beans.

what does all this mean? It means you’ll be drinking high-quality, healthy coffee beans that are produced without sacrificing the environment, your health, or local coffee farmers. tastes and feels good to drink.

100% certified organic, fair trade arabica beans from nicaragua.
dark roast coffee: ideal for preparing espresso.
rich and bold with undertones of caramel and chocolate, with a very subtle fruit/sweetness. low acid content.
an intense but attractive aroma.

forget lavazza super cream. peaberry coffee is what you need! is an exclusive high-end product that makes a particularly delicious espresso.

hell no. It is one of the best coffee beans to make espresso!

why is that?

Most coffee cherries contain two coffee beans, but a special 5% contains only one bean. this single bean, the peaberry, gets to hog all the nutrients on its own, which means it’s twice as rich in flavor.

Volcanca Coffee’s single farm tanzanian peaberry microlot is a perfect example of this style. This medium roast features the fruit flavors that characterize the region, but expanded to 11. It is pleasantly sweet, with flavors of plum and nougat, and offers a delicate lemongrass acidity. the body is rich and buttery, perfect for your morning espresso.

when alfred peet opened his coffee shop in berkeley, california in 1966, it caused a change not only in the way coffee was prepared, but also in how it was perceived. This “second wave” of coffee introduced American coffee lovers to specialty dark roast coffees, as well as European brewing methods and beverages like espresso, latte or cappuccino, and more. want to learn more? See a short video about first, second and third wave coffee here (1).

While Peet’s sells limited edition specials freshly roasted in small batches, their Arabic Sanani Mocha, made with 100% Arabica beans from Africa and Arabia, is a regular selection and offers a unique espresso experience. When you hear the word “mocha”, you probably think of the popular drink that combines coffee and hot chocolate. but the name comes from mocha, a port city on the red sea, and the characteristics of coffee from this region include unmistakable notes of cocoa and chocolate in the aroma and on the palate. One sip, either in an espresso or a pour over, of an Arabic mocha and you’ll understand.

peet’s coffee is roasted only after ordering and ships within four hours of roasting.

freshly roasted 100% Arabica beans from Africa and Arabia
dark roast great for espresso, french press or moka pot, but equally delicious in a pourover
notes of chocolate and dates add to the spicy and complex aroma

stumptown coffee of portland, oregon is one of the leading proponents of “third wave” coffee, with a focus on origin, growing and processing methods, and most importantly, attention to the coffee itself. it is also a sustainable coffee brand.

Hair Bender, a nod to the salon that previously housed the location of Stumptown’s first roaster, was the first blend produced by founder Duane Sorenson. The rich textures and volcanic glow of coffee from Indonesia are layered with the fruitiness of Latin American coffee and the earthy depth of beans from Africa. Citrus and dark chocolate elements predominate, for a blend of tart and bitter that strikes a lovely balance.

Blend of coffees from Indonesia, South America and Africa to fill the palate
the house espresso blend brewed at every coffee shop in stumptown
dark roast for a crisp finish

for a totally unique espresso experience, check out this dark roast monsoon malabar coffee straight out of the grey. out of the gray is a small batch roaster that sources specialty beans from around the world.

malabar monsoon coffee is famous for its unusual processing method. After harvest, green coffee beans are exposed to humid winds for weeks. The idea is to mimic the conditions of the wooden trading boats that brought green coffee from India to Europe: the original (and unintended) monsoon juggling. the result is a very low acid coffee with a smooth earthy character that makes a delicious espresso.

Take a shot with these beans and you’ll savor rich dark chocolate and mesquite smoke balanced with bright notes of orange zest and stone fruit. this coffee has a heavy body, a syrupy mouthfeel, and a lingering finish.

I know some of you are hoping to see death wish coffee on this list. but hear me when I say this pick replaced it. with every right. In the past, Kona coffee was not considered an espresso bean, as lighter roasts were often used to bring out its complex flavors. but luckily for us, times are changing. you can find the best espresso beans where you least expect it and even expand your espresso experience.

Reputable producers like koa are experimenting with dark roasts and the results are incredible. It’s no wonder when you start with such high-end coffee!

You don’t believe us? just ask pete licata, born in honolulu, 2011 u.s. national barista champion who built a career on kona espresso.

This dark roast from the koa coffee estate features the classic Hawaiian flavors of milk chocolate and ripe fruit, with a hint of roasted walnut thanks to the darker roast. the relatively low acidity and heavy mouthfeel make it an ideal choice for espresso.

what defines a great espresso bean?

We can’t just say we like certain beans because we like them. Of course, subjective feeling is fundamental, but it is not the only criterion. there is actually a coffee science behind great espresso beans.

then here’s what you need to keep in mind when choosing the ones that suit you best:

espresso beans vs regular coffee beans. is there a difference?

Most single origin beans would be terrible choices for espresso. dark roast beans are best for making a classic espresso, or at least a darker medium roast. something called blonde roast is also marketed as excellent espresso beans.

Scott Rao, author of The Professional Barista’s Handbook and several other books on coffee, explains that the ratio of coffee to water in an espresso machine makes for a cooler brewing environment than a drip coffee maker, drip or French press. the reason? espresso’s water-to-coffee ratio, sometimes 2 or 3 to 1 (compared to 18 to 1 for pour over), means the brew never gets as hot as it does in a pour over. the risk? insufficient extraction and a slightly sour taste (2).

In short, the medium and light roasts you like in a drip coffee maker, or similar types of coffee makers are at risk of going sour in an espresso. to compensate for this, the espresso takes a dark roast. But some coffee roasters cut costs by using cheap beans because dark or espresso roasts can mask the off flavors of low-quality beans.

One solution is to buy single-origin beans, but don’t overlook a well-done blend. some nice blended espresso beans from different regions, to achieve the perfect balance between sweet and bitter. And just a reminder when shopping for coffee beans: always check the roast date.

If you want to learn more about the difference between regular beans and espresso beans: Read this: Espresso Beans vs Coffee Beans.

espresso blend or single origin?

the blend gives a talented coffee roaster the opportunity to balance the flavor of the espresso. fruity, earthy, acidic, bitter – in an espresso machine, the short brew time and lower temperatures reward a coffee company that knows how to blend a variety of coffees to best effect. So while single-origin coffee is a great way to dial in your palate to find the flavors you love, when it comes to espresso, blends often have an advantage.

The first question about the mixtures has to do with the type of coffee tree from which the beans are obtained. Almost all single-origin espresso is made from Arabica beans. these high-quality beans have a more complex flavor profile than the less expensive robusta. Arabica beans are grown all over the world and each growing region has slightly different characteristics.

Robusta coffee beans have more caffeine and more bitterness, but that can be an advantage for espresso. some espresso blends include small amounts, 20-25%, of robusta coffee beans for this reason. Robusta beans are also higher in caffeine, so if you’re looking for a jolt, they have their virtues. this is where you can learn more about these types of coffee beans. On another note, if you’d like to try a smooth espresso, this is where you can learn more about decaf espresso.

espresso beans and coffee regions

all the coffee growing regions of the world offer characteristic flavors. Although each coffee plantation has its own climate and soil (much like a vineyard), each region tends to offer different flavor and aroma elements:

sumatra is an excellent option for a dark roast. the wet dehulling process used there produces an earthy mushroom flavor that lingers in even the darkest French roast. If you like the smoky flavor of a portobello mushroom charred over a charcoal fire, you might love Sumatran coffee.

Central and South American coffees are popular in medium roasts.

These coffees tend to have a brighter acidity, with more fruity and floral notes. With a fine grind and attention to heat in your espresso machine, you can make a great cup of espresso with beans from Colombia or Guatemala. Brazilian coffee tends to have a lighter, sweeter flavor, which is great when blended with stronger espresso beans.

Africa provides a deep minerality, partly because of the soil and climate, but also because of the dry processing method in which the coffee beans are left to dry in the sun. this concentrates stronger, darker flavors in the resulting coffee. chocolate and fruit notes (especially in Ethiopian coffee) make for a complex and balanced cup of espresso.

Indonesia is known as much for the volcanic tingle its soil adds to the aftertaste as it is for its rich, bold flavor and well-balanced acidity. Even in a medium-dark roast, Indonesian beans have the body to make a great espresso.

tips to enjoy espresso beans

Regardless of which espresso beans you select, here are a few things to keep in mind to get the most out of them. this should be obvious, but you should already have a quality espresso machine. duh

be sure to use a fine grind; good espresso machines require a very fine grind. this is another way to compensate for the lower brew temperature: finer grinds offer faster extraction, which helps balance out the flavor.

look at the cream to get a hint of your routine.

One key to determining if your espresso is ground fine enough: Keep an eye on the crema, that golden layer at the top of the cup. (Speaking of cups, here’s a review of the best espresso cups on the market.) if your cream is thin or has too many large bubbles, try a finer grind. you should be able to make an adjustment on automatic espresso machines with built-in grinders. of course you can order your espresso pre-ground; It’s not the best option, but it’s better than too coarse a grind. On another note, having pre-ground espresso beans makes it an instant espresso powder.

Learn how to tamp correctly.

In addition to getting a fine enough grind, you need to make sure you pack the filter basket properly. tamping affects how fast the water flows through the puck when you take a shot. you need 30lbs of pressure to make sure the grindings are tight enough to extract properly – too little pressure and the water goes through too fast.

Be sure to pre-infuse your espresso.

If you’re using a quality super-automatic espresso machine, it should come with a pre-infusion cycle. pre-infusion performs the same function as bloom in a pour over: it moistens the coffee beans and releases the co2 stored in them from roasting. but in espresso, pre-infusion also helps control the rate of flow through the grounds: because grounds swell when wet, they slow the flow of water and thus ensure a more complete extraction.

the verdict

the best espresso beans on the market are coffee bros. espresso beans. these guys know how to roast and blend the perfect flavors for the best cup of espresso. café brothers the blend is sweet but with complex flavor notes, just what you expect from a refined espresso.

one (or more!) of these will make the best espresso you’ll love. we did it? what is the best espresso coffee for you? Did you find your perfect match from one we missed? let us know in the comments or via email.