10 Best Ground Coffee [Tested and Reviewed]

Death Wish Coffee Co.'s Dark Roast coffee is made with a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans, delivering a smooth and full-bodied taste. When enjoyed black, this roast offers a nutty, dark chocolate undertone with a pronounced bitterness and sweetness. The lack of acidity, combined with a rich flavor makes it very easy to drink.

The unique flavor profile of this dark roast made it a favorite among dark roast lovers. It was delicious even as a café au lait, and many of our testers said they could detect the rich flavor and bitterness when consuming it black or with milk. It also offered a pleasant sweetness for an all-around balanced coffee ground.

This blend is a fantastic choice for those new to coffee or for those who know what they want and prefer a strong, rich flavor.

Illy's Ground Espresso Classico Coffee Medium Roast is made exclusively with Arabica beans, offering a mild and well-balanced flavor. When sipped black, it features notes of milk chocolate and citrus with a balanced mix of fruity acidity and the perfect touch of bitterness. It's not overly acidic, so it's a good option even for those who usually avoid acidic flavors.

When prepared as a café au lait, the acidity blends beautifully with the sweetness of the milk, creating a creamy and inviting taste. Testers were drawn to the pleasant aroma and taste that reminded them of black tea with milk. If you're a fan of fruitier, more acidic coffee or are an avid enjoyer of bitter coffee and want to explore something new, this product is worth trying.

Starbucks' Veranda Blend, a medium roast coffee crafted from 100 percent Arabica beans, offers a promise of toasted grain and baking chocolate notes. When enjoyed without any additives, this coffee boasts a sweet, tangy, and fruity flavor reminiscent of ripe cherries, complemented by a subtle undercurrent of bitterness that contributes to a clean and enjoyable taste. The aroma is equally delightful, featuring a gentle sweetness that may even provide a soothing sensation.

When served as a café au lait, the acidity softens, allowing the sweetness to take the forefront; nevertheless, the coffee's own flavor appears to be subdued by the milk. A few testers even detected a slightly excessive sweetness in the milk, which they believed overshadowed the coffee's inherent flavor. Whether enjoyed black for its striking fruitiness or as a café au lait, this coffee is a perfect match for those who appreciate acidity over bitterness and prefer a coffee with a gentle, approachable taste.

Folgers' Classic Roast Coffee, recognized by its distinctive red can, is a medium roast that delivers a smooth and robust flavor profile. When enjoyed black, the bitterness is pronounced, but complemented by notes reminiscent of chocolate and a smoky aroma. However, it's worth noting that this coffee lacks significant acidity or sweetness, which may not be a hit for those who seek a more tart or sweet coffee experience.

When milk is added to create a café au lait, this coffee introduces a toasty, nutty flavor, although its bitterness doesn't always blend seamlessly with milk. Some testers noted that the bitterness tended to dominate, overshadowing the creaminess of the milk. Regardless of whether it's enjoyed black or with milk, the defining characteristic of this coffee is its robust bitterness, positioning it as an excellent choice for those who seek a bolder cup or desire a sharp jolt of bitterness to jumpstart their day.

Starbucks' French Roast, a dark roast composed entirely of Arabica beans, is renowned for its bold and smoky flavor profile. When enjoyed black, a discerning palate will encounter notes of dark chocolate and burnt caramel, accompanied by a pronounced bitterness. The aroma of this roast is robust, enhancing the overall deep flavor. While some testers appreciated the robust bitterness, others found it to be so dominant that it overshadowed any sweetness, leading to lower ratings in those cases.

Adding milk to create a café au lait softened the intense bitterness, making it more approachable than when drunk black. Testers noted that the milk's sweetness tempered the otherwise too strong bitter flavor. If you find the roast aroma or bitterness too overpowering when drinking it black, you might prefer this coffee as a café au lait.

Dunkin's Original Blend Ground Coffee, a medium roast composed entirely of 100 percent Arabica beans, presents a rich and smooth flavor profile. When prepared black, it features a prominent fruity acidity, accompanied by minimal bitterness and a subtle chocolate-like aroma. However, for those who do not appreciate acidic coffee, this particular blend might be challenging to fully enjoy.

As a café au lait, this blend’s acidity becomes creamy and sweet, resulting in a smoother flavor. Testers who found the black coffee too acidic enjoyed the creamy sweetness when milk was added. If you prefer a café au lait, this coffee could be a great option.

Lavazza's Classico Ground Coffee Blend is a medium roast blend of Arabica and Robusta beans with a rich flavor and sweet aroma. Notes of chocolate and grape come through when served black, with a gentle sweetness and a sharp, pronounced acidity. The fruitiness is intense, making the bitterness and richness somewhat hard to detect.

Some testers felt that while the crisp acidity was present, it didn't balance out the bitterness. The coffee's flavor seems to take a backseat to the sweetness of the milk when prepared as a café au lait. If you're looking to savor the coffee's unique flavor, this blend might not fully satisfy.

McCafe's Premium Roast Ground Coffee is a medium roast made with 100 percent Arabica beans, boasting a rich aroma, smooth body, and clean finish. Drinking it black, the acidity is prominent, while bitterness and sweetness are hardly noticeable. The coffee itself is on the lighter side, which might appeal to those who prefer a less intense brew.

When prepared as a café au lait, the sweetness of the milk adds a buttery richness. Although the flavor was a bit weak on its own, this coffee blend paired well with milk.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters' Holler Mountain Ground Coffee is a light roast, blending beans from Central and South America and East Africa. It offers a creamy, caramel aroma with notes of citrus and berry jam. When consumed black, drinkers will notice a prominent citrusy flavor along with a taste akin to cherry tomatoes. There's almost no bitterness, and the fruity, bright acidity leaves a lasting impression

This ground coffee is on the lighter side in terms of concentration, so it won't be the best choice for those who prefer a stronger bitterness. As a café au lait, its flavor is overshadowed by the milk, throwing off the balance. Testers noted that they could hardly taste the coffee, commenting that it was more like milk with a tinge of acidity.

AmazonFresh Colombia Ground Coffee is a medium roast made with 100 percent Arabica beans. It's described as having a faint citrusy aroma, along with hints of cocoa and brown sugar. When enjoyed black, drinkers notice a citrus aroma and a bright, herb-like scent. While there is some acidity, the bitterness, sweetness, and richness are not very pronounced.

As a café au lait, there's a subtle sweetness, but the coffee's flavor is lacking and less satisfying. Testers found the black coffee to be a bit on the watery side, but the café au lait provided a smooth and pleasing sweetness.