These days, coffee comes in many different forms: ground coffee, whole beans, instant coffee, and cold brew, just to name a few. Still, ground coffee remains one of the most popular options, loved for its convenience without sacrificing on taste. Ground coffee doesn’t require complicated machinery or much experience to make, and can even replicate the taste of a slow pour-over with the right chemistry. But with so many options on the market, where does one begin when trying to find the best ground coffee for their morning brew? Is it possible to replicate that tried and true Starbucks or Dunkin’ taste at home? And, what’s the difference between all of these coffee types?
We've compared 10 bestselling Ground Coffees available online and tested them to recommend the best ones for you.
We tested each product for the following:
Which product ended up being the best of the best? In our buying guide, we'll also tell you how to pick the best Ground Coffee on your own, so read on for more shopping tips.
Vincent Wong is the owner and head roaster for Tales Coffee. He has owned a coffee shop for seven years and has a YouTube channel discussing different extraction methods to help people understand and discover new coffee-related theories.
For seven years, Daisuke has served specialty coffees as a barista and taught hand-drip latte art seminars. Currently, at mybest, he conducts the verification for all coffee-related products and equipment, including major manufacturers such as Kalita, Hario, and De'longhi, and specialty coffee brands such as Starbucks, UCC, Maruyama Coffee, and Blue Bottle Coffee. He creates content with the motto of "making ordinary coffee more delicious" by utilizing his experience as a barista. In addition, he also operates his own coffee roastery.
The most important factor when choosing ground coffee is how it tastes, especially when served black. Ten testers who regularly drink coffee evaluated each coffee’s flavor, focusing on the following six points:Overall flavorAromaBitternessConcentrationSweetnessAcidityTesting Procedure:Place coffee in a paper filter and pre-wet it.Pour 3.5 ounces of water evenly over the coffee and start the timer.After 40 seconds to 1 minute, add water to reach a total of 7 ounces.From 1 minute and 10 seconds to 1 minute and 30 seconds, add water to reach a total of about 10.5 ounces.From 1 minute and 50 seconds until the timer hits 2 minutes, add water to reach a total of about 12 ounces.Taste the brewed coffee.Equipment Used:Dripper: HARIO V60 (02)Server: HARIO V60 Range ServerPaper Filter: HARIO 02 Filter (Bleached)Kettle: FELLOW Stagg KettleScale: HARIO V60 Drip ScaleWater: Kirkland Signature Spring Water
The next important factor in choosing a ground coffee is whether it makes a good café au lait. Ten regular coffee drinkers evaluated the flavor of each coffee with milk, focusing on the following four points:Overall taste enjoymentBalance between milk and coffeeSweetnessMouthfeelTesting Procedure:Place coffee in a paper filter and pre-wet it.Pour 3.5 ounces of water evenly over the coffee and start the timer.After 40 seconds to 1 minute, add water to reach a total of 7 ounces.From 1 minute and 10 seconds to 1 minute and 30 seconds, add water to reach a total of about 10.5 ounces.From 1 minute and 50 seconds until the timer hits 2 minutes, add water to reach a total of about 12 ounces.Add milk at a 1:1 ratio.Stir well and taste.Equipment Used:Dripper: HARIO V60 (02)Server: HARIO V60 Range ServerPaper Filter: HARIO 02 Filter (Bleached)Kettle: FELLOW Stagg KettleScale: HARIO V60 Drip ScaleWater: Kirkland Signature Spring WaterMilk: Whole milk (at least 3.5 percent milk fat)
All product tests
were conducted in-house at mybest
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.The mybest team independently conducts its own tests to rank products.
Table of Contents
Ground coffee offers a key advantage: its simplicity. It doesn’t require any elaborate equipment or much expertise. In comparison, when dealing with whole beans, you must first grind them using a coffee mill, and if you're using the pour-over method, this entire process can take nearly six minutes—if you’re skilled.
On the other hand, with ground coffee, all you need to do is place it in a dripper, pour hot water over it, and patiently wait for about three minutes. This straightforward approach makes it an excellent choice for those who seek enjoyment in their coffee without intricate work.
Nevertheless, there is a downside to ground coffee: it doesn't maintain its freshness as long as whole beans do. Ground coffee has a larger surface area, which exposes more of it to air, causing it to undergo oxidation more rapidly than whole beans. To savor its best flavor, it's best to consume it as soon as possible after opening the package or to store it in an airtight container to preserve its freshness.
Flavored ground coffee, with choices such as vanilla, cinnamon, and even fruity profiles like blueberry, appeal to a wide audience and offer something traditional beans cannot.
Flavored coffee is created by adding flavored oils or powders to the coffee during or after roasting. From aromatic vanilla and cinnamon to fruity flavors, there's a wide range to choose from. However, as flavored varieties tend to lack the robustness of regular coffee, they're often a love-it-or-hate-it kind of product. If you enjoy seasonal drinks, like the famous Pumpkin Spice Latte, then flavored coffee grounds are worth a try!
If you love sweet coffee but still want to enjoy its natural flavor, I recommend buying regular coffee and adding milk and sugar to taste.
Here are the points to keep in mind when choosing the best Ground Coffee.
Coffee's flavor profile is influenced by the roast level of the beans, of which there are three main types: light roast, medium roast, and dark roast. Roasting refers to the process of cooking the raw beans, and the degree of roasting changes the color, aroma, and taste.
Light roast has the shortest roasting time, and this leaves a lot of moisture in the coffee beans. The result is a slight bitterness and a more fruity taste. Dark roast, with the longest roasting time of the three, dries out the coffee beans and creates more elements that contribute to a bitter flavor. Medium roast falls between light and dark roast, allowing you to taste both bitterness and acidity.
These three roast levels each offer significant differences in flavor. Most often, our own coffee enthusiasts on the mybest team scored dark roast as the highest in terms of taste. But why? Let’s take a closer look.
Dark roast coffee is made by removing more moisture from the beans compared to other roasts. It features elements like caramelization, the Maillard Reaction, surface oils, reduced acidity, bitterness, and smokiness that all contribute to its robust flavor profile. Dark roast coffees offer a rich and intense flavor, with some tried by our team even reminding them of chocolate.
These coffees feature a subtle acidity, with some of our tasters noting their enjoyable intensity, pronounced bitterness, and sweetness, making them an ideal choice for those seeking bold coffee flavors.
One of the most appealing features of dark roast coffee is that it's hard to go wrong if you follow the recipe provided, as the bitterness is prominent. If you're new to pour-overs, start with dark roast coffee. We recommend a brewing recipe with a 13:1 ratio of coffee grounds to water for a truly satisfying flavor.
Dark roast coffee also offers the advantage of maintaining a balanced bitterness that complements the sweetness of milk, resembling the flavor of a dark, milky chocolate bar. Our testers found that when prepared as a café au lait, they could distinctly savor both the bitterness of the dark roast coffee and the sweetness of the milk.
However, when making a café au lait with light roast coffee, the sweetness of the milk overpowered everything. Our testers reported that they could hardly taste the coffee's bitterness or richness—an appeal many coffee lovers enjoy. If you want to enjoy a café au lait with a distinct bitterness and richness, dark roast is the way to go.
Even if you add sugar, the coffee won't lose its bitterness, so dark roast is also recommended for those who love a sweet café au lait.
Among the dark roasts, the one that stood out to our testers was from Death Wish Coffee Co. This coffee wasn't just strong in bitterness, but from the first sip we could taste flavors and sweetness reminiscent of dark chocolate and nuts.
It was delicious even as a café au lait, and many of our testers said they could taste the bitterness and richness in the coffee both black and with milk. The sweetness was also pleasant.
While dark roast is preferred for its bitterness, medium roast is a great choice for those who prefer a coffee more on the acidic side. Let's take a look at the characteristics of medium roast coffee.
Coffee beans come from the seeds of a fruit called a coffee cherry. Medium roast coffee, due to its higher moisture retention during the roasting process, allows drinkers to discern and savor the natural fruitiness of the coffee cherry more distinctly compared to a dark roast. It has a refreshing acidity and fruity aroma, giving it a clean taste that’s enjoyable to many enthusiasts.
Our testers also noted that it had a light mouthfeel, a fruity sweetness, and a calming effect. Compared to light roast, the bitterness is just right, and depending on the bean variety, you may even detect flavor notes of orange or cherry. If you want to try a coffee with a fruity acidity, go for a medium roast.
When you make a café au lait with medium roast coffee, the fruitiness combines with the sweetness of the milk, resulting in a rich and creamy flavor. Our testers commented that the fragrant aroma and creamy sweetness were delicious, and that the fruity flavor had a subtle taste like black tea with milk. We recommend adding milk to a medium roast coffee.
The medium roasts that received high praise in our tests were Illy's Ground Espresso Classico Coffee Medium Roast and Starbucks' Veranda Blend. Illy's Classico is not too acidic, and there's a good balance of bitterness. You can taste flavors like milk chocolate and orange. It also pairs well with milk, making it a product we recommend for those who want to try a coffee with acidity.
Starbucks' Veranda Blend has a distinctive fruity taste with a slightly acidic profile and a sweet and sour taste like cherries. We recommend this if you love acidic brews and enjoy exploring various types of coffee.
Products | Image | mybest Score | Click to purchase | Key features | Main Score | Details | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Taste | Taste With Milk | Roast | Bean variety | Content volume | Amount | ||||||
1 | Death Wish Coffee Co. Dark Roast Ground Coffee | ![]() | 4.43 | mybest's Top Choice: Solid Bitterness and Rich Flavor | 4.43 | 4.41 | Dark roast | Arabica, Robusta | 1 lb. | 16 oz. | |
2 | Illy Classico Classic Roast Espresso Preparation Ground Coffee | ![]() | 4.35 | A Classic Medium Roast with Fruity Acidity and Good Bitterness | 4.36 | 4.33 | Medium roast | Arabica | 0.55 lb. | 8.8 oz. | |
3 | Starbucks Veranda Blend Blonde Roast Ground Coffee | ![]() | 4.34 | Sweet, Tangy, and Fruity, Yet Mellow | 4.40 | 4.13 | Medium roast | Arabica | 0.75 lb. | 12 oz. | |
4 | Folgers Classic Roast Ground Coffee | ![]() | 4.20 | Strong Bitterness for Those Who Want a Kick | 4.22 | 4.13 | Medium roast | unknown | 0.6 lb. | 9.6 oz. | |
5 | Starbucks French Roast Dark Roast Ground Coffee | ![]() | 4.06 | Bitter and Smoky with Little Sweetness | 4.04 | 4.17 | Dark roast | Arabica | 0.75 lb. | 12 oz. | |
6 | Dunkin' Original Blend Medium Roast Ground Coffee | ![]() | 4.04 | Refreshing Tartness with a Creamy Sweetness | 3.97 | 4.37 | Medium roast | unknown | 1.25 lb. | 20 oz. | |
7 | Lavazza Classico Medium Roast Ground Coffee | ![]() | 3.96 | Crisp Acidity, but Sweetness and Bitterness Are Subtle | 3.97 | 3.93 | Medium roast | Arabica, Robusta | 0.75 lb. | 20 oz. | |
8 | McCafe Premium Roast Medium Roast Ground Coffee | ![]() | 3.81 | Mild Yet Versatile Flavor | 3.72 | 4.25 | Medium roast | Arabica | 1.8 lb. | 30 oz. | |
9 | Stumptown Coffee Roasters Holler Mountain Blend Ground Coffee | ![]() | 3.76 | Light Roast with Fruity Acidity and Mild Flavor | 3.79 | 3.69 | Light roast | unknown | 0.75 lb. | 12 oz. | |
10 | Amazon Fresh AmazonFresh|Colombia Ground Coffee | ![]() | 3.68 | Bright Aroma of Citrus and Herbs, Light Flavor | 3.61 | 4.05 | Medium roast | Arabica | 2 lb. | 32 oz. |
Roast | Dark roast |
---|---|
Bean variety | Arabica, Robusta |
What we loved
What we didn't love
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.
Content volume | 1 lb. |
---|---|
Amount | 16 oz. |
Roast | Medium roast |
---|---|
Bean variety | Arabica |
What we loved
What we didn't love
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.
Content volume | 0.55 lb. |
---|---|
Amount | 8.8 oz. |
Roast | Medium roast |
---|---|
Bean variety | Arabica |
What we loved
What we didn't love
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.
Content volume | 0.75 lb. |
---|---|
Amount | 12 oz. |
Roast | Medium roast |
---|---|
Bean variety | unknown |
What we loved
What we didn't love
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.
Content volume | 0.6 lb. |
---|---|
Amount | 9.6 oz. |
Roast | Dark roast |
---|---|
Bean variety | Arabica |
What we loved
What we didn't love
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.
Content volume | 0.75 lb. |
---|---|
Amount | 12 oz. |
Roast | Medium roast |
---|---|
Bean variety | unknown |
What we loved
What we didn't love
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.
Content volume | 1.25 lb. |
---|---|
Amount | 20 oz. |
Roast | Medium roast |
---|---|
Bean variety | Arabica, Robusta |
What we loved
What we didn't love
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.
Content volume | 0.75 lb. |
---|---|
Amount | 20 oz. |
Roast | Medium roast |
---|---|
Bean variety | Arabica |
What we loved
What we didn't love
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.
Content volume | 1.8 lb. |
---|---|
Amount | 30 oz. |
Roast | Light roast |
---|---|
Bean variety | unknown |
What we loved
What we didn't love
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.
Content volume | 0.75 lb. |
---|---|
Amount | 12 oz. |
Roast | Medium roast |
---|---|
Bean variety | Arabica |
What we loved
What we didn't love
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.
Content volume | 2 lb. |
---|---|
Amount | 32 oz. |
We tested 10 best-selling ground coffees from sites like Amazon, Target, and Walmart to determine which one was the best. At mybest, we consider a great coffee as one that's delicious enough to drink every day and pairs well with milk. To find the best brands, we conducted tests for the following criteria:
Richness of Flavor
Compatibility with Milk
Products we tested
The most important factor when choosing ground coffee is how it tastes, especially when served black. Ten testers who regularly drink coffee evaluated each coffee’s flavor, focusing on the following six points:
Overall flavor
Aroma
Bitterness
Concentration
Sweetness
Acidity
Testing Procedure:
Place coffee in a paper filter and pre-wet it.
Pour 3.5 ounces of water evenly over the coffee and start the timer.
After 40 seconds to 1 minute, add water to reach a total of 7 ounces.
From 1 minute and 10 seconds to 1 minute and 30 seconds, add water to reach a total of about 10.5 ounces.
From 1 minute and 50 seconds until the timer hits 2 minutes, add water to reach a total of about 12 ounces.
Taste the brewed coffee.
Equipment Used:
Dripper: HARIO V60 (02)
Server: HARIO V60 Range Server
Paper Filter: HARIO 02 Filter (Bleached)
Kettle: FELLOW Stagg Kettle
Scale: HARIO V60 Drip Scale
Water: Kirkland Signature Spring Water
The next important factor in choosing a ground coffee is whether it makes a good café au lait. Ten regular coffee drinkers evaluated the flavor of each coffee with milk, focusing on the following four points:
Overall taste enjoyment
Balance between milk and coffee
Sweetness
Mouthfeel
Testing Procedure:
Place coffee in a paper filter and pre-wet it.
Pour 3.5 ounces of water evenly over the coffee and start the timer.
After 40 seconds to 1 minute, add water to reach a total of 7 ounces.
From 1 minute and 10 seconds to 1 minute and 30 seconds, add water to reach a total of about 10.5 ounces.
From 1 minute and 50 seconds until the timer hits 2 minutes, add water to reach a total of about 12 ounces.
Add milk at a 1:1 ratio.
Stir well and taste.
Equipment Used:
Dripper: HARIO V60 (02)
Server: HARIO V60 Range Server
Paper Filter: HARIO 02 Filter (Bleached)
Kettle: FELLOW Stagg Kettle
Scale: HARIO V60 Drip Scale
Water: Kirkland Signature Spring Water
Milk: Whole milk (at least 3.5 percent milk fat)
Ground coffee begins deteriorating when exposed to the oxygen in the air. To preserve its flavor, store it in a sealable canister or container after opening. We recommend drinking your ground coffee as quickly as possible. But if you can't finish it within a month, pack it in a sealed bag and freeze it to preserve it for longer.
No. 1: Death Wish Coffee Co.|Dark Roast Ground Coffee
No. 2: Illy|Classico Classic Roast Espresso Preparation Ground Coffee
No. 3: Starbucks|Veranda Blend Blonde Roast Ground Coffee
No. 4: Folgers|Classic Roast Ground Coffee
No. 5: Starbucks|French Roast Dark Roast Ground Coffee
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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