Espresso coffee is always delicious and attractive with pungent taste and leaves a tingling feeling in the mouth. Therefore, everything can be better if you choose the right coffee beans to enjoy.
What are the best coffee beans for Espresso? How to figure out the suitable coffee beans? Will the taste or roasting be the deciding factor?
In this article, I recommend the top 10 best coffee beans for Espresso. Now, let’s continue reading the article below to find the best options.
Our Top Picks: Best Coffee Beans For Espresso
In-depth Reviews Of The 10 Best Coffee Beans For Espresso
I have found the 10 best Espresso beans below by my testing. Let’s see which flavor suits your taste. Scroll down for more!
#1. Coffee Beans For Espresso – Best For Overall
Intelligentsia Coffee Gifts
Important Specifications
- Weight: 12oz
- Origin: Brazil and Colombia
- Smell: Ice fruit, dark sugar, and dark chocolate
Product Highlights
Intelligentsia is a famous coffee brand that many users appreciate because of its good product quality and affordable price.
The most typical is the Black Cat Classic version. It blends the flavors perfectly between Brazilian and Colombian Espresso beans, resulting in delicious and attractive coffees.
After several times enjoying this particular dark roast coffee, I appreciate its taste. Its flavor is full of chocolate sweetness, fruit, and sugar, making anyone who drinks it for the first time fall in love.
With a medium roast Black Cat Classic, it is not too bitter and can be suitable for many consumers. Even beginners can enjoy using this unique coffee.
However, its price is relatively high for a 12oz bag the manufacturer offers.
What We Like
- Sweet taste
- Suitable for everyone
- Perfect overall quality
- Attractive and rich fragrance
Things to Consider
- A little expensive
#2. Coffee Beans For Espresso – Best for Taste
Kicking Horse Coffee
Important Specifications
- Weight: 2.2 lb
- Origin: Africa, Indonesia, Central, and South America
- Smell: Blackcurrant, milk chocolate, and brown sugar.
After more than 10 years of using dark roast coffee, no product has convinced me of its taste. Until I enjoyed Kicking Horse Coffee, everything changed. The aroma and taste are so appealing with dark chocolate and brown sugar.
Kicking Horse Coffee is a medium roast coffee with light cocoa and a hint of fruit flavor. It blends Indonesian Espresso beans with Latin American beans for a consistent yet robust flavor.
I recommend this product to people who are used to dark roast coffee. For the first-time experience, it can be pretty shocking and make a wrong impression.
Therefore, let’s start with the light product before trying Kicking Horse Coffee to feel its unique flavor.
These Espresso beans are perfect for Espresso and great for making delicious cappuccinos. More specifically, its packaging is quite careful, with high-quality bags and closed mouth doors to maintain the coffee’s aroma and taste.
What We Like
- The best taste
- High strength
- Careful packing
- Certified organic
- Whole bean coffee
Things to Consider
- Not suitable for beginners
#3. Coffee Beans For Espresso – Best for Coffee Lovers
San Francisco Bay Coffee
Important Specifications
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Origin: Central and South America
- Smell: Toffee, tangerine, and dark chocolate
If you are a coffee lover, you will recognize this San Francisco Bay Coffee product. It is a medium-roasted coffee mixed with Central and South American Espresso beans, providing a distinctive aroma and attractive taste.
I can feel the sweetness from the chocolate, the fat from the toffee, and the tangerine taste. It was a wonderful experience for me, bringing the perfect emotions of flavor to every morning full of energy to handle work.
San Francisco Bay Coffee is ideal for all users, including first-timers. Its mild flavor makes anyone who enjoys it passionately.
I appreciate the quality of its beans. I didn’t see any broken or crushed Espresso beans, but all were round and maintained the original dark roast coffee flavor.
What We Like
- Best for coffee lovers
- Sweet, greasy taste
- Round Espresso beans
- Easy to buy anywhere
- Medium dark roast level
Things to Consider
- Difficult to maintain.
#4. Coffee Beans For Espresso – Best for Ease to Use
Illy Classico Espresso Ground Coffee
Important Specifications
- Weight: 12.8 ounces
- Origin: Combined from 9 sources of the world’s best Arabica coffee
- Smell: Caramel, orange blossom, and jasmine
Illy is today’s most famous coffee brand, partly responsible for popularizing Espresso coffee worldwide. For each product, IIIy always focuses on form and quality inside.
Despite being a large company, IIIy can still produce Espresso blends of admirable craftsmanship. And Illy Classico Espresso Ground Coffee is a prime example. It is a complete pre-ground coffee, perfect for individuals who need high-quality grinding equipment.
To create an exclusive flavor for the product, IIIy roasters use a blend of nine Arabica Espresso beans from around the world to make their Espresso Ground Coffee. The resulting mixture has a rich, smooth and non-bitter taste.
Directly using this dark roast coffee, I am satisfied with its taste. The combination of many nuts helps bring a unique flavor attached to the palate after each try. It was a wonderful and enjoyable experience.
I like the product’s canning, which thoroughly preserves its taste and quality. This Illy Classico Espresso Ground Coffee is much better than many other bagged products.
However, the packing weight may need to be higher for coffee enthusiasts.
What We Like
- Easy to use
- Rich flavor
- Not bitter
- Multi-purpose
- Convenient for use
Things to Consider
- Less weight
#5. Coffee Beans For Espresso – Best for Beginners
Lavazza Espresso Ground Coffee
Important Specifications
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Origin: Central and South America
- Smell: Delicious, balanced and mixed with fruit flavors
For starters, getting used to coffee can be a big challenge. They are easily stunned by the strength and taste of different Espresso coffee beans today.
For starters, I recommend you try Lavazza Espresso Italiano Ground Coffee, which has a rich, delicious and nutty flavor. And it is the perfect choice for those who are just starting to enjoy Espresso and want to explore stronger and more adventurous coffees.
I gave it to my daughter; her first impression of the taste was sweetness and lightness. After each lip click, her mouth’s bitter taste delighted her a lot.
It is good coffee for your taste requirements to buy and enjoy. Pre-ground coffee is convenient and easy for you to use for a rich and nutty flavor.
Like the previous Espresso machines, Lavazza Espresso Italiano Ground Coffee is neatly packed in a lidded box to preserve the quality and taste of the coffee.
The more considerable packing weight allows you to satisfy multiple usage requirements simultaneously.
What We Like
- Suitable for beginners
- It can be as a gift
- Careful packing
- The bold and sweet flavor
- Convenient pre-ground coffee
Things to Consider
- Raw Espresso coffee beans are still quite strong
#6. Coffee Beans For Espresso – Best for Budget
STARBUCKS Espresso Dark Roast
Important Specifications
- Weight: 1.13 pounds
- Origin: Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
- Smell: Caramel
Every month, coffee lovers will often spend a lot of money to enjoy coffee to take home. It can be a big challenge to their passion for single-origin coffee.
So, STARBUCKS Espresso Dark Roast will save you a lot of monthly money. Compared to other popular products, its quality is better than the price I pay.
Made from regular coffee beans that originate from many regions of the world, it offers a unique flavor that is hard to find in many other products on the market.
I can feel its aroma mixed with sweet caramel and rich honey flavor. All make a special for each delicious cup of coffee. Start with these Starbucks coffees in the morning to help your mind relax and be energetic.
What We Like
- Affordable cost
- Packed securely
- Easy to maintain
- Sweet taste from honey and caramel
- Use for every morning full of energy
Things to Consider
- Including debris
#7. Coffee Beans For Espresso – Best for Organic Coffee
Lifeboost Coffee Whole Bean Coffee
Important Specifications
- Weight: 12 ounces
- Origin: Central America
- Smell: Deep-roasted whole dark roast beans
Lifeboost Coffee Whole Bean Coffee is the best organic coffee in my collection.
It is USDA certified organic and is 3rd party tested for mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides, and 400 other toxins. So you can safely enjoy this product!
I prioritize using this product above all. I am concerned about using coffee with high acidity because it upsets the stomach and causes many dental problems.
This organic coffee is high in antioxidants, solving the problems encountered using conventional coffee.
If you like intense flavors, this coffee is the best choice. It has a more robust flavor, utterly different from the medium and light-roasted coffee today.
I have enjoyed the taste of it, and the sweetness, richness, and attachment make me remember it forever.
What We Like
- Rich flavor
- Matching people
- Easy to drink
- The best organic coffee
- Suitable for the stomach and teeth
Things to Consider
- Not suitable for patients with gastroesophageal disease
#8. Coffee Beans For Espresso – Best for Automatic Espresso Machine
Lavazza Espresso Bean Coffee
Important Specifications
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Origin: Central and South America
- Smell: Fruits and Flowers
I have used many dark roast beans, but this product is the best for my automatic Espresso blend. It helps to create a unique and attractive taste.
Its flavor blends sweetness between fruit and floral freshness. All make attractive and passionate cups of coffee.
Compared to the previously introduced canned version, this product is better for quick use and storage. Since there is no unpleasant box smell, you can enjoy your coffee to your heart’s content.
I invited my four friends to enjoy medium roast coffee to understand its taste. Fortunately, they all appreciated the product’s taste. They are impressed by the sweetness but gentleness, attachment, and anxiety.
Unfortunately, this medium roast coffee is not for people suffering from stomach and dental problems. If you use it intentionally, it will seriously increase illness.
What We Like
- Good value for money
- Easy to use and maintain
- Flavors of fruit and flowers
- Best for automatic Espresso machines
Things to Consider
- Not suitable for the stomach and teeth
#9. Coffee Beans For Espresso – Best for Freshness
Wink Coffee Super Crema Espresso
Its coffee robusta beans have a direct effect on the product flavor quality. The fresher the medium roast coffee beans, the more flavor will be more attractive, and vice versa. And Wink Coffee Super Crema Espresso is a comprehensive suggestion for the freshness you are looking for.
It is from 100% fresh Arabica originating from Colombia, undergoing a production process to produce delicious and beautifully colored finished coffee beans. From there, it brings a new and unique taste to the user.
With my experience with coffee, I was surprised by its taste. It’s greasy, sweet, and not particularly bitter like many products I’ve used. I use it every morning and evening, waking up my spirits and making for a beautiful experience.
These robusta beans are perfect for different Espresso machines. Everyone can choose this coffee bean, from an Espresso blend to modern drip devices.
What We Like
- Best in terms of freshness
- Modern production process
- Use for morning and afternoon
- Safe for users’ health
Things to Consider
- Difficult to grind thoroughly
#10. Coffee Beans For Espresso – Best for Versatility
Lavazza Gran Riserva Bean Coffee
Important Specifications
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Origin: Brazil, Colombia, and Guatemala
- Smell: Maple and Walnut Syrup
Lavazza Gran Riserva Whole Bean Coffee is perfect for different coffee machines, including Espresso blend, drippers, french presses, and Moka pots.
It comes with high-quality accessories, so I am delighted to use this product. It satisfies me to drink coffee differently and saves considerable cost involved.
These coffee beans are blended from wide varieties in different regions worldwide. And it creates a rich, unique and attractive flavor for your single-origin coffee.
After many tries, I found that if enjoyed in combination with cakes, its taste will be delightful and strangely appealing.
What We Like
- Value of money
- Easy to maintain
- It can be available with cakes
- Suitable for many coffee machines
- Blended from robusta beans of different origins
Things to Consider
- Boring taste
Buying Guides
Before buying any Espresso beans, you need to carefully consider origin, medium and dark roast, taste, and type. Now, keep reading for details!
Origin
The origin of the Espresso bean has a direct influence on its taste. And that’s a matter of personal preference. Let’s take a look at some famous places below!
- Americas: This variety is clean, crisp, well-balanced, and mildly acidic. Mainstream flavors tend to be more natural, typically fruity and floral.
- Africa: Coffee from Africa is often fruity, floral, and rich.
- Asia: Coffee beans originating in Asia are typically smooth and slightly acidic. Its flavor is somewhat sweet and slightly spicy.
Medium dark roast
Moderately dark roasts typically have a darker brown color and oilier surface than a light or medium roast. This type usually brings more advantages in terms of taste and character:
- More robust flavor, more delicious than the rest.
- Lower acidity, safe for the stomach and teeth.
- Smoother and less bitter than many dark-roasted nuts.
Type
Arabica and Robusta are the two most popular coffee types today and are favored by many people. Each one will have its characteristics, specifically:
- Arabica: This coffee originates from Ethiopia, appearing around 1000 BC. It accounts for 60-70% of coffee production worldwide. It is sweeter and less bitter than regular coffee.
- Robusta: Robusta is the second most popular coffee in the world, after Arabica. It accounts for about 30-40% of coffee today. This type is more bitter than Arabica.
Smell
Coffee taste is significant and affects our experience. If you like sweetness and smoothness, you can try famous Arabica coffee. If the bitter taste is your thing, then the taste of Robusta is what you should be looking for.
FAQs
What kind of coffee is best for Espresso?
All types can be available in an Espresso machine as long as it is finely ground.
You can try this Arabica coffee for those who like a gentle sweetness with a more robust flavor. It’s perfect for a great experience every energetic morning.
Are ground coffee beans better for Espresso?
Raw and ground coffee Arabica beans are similar to Espresso.
Is Arabica or Robusta better for Espresso?
Each type will have its characteristics, perfect for different personal preferences.
Arabica is suitable for those who prefer sweetness, light bar, and attractiveness. Robusta is an excellent choice for everyone interested in bitter and acrid flavors.
What type of coffee beans is the best for Espresso blends?
Arabica is coffee beans for Espresso. It is popularly available to make delicious Espresso coffees.
What are the 3 Espresso beans for?
There are three popular types of Espresso, non-dairy, milk-based, and mixed. In each category, there will be different drinks.
Conclusion
I have selected and reviewed the 10 best coffee beans for Espresso carefully and in detail based on type, origin, flavor, and dark roast level.
Hopefully, these reviews and guides will help you better understand the products and can find the desired coffee for your Espresso preference.
Intelligentsia Coffee Gifts and Illy Classico Espresso Ground Coffee are my best choices. They’re perfect for delivering delicious, mouth-watering Espressos.
Thank you for reading!
