5 Best Grocery Stores for Coffee Beans, Out of 15 I’ve Tested

1: Intelligentsia House Blend

Intelligentsia is a roaster founded in Chicago that has become a specialty coffee brand that has spread to grocery stores coast to coast. At $20 for a 12-ounce bag of whole beans at my Brooklyn grocery store, Intelligentsia House Blend coffee can be considered an investment. The lack of a “roasted with” date on the bag, however, means that freshness is a gamble. This tester concluded with a whisper of flavor and three months left on the “best before” date. It didn’t have any noticeable tasting notes, which may be due to it sitting for a long time in the grocery store. The Intelligentsia House Blend bag also has no tasting note descriptors or instructions on any packaging.

Even with low expectations, the bean still produces a dreamy cup of coffee, placing it firmly in the “low” category. If you would like to drink Intelligentsia coffee, I would recommend that you go to the brand’s coffee shops or buy a new bag directly from the roaster.

What to try instead: Low-level work

For specialty coffee from the grocery store, look instead for brands that include a “brewed” date, such as Verve or Partners coffee. The closer to the roasting date, the better, but because packaging helps protect the coffee, it can take three to six months before flavor degradation causes alcohol deficiency. Apart from that, Groundwork Organic Bitches Brew it was a standout for the deep flavor with its notes of dark chocolate and caramel even without the roast date. It also includes a measure of coffee and water in the bag for anyone looking for a place to start.

2: Maxwell House House Blend

The first sip of Maxwell House Blend was bitter, and subsequent sips did not improve. Like other value-driven concoctions, this one tastes like the maker never expected anyone to drink it without copious amounts of cream and sugar. I don’t believe you have to cover up burnt bean notes and organic fillers to drink.

Maxwell House instructions recommend only 1 tablespoon per 6 ounces of water. Once the Maxwell House started to cool, the flavor became softer and less aggressive, but I didn’t find it appealing as any true tasting notes fell flat. I also experienced acidity which made me panic because of stomach ache. For a home product, I was hoping for a better display.

What to try instead: Chock Full O’ Nuts Original

Avoid the kind of coffee that makes people say, “bean juice is not for them.” If you’re looking for an affordable, accessible coffee can, reach for the original Chock Full O’ Nuts in the sweet, soft variety. You can also reach out to Lavazza Tierra Organic for a similarly priced roast or Café Bustelo for a solid roast in regular cans.

3: Walmart’s Great Value Classic Grill

Great Value Classic Roast is a classic offering similar to Folger’s, where value and value are priorities. I wanted to explore this option since Walmart is one of the largest grocery stores in the US and is a staple in my parents’ house. That said, I would best equate the flavor of this blend to a church venue or airplane coffee. The beans provide a burnt but creamy flavor that calls for more cream. Still, the sheer volume is hard to beat at 25.4 ounces per can. When it comes to coffee, I’m a pragmatist, not a purist, so I understand that some of us treat it as fuel rather than a specialty beverage. I am here to say that there is a better way forward.

What to try instead: Whole Foods Early Bird Blend

Anyone looking for value should consider subscribing Whole Foods Market coffee delivery at an additional discount and savings on both time and gas. Great Value Classic Roast is not 100% arabica. Another option is the Café Bustelo espresso grounds for a rich cup that packs a lot of kick thanks to its robusta blend.

4: Chock Full o’ Nuts French Roast

Chock Full o’ Nuts is, to many, a grocery store brand of coffee, yet it doesn’t have the fullness of a Folgers or Maxwell House. My taste test revealed a slightly sweet finish and a very mild flavor. I expected a strong cup of coffee; However, it was not, despite the French Roast descriptor. The “best before” date on the can I bought had five months left. Based on that alone, I can’t recommend buying this one if you’re expecting something hearty and deep-fried, as the packaging suggests. The fact that it’s still drinkable means it’s a safer option than others on this list.

What to try instead: Cafe Bustelo

If you’re looking to try black frying, then pick up a can Cafe Bustelowhich I fully explained in the “best” grocery store coffee list above. Smooth, smooth and a true dark roast like espresso blend. Of course, you can also stick with the original Chock Full O’ Nuts blend for a sweet yet nutty flavor in canned grocery store coffee.

5: Eight O’clock Original Blend

The Eight O’Clock Original blended coffee was fine, though not recommended. The medium roast shares some sweetness with the Chock Full O’ Nuts but offers a much stronger finish. I started with a small batch, half since the bag recommends 2 to 3 teaspoons of coffee in 12 ounces of water. Then I tried the full ratio 2.5:12 oz. The resulting drink was flat and acidic, with a thin body and a flavor profile that was quickly forgotten after each sip. The “best before” date on the bag was eight months out, suggesting that despite the manufacturer’s promising shelf life, the quality had not kept up.

What to try instead: Lavazza Tierra Organic

For something reasonably priced and available at big box stores, give it a try Lavazza Tierra Organic coffee. A ratio of 1 tablespoon of coffee to 6 ounces of water provided a strong flavor without bitterness, maintaining a heavier roast profile than a light roast, with the full-bodied descriptions noted on the bag. Alternatively, you can count on Caribou Coffee Daybreak Blend in the Midwest or Peet’s Coffee House Blend in most major grocery stores.