Best At-Home Coffee Brands, Ranked

Step aside, Starbucks. These at home coffee brands do a better job for less.

We’re not sure what the best part of waking up is, but it’s not Folgers. Folgers isn’t the worst, but it’s not a great way to start the day. The same goes for store brands, like Kirkland, or, heaven forbid, Nescafé’s flavorless excuse for a cup of coffee. It’s instant, but you’ll also instantly regret buying it the second you take a sip.

Of all the at-home coffee brands we’ve tried, there are several that stand out from the crowd. We ranked these based on overall flavor, but check out the notable features to find the best brand for your daily morning cuppa.

Grounds & Hounds

Noteworthy quality: Helps dogs in need

Grounds & Hounds offers tons of different, well-reviewed roasts, from single origin beans to flavored coffees and blends. They’re all organic, but that’s not the best part: This coffee brand has a big heart, donating a whopping 20% of its profits to animal rescue organizations.

So far, their products have helped to provide over three million shelter meals to dogs waiting for their furever families. It’s on the pricy side, but you’ll get a quality cup of Joe that you can feel great about.

Fire Dept. Coffee

Noteworthy quality: Gives back to injured first responders

Going to work without coffee seems virtually impossible. If you’re a first responder, being alert and ready to move at all hours of the day or night is a must — and that’s the idea behind Fire Dept. Coffee. The company was founded by fire department and military vets. Every bag of coffee they sell helps to support firefighters who were physically or mentally harmed in the line of duty.

Your purchase isn’t just an act of service, however. You’re also helping yourself to a great cup of coffee. Fire Dept. Coffee offers tried-and-true classic roasts, plus flavors to satisfy your sweet tooth like Blueberry Cake Donut. Since Bailey’s at the office is frowned upon, try this brand’s spirit-infused coffee line instead. You won’t regret it.

Equal Exchange

Noteworthy quality: A business model we love

Tons of companies pretend to be fair trade, but Equal Exchange coffee is more than just talk. The company is run by 120 worker-owners, all of whom get an equal share of the profits. They also use environmentally friendly practices. For all of the 25 years they’ve been in business, every bag of beans has been sourced from sustainable farms in Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Oh, and the effort to prioritize quality over quantity shows. Each mouthful is full-bodied, with notes of cherry and chocolate in every sip.

Lavazza

Noteworthy quality: Rich, espresso-like flavor from home

Italians were the masterminds who came up with espresso. (Thank you. We owe you one.) The Italian brand Lavazza brings the magic of strong, rich coffee straight from the world’s cappuccino capital.

Each of their roasts are known for being intense and flavorful, and every bag is ranked from one to 10 in terms of boldness. Their Gran Selezione roast sits at a solid seven, with warm chocolate notes to make your morning extra cozy. Every blend we’ve tried is flavorful. If you’re not sure where to start, their Classico roast is a popular pick that’s hard to beat.

Kahawa 1893

Noteworthy quality: Best coffee at Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s is good at most things. Their Two-Buck Chuck is totally worth it, but their in-house coffee brand? Not so much. It’s not horrible, but why settle for mediocre coffee when they also carry Kahawa 1893?

This recent addition to the shelves of our favorite grocery chain is made in Africa. Kahawa is Swahili for coffee, and the company is a family business that sources beans straight from women farmers in Rwanda and Kenya. Good cause aside, the results are delicious. We haven’t found a blend made by Kahawa 1893 that we don’t like, but the Roaster’s Choice option adds just enough excitement to our morning to keep us going.

Death Wish

Noteworthy quality: Best option for caffeine addicts

With a name like Death Wish, you can already tell the coffee isn’t going to be a bland light roast. Death Wish claims to have the world’s strongest cup of coffee and they’re probably right. Their dark roast is smooth and nutty but with twice as much caffeine as a typical brew.

If you’re prone to getting a case of the jitters with too much of the good stuff, maybe go for a less caffeinated brand for everyday use and keep this one around for those days you just can’t seem to wake up. If Death Wish coffee doesn’t do the trick, nothing will.

Blue Bottle

Noteworthy quality: Best option for picky coffee connoisseurs

Blue Bottle coffee is for serious coffee snobs. The brand makes a point of going straight to the source so that every cup is as fresh as possible, short of growing and roasting the beans yourself. Its delivery service is especially popular, giving customers the option to choose what kinds of beans they want and how much in every shipment. Essentially, you get a cup of coffee just how you like it at home, without having to put on pants.

Peet’s Coffee

Noteworthy quality: Best decaf option

In general, decaf coffee is a load of garbage. It has 97 percent of the caffeine removed — and along with it 97 percent of the joy. It’s usually treated with solvents, which results in brews that are usually bitter and lacking in flavor. For those who have to pick between enjoying a good cup of coffee and avoiding a migraine, we have good news: Peet’s has a decaf blend that’s actually good.

Their decaf blend uses the same beans as their best-selling Major Dickason’s Blend, but no solvents are used in the process, only water. It tastes just as good as the full-caffeine version, minus the jitters and sense of impending doom.

Cameron’s

Amazon

Noteworthy quality: An affordable Amazon favorite

Cameron’s coffee, available in both K-cup form and bags of ground coffee, is shockingly good at an affordable price point. It has a little of everything, but its collection of flavored blends took us by surprise. Vanilla Hazelnut is a classic, but our favorite was Highlander Grog, which has subtle notes of butterscotch and rum. They also have a S’More’s option, French Toast and the ever-popular Pumpkin Spice.

If you’re trying to cut back on sugar and dairy, their blends are among the few that we’d be willing to drink black. No acidity or bitterness to be found, and more than 20,000 glowing reviews to prove it.

The Organic Coffee Co.

The Organic Coffee Co. / Amazon

Noteworthy quality: Way better K-cups than Starbucks

Amazing coffee in a Keurig has never been so environmentally friendly. The Organic Coffee Co. was one of the pioneers of compostable K-cups, with tasty medium and dark roasts and decaf options. All organic, all good for the planet. Just keep in mind that they have to be disposed of at a commercial composting facility, not in a home compost bin. Still worth it.

Chicago French Press

Noteworthy quality: Best flavored options

If flavored coffee is your jam, look no further. Based in Chicago, this Black woman-owned coffee brand boasts mouthwatering flavors that rival that of sweetened, seasonal lattes, minus the 40 grams of sugar.

Naturally, the brand makes staples like Vanilla Bean and Pumpkin Spice, but it also gets creative. Using real dried fruits, nuts and spices to flavor coffee, Chicago French Press delivers inventive blends like Peach Nectar and Coconut Creme without any artificial aftertaste. Plus, the brand gives back to non-profits.

Stumptown Coffee

Noteworthy quality: Best at home espresso

Think you need special coffee beans to make espresso? Think again. All you need is finely ground, high quality coffee, and Stumptown coffee sets the standard. Visit one of their coffee shops and you’ll see what we mean. Their lattes are to die for, and if you have an espresso machine, you can make one that’s just as rich and creamy at home. The best espresso drink doesn’t need to be covered up with fancy flavors. This one is good all on its own, no syrup needed.

Cafe Bustelo

Noteworthy quality: Affordable without sacrificing quality

Affordable coffee doesn’t have to suck. The Latin brand Cafe Bustelo has been in business for almost 100 years, and a company doesn’t last that long unless it delivers a great product. In this case, bags of finely ground beans that are ideal for at-home espresso. If you prefer a courser grind, just buy the beans whole and grind them yourself for an ultra-fresh result without breaking the bank. Each cup averages around $0.25, which is nothing compared to the cost of a Starbucks run.

Intelligentsia

Noteworthy quality: Sustainable

Black coffee drinkers are obsessed with Intelligentsia, and we can’t blame them. A bag doesn’t come cheap, but it’s ethically sourced, and so smooth and flavorful that cream and sugar is optional. We recommend trying the rotating subscription, which allows you to sample an expertly-chosen selection to find your favorite.

The brand’s motto is “great coffee is not the result of chance,” and judging by its results and cult-like following, we’re inclined to agree.

La Colombe Coffee

Noteworthy quality: Excellent everyday option

It’s really hard to beat La Colombe for a reliable, everyday coffee option. Forget having to choose between too dark or too light. La Colombe sells dark-medium and medium-light options too, so you never have to settle. It’s like the Goldilocks of coffee brands with something for everyone.

The brand also makes a point of working directly with coffee producers to improve the working environment in growing regions, and their recyclable packaging means you can enjoy your perfect brew guilt-free. Of course, you can also pick up one of their draft lattes on your next grocery runs if you don’t want to brew it yourself.