Coffee: What To Look For

Updated February 2010

Best supermarket coffee Eight O'Clock Coffee 100% Colombian *Est. $6
Light-roast coffee Newman's Own Organics Nell's Breakfast Blend *Est. $8
Dark-roast coffee Peet's Coffee Major Dickason's Blend *Est. $14
Supermarket decaf coffee Maxwell House Decaf Original Roast *Est. $6
Fair Trade coffee Caffe Ibis Organic Café Femenino *Est. $10

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Choosing supermarket coffee

Want the best-tasting cup of coffee? Experts repeatedly say you'll get the best taste if you buy your beans whole and grind them immediately before brewing. This might be a hassle for some, but several taste tests show that whole-bean coffees produce a better brew than pre-ground coffees, which lose their flavor rapidly.

Secondly, look for coffees made from 100 percent arabica beans, rather than robusta beans or a blend of the two. Though arabica beans are more expensive, they are of higher quality and produce a better, richer flavor than cheaper robusta beans.

Here are some other considerations to keep in mind when shopping for coffee:

Try a darker roast if you take milk. In tests at Cook's Illustrated magazine, those who typically drink their coffee with milk preferred a darker roast, while those that liked their coffee black were happier with a lighter roast. Even this, however, is a matter of personal preference.

Grind your own beans if you can. In taste tests, whole-bean coffee is almost always higher rated. The reason: When you grind your own coffee, the coffee's natural oils are fresher and therefore, more flavorful. That said, grinding coffee every morning isn't everyone's idea of fun.

Arabica beans are best. Arabica beans are grown in semitropical climates at high altitude in both hemispheres and require monitoring and special care because when they ripen, they fall off of the trees and spoil easily. Therefore, production costs of these beans are higher. But subsequently, experts say arabica beans taste better. Robusta beans are grown at low altitudes in the eastern hemisphere and remain on the tree when they are ripe. Experts say robusta beans taste harsher. Many cheaper coffees use a blend of the two, while better supermarket coffees use 100 percent arabica beans, often from Colombia.

Fair Trade-certified coffee isn't a trade-off. Coffee aficionados used to worry that organic and Fair Trade-certified coffee couldn't compete taste-wise with other coffee, but this is not true. However, Fair Trade-certified and organic coffee is harder to find and more expensive. But if you can find it and want to support environmental and socio-economic causes, experts say taste is competitive with other coffee, and is in many cases better.

Use filtered water for best results. The National Coffee Association recommends using bottled or filtered water for the best taste. Water should also be as cold as possible. The NCA also recommends using 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee for every 6 ounces of water, unless the roaster specifies otherwise.