If you Gotta go Ground…
Every coffee-lover knows that fresh-ground coffee is the best coffee.
That being said, sometimes you simply can’t grind your own coffee. Maybe you don’t have time at work, can’t afford a new grinder right now, are on the road…
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Whatever the reason, there’s no shame in ground coffee, so I’ll list ten of the best options if you’re going ground — there’s something for everyone, including a decaf.
Plus, there are a few tips and tricks for getting the best out of pre-ground beans.
Treat Your Ground Coffee Right
You need to make sure you get the right grind for your coffee-making method — this means fine ground for espresso makers and auto-drip machines, and course for French presses. This is the general rule, though you should check your specific method’s needs.
The real trick with ground coffee is storage. Make sure to keep it in an airtight container somewhere dark and cool. That means not too close to the oven, and not too close to a sunny window.
You can freeze coffee, but remove what you need weekly rather than for every cup.
Above all: try to buy the amount of coffee you need for around a week max. If you have to get more, then make sure it’s not sitting around longer than it has to be.
And let me say one more time — get that airtight container!
Best Ground Coffee (Reviewed)
Based on our extensive testing we found these to be the best ground coffee options that promise a healthy, delicious cup every single time.
1. LifeBoost
LifeBoost is such a quality coffee that it really holds up when purchased ground.
These Nicaraguan Arabica beans are guaranteed single origin, which means you can take LifeBoost seriously when they say that they are fastidious in ensuring that their beans are all mountainside shade-grown, fair trade, organic, and tested for mycotoxins.
Another feature that LifeBoost customers (including me) consistently love is that the beans are stomach-friendly, with a really mild PH level rather than the usual coffee acidity. I know more than one person who couldn’t handle drinking coffee because it caused sickness or heartburn but loves LifeBoost.
This is a mellow yet rich coffee, with a sweetness that often means nothing needs to be added to enjoy a cup.
Bottom Line
LifeBoost certainly isn’t the cheapest option for ground coffee, but it is beyond reliable. If you want quality, health benefits and great taste from your ground coffee then look at LifeBoost!
2. Volcanica Coffee Sumatra Mandheling
This time around, we’re looking at this delicious Volcanica Coffee blend.
The Sumatra Mandheling coffee blend comes from Indonesia and is smooth with a rich, heavy body. It’s also boasting one of the best coffees for low acidity.
This particular blend also features some delicious flavor notes of toffee, lemongrass, and dried fruit, leaving an intense syrupy aftertaste.
The Sumatra Mandheling is a medium roast blend of beans that have always been prized for their flavor and appearance, dating back to the 18th century. Nowadays, we just get to enjoy some of the best coffee in the world from Vulcanica Coffee.
Bottom Line
The Sumatra Mandheling Volcanica Coffee is going to help you make a mean and flavorful cup of Joe.
3. Tim Hortons Original Blend
This 100% Arabica original blend is a great deal, widely available, and loved by most who drink it.
The Original Blend is medium roast and well balanced, plus it’s made with sun-dried beans.
This blend comes ready course ground, so is suitable for French presses.
Tim Horton’s coffee is comforting to many, so maybe it will be for you too? It’s not a particularly complex blend but it really does the job and is a great value. The tin it’s sold in is airtight, which means storage issues are totally taken care of!
Bottom Line
If value is your main priority, or you just want a big mug of proper coffee, then Tim Hortons is the perfect thing!
4. Death Wish Coffee Ground Coffee
This smooth, dark-roast coffee is ground to suit a drip coffee maker. Death Wish is aways rich and full-bodied, with an intense caffeine kick and subtle cherry and dark chocolate notes.
Death Wish is always USDA-certified organic, plus state-of-the-art packaging means that your ground coffee will arrive fresh.
Death Wish is packed straight after roasting and grinding, meaning that as much flavor and aroma as possible is preserved. Remember, as soon as you get it home get it stored somewhere airtight!
Bottom Line
Death wish isn’t for the faint of heart (I mean… literally, they should probably avoid this level of caffeine) but if you want to survive a late night and also actually enjoy your pot of coffee, then you have to turn to Death Wish!
5. Valhalla Java Ground Coffee
Valhalla Java may not quite have you communing with the gods, but it is dark, strong, and rich!
The depth of flavor in Valhalla Java really lends itself to being preground, as even if a little is lost, its aromas will still be hard to miss.
This coffee comes in a great-looking packet, but it’s also well designed to keep freshness sealed in. Looks and practicality! Who’d have thought it?
Valhalla Java is on the pricy side and could be seen as a little gimmicky, but it’s also really metal!
Bottom Line
If you’re a hard-rocking coffee lover who needs a real pick-me-up quickly, there’s literally no option but Valhalla Java Ground Coffee!
6. Lavazza Crema e Gusto Ground Coffee Blend
This dark-roast blend from Lavazza is perfect for making espresso and is ground to suit espresso makers.
A rich aftertaste and notes of chocolate aren’t all Crema e Gusto has to offer — the real pull of this blend and its sister coffees are the thick, professional-barista grade crema that you should get from making espresso by any method.
Even from ground coffee, this blend will make espresso that looks the part as well as tasting it!
Of course, you expect good things from Lavazza. After all, they’re not only Italian but have over a century of coffee roasting and blending experience.
Bottom Line
If you’re mad about espresso, get yourself a bag of Lavazza Crema e Gusto Ground Coffee.
7. Folgers Simply Smooth
This is a cheap and cheerful coffee that lives up to its name. The Arabica and Robusta blend is light roast and mild, with gentle nutty flavors and a surprisingly robust finish.
Folgers endeavors to work with ethically conscious coffee farmers and distributors, to make sure that you can feel good about every sip. The mildness of this blend means that it’s really easy on the stomach. It’s a great coffee for a long, slow morning.
Importantly for pre-ground beans, the tin this coffee comes in is totally airtight, meaning that storage isn’t an issue. Just keep it somewhere cool and dry, and your ground coffee will keep its flavor.
Bottom Line
If you’re a traditionalist who loves a bargain, then get nostalgic by grabbing a tin of Folgers!
8. New England Coffee
New England Coffee has been roasting and packing their beans in the USA since 1916. Whilst always providing excellent value, they’ve also always been known for consistently great coffee!
The New England company’s Seedling Program aims to provide a better future for the farmers who supply their 100% Arabica beans, which come from all over the world.
One of the great things about New England Coffee is that though they are a small-batch, experienced coffee roasters they have packed and shipped ground coffee for most of the last 100 years. If anyone can keep ground coffee tasting sensational, surely it’s these guys?
Bottom Line
If you’re a coffee adventurer but still have an eye for a bargain, go for New England Coffee. They’re such good value you can probably try a few flavors!
9. Illy Classico Espresso
Illy Classico Espresso is a perfect espresso blend. It is rich with notes of chocolate and sweet with caramel, with just a hint of bitterness and a syrupy pour.
And Illy hasn’t rested on their laurels in other ways. Their exclusive air-free pressurized packing process means that the aromas and flavors of ground coffee are almost perfectly preserved until the seal on each can is broken.
The airtight can the Classico Espresso ground beans are packed in is the perfect ground-coffee receptacle, preserving even the most delicate oils so that you can experience them all at home.
Bottom Line
Illy Classico Espresso might just be the perfect pre-ground coffee for an espresso perfectionist.
10. Kirkland Signature Supremo Bean Dark Roast Ground
Kirkland’s Supremo Beans are grown in the volcanic soil of the high Andes, ensuring a cool and shaded environment for the beans and a unique flavor profile.
They are roasted to a deep, woody color and make a rich, thick cup of coffee with hints of chocolate and smoke and a full body.
As it only comes in large tins, this coffee is a great (and great value) pick for a workplace or a larger family home, or perhaps for carefully freezing.
Remember, you don’t want a load of ground coffee sitting around that you won’t drink!
Bottom Line
If you’re after volume and value without sacrificing quality, plump for Kirkland Signature.
11. No Fun Jo Decaf
Finally, a ground coffee for the decaf lovers!
The sweeter notes are a little fruity, leaning towards blueberry and really justifying the slightly lighter than usual roast on this one.
Jo is artisan coffee makers, buying from only the top 2% of Arabica farmers worldwide. That’s probably why they’re certified by the National Coffee Association and take part in coffee competitions nationwide.
No Fun Jo is carefully packed to retain freshness and is available in both one lb and multiple lb bags so you can get the right amount for your coffee needs and avoid losing any flavor.
Bottom Line
If you want a good ground coffee but you need it to be decaf, then No Fun Jo is your guy!
Final Thoughts on Ground Coffee
Just looking at ‘ground’ coffee is a little vague. Thinking about my own coffee use, I have ground in for when I’m chucking it in the drip coffee machine or maybe making a quick espresso before running out the house. For that reason, I need it to be super easy to use.
Coffee in a tin is just that, because it’s pre-packaged for storage. Plus it’s easy to just keep a coffee spoon in there.
With that in mind, I would definitely go for the Illy Cassico Espresso, which actually tastes great for way longer than you would expect from pre-ground coffee. That’s probably their patented packing technology at work!
There are loads of really great value blends on this list, which is also probably something most people want from ground coffee. It’s a back up for a lot of us, after all. If I’m thinking about that, I’d invest in a couple bags of New England Coffee and stick them in my freezer, taking maybe half a bag out at a time for a busy week.
Look, some coffee people might judge me for being a-okay with pre-ground beans but sometimes life is less than perfect and we just need our damn coffee!
Hopefully, this list and guide will help you with times like that.
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