Coffee beans, fuel the economy (literally!) and are found everywhere you look either as grounded coffee or as whole beans. Sourcing, grinding, and finding it is difficult if you don’t know what you are looking for.
I wrote this guide to act as an easy source to find whole coffee beans or ground coffee that fit your needs.
Whole Coffee Beans
Whole coffee beans are in a spectrum of categories, each offering distinct characteristics and flavors.
From the profiles of single-origin beans to the robustness of dark roasts, the world of whole beans encompasses Arabica and Robusta varieties, blends, differing roast levels, and specialty options like fair trade, organic, decaf.
There are also specialty espresso beans, primarily from Italy, and other beans that are extra dark roasted that aren’t common among coffee shops.
Each category unveils a unique facet of coffee, catering to a range of preferences and tastes. Let’s dive into the richness and diversity that whole coffee beans bring to your cup.
Ground Coffee Beans
Ground coffee beans offer a convenient gateway to a world of diverse coffee flavors.
From the finely powdered espresso grind to the coarser textures suitable for French press or drip machines, ground coffee spans various consistencies tailored to brewing methods.
Embracing the essence of whole beans, these pre-ground options unlock ease without compromising on the aromatic profiles and taste diversity found in different roasts, origins, and specialty blends.
Though proper espresso lovers don’t really appreciate ground coffee, primarily because the grounding process is often sacred, involving different methods to grind the coffee beans. The pre-ground coffee is often the easiest to get introduced to the world of coffee flavors and profiles.
This entire website is dedicated to making coffee at home, no better place than introducing a bunch of awesome pre-ground coffee (coffee powder!) to get you started.
Coffee Capsules
Coffee capsules have revolutionized brewing, offering a hassle-free way to enjoy quality coffee.
Crafted from materials like plastic, aluminum, or compostable elements, these capsules encapsulate coffee grounds through various sealing techniques—ranging from heat sealing to pressurized closures (also called hermetically sealed capsules).
This ensures freshness and preserves the flavors until extraction. The precision in capsule design and sealing methods guarantees consistent brewing, delivering a satisfying cup with every use.
To get you started, we have the following articles discussing some of the best coffee capsules, and common questions that go unanswered.
- Bianco Leggero – Super high caffeine level? – One of my first coffee capsules that I got with the Nespresso Vertuo Plus. This has the highest caffeine level considering that it makes a mug size (230 ml) quantity. Read to know more about how to find, buy and enjoy this coffee capsule in your next brewing session.
- Nespresso Vertuo Capsules analysed – I spent over 3 days making the Sunburst chart, analyzing deeply the different places, flavor profiles, and the caffeine content that is available in all the Nespresso Vertuo capsules. This is the most up-to-date information you will find online. Read the article and click around the sunburst chart! It’s pretty fun.
- Lavazza Capsules caffeine content – It took me more than a week to collate and organize the data to analyze the caffeine content in Lavazza capsules. I talk more about that and a list of 37 capsules and their “expected” caffeine level in this guide.