Starbucks is akin to heaven for every coffee lover out there. You head to your nearest Starbucks and lose yourself in the endless options time and again because the brand makes amazing coffee. Having made its mark in the entire world, Starbucks continues to impress. If you want to have the Starbucks experience at home, what could be better than buying Starbucks coffee beans to satisfy your coffee cravings?
Choosing the best Starbucks coffee bean blends can be tricky because the choices are endless. We’ve tasted 19 products and ended up with the 11 best Starbucks coffees, and our Editor’s Choice is the Starbucks Espresso Roast. All products are made of 100% Arabica beans, meaning they have a more favorable balance of healthy compounds than Robusta. You’ll find medium-roasted options for a more balanced cup and dark-roasted for a stronger taste with less acidity.
Tasting notes: rich and caramelly sweet
If you are fond of Espresso coffee, then this is the best Starbucks espresso beans for you. The Espresso Dark Roast Whole Bean Coffee is very popular among consumers because it lives up to its name. It will give you dark roast coffee with a strong and rich caramel flavor. The best part is that this product is a sweet blend and you can even pair it with cream or milk.
Created in 1975, this coffee originates from Latin America and the Asia Pacific region. If you love all the espressos in Starbucks, then you need to get your hands on this product because the company uses this blend for almost all of them. When you have the coffee without cream or steamed milk, you will still be able to detect the sweetness and the delicious texture. You can use this product to make lattes or any other coffee drink that has an espresso base.
The Espresso dark roast coffee will be your perfect companion every morning. You will feel energized as soon as you take a sip. This coffee works perfectly with steamed milk and is delicious as brewed coffee too.
Tasting notes: roasty, sweet and intense
If you are fond of a dark roast when it comes to coffee, then you will fall in love with the Italian Roast from Starbucks. Fuller-bodied and with a bold flavor, this coffee will allow your taste buds to come into contact with robust flavors that overcome the senses.
Italian Roast is one of the quintessential dark roasts in the Starbucks line. It has been crafted with precision to retain the sweetness and intensity of the coffee beans. This coffee is a little darker than the Espresso Roast and does not have the smoky flavor of French Roast.
However, if you are looking for coffee beans that will yield roasty and sweet coffee, then this is the one for you. The notes of caramelized sugar add to the intense flavor of the coffee beans. The flavor runs so deep that it can hold its own even when you prepare a cup of coffee with milk or cream.
Tasting notes: intense and smoky
This coffee is one of the most popular labels in Starbucks and with good reason. Consumers absolutely love this dark roast blended coffee bean that originates in Latin America and the Asia Pacific regions. If you want your coffee to have an intense smoky flavor, then you will love this product because the beans are roasted to an extreme degree. As a result, if you make a cup of coffee with these coffee beans, it will exhibit a smoky flavor that is not too acidic.
The French roast whole coffee is definitely addictive, and you will look forward to waking up each morning just to inhale its aroma. Keep in mind that these are oily coffee beans, so you should clean your coffee machine each morning. In spite of the bold taste, you will not be able to detect any bitterness in the coffee.
A steamy cup of French roast coffee in the morning will change your life for the better as it will captivate you fully till you feel ready to take on the day.
Tasting notes: earthy, herbal and spicy flavors
One of the best Starbucks coffee bean kinds, Komodo Dragon will impress anyone who is in the hunt for dark roast coffee beans that have strong and rich flavors. Made with 100% Arabica coffee beans, you will be overcome with the aroma of pure coffee as you take the first sip of coffee.
The coffee beans are sourced all the way from Indonesia, and you will enjoy how unique it tastes. Infused with herbal and earthy aroma, you will relish each sip and feel refreshed. These are oily beans, making them perfect for making any kind of espresso.
The Komodo Dragon blend tastes interesting and has a rather fiery taste. The Starbucks dark roast coffee is known to be strong and full-bodied, and this product is no exception. It will allow you to explore the world of dark roast coffee from a different perspective. This Asia/Pacific coffee has the perfect balance of earthy and spicy flavors. You might be able to detect notes of cedary spice and herbs.
Tasting notes: roasty sweet with notes of dark cocoa
The Starbucks Verona is a multi-blend product that has its origin in Latin America and the Asia Pacific. This is a medium-dark roast and is extremely smooth. You can enjoy this coffee at any time of the day.
The Verona Dark Roast Coffee had been initially named Jake’s blend when it was created by Starbucks in 1975. It was then renamed after the romantic Italian city of Verona which is an indication of the magic carried by each coffee bean.
The Starbucks Caffe Verona Coffee has a rich and balanced flavor. You will be able to detect undercurrents of dark cocoa. It has a sweetness that is not too overpowering. The medium-dark roast allows for a robust and bold taste. You will love having this coffee in the winter when you are craving for the comfort of cocoa and the refreshment offered by coffee. This coffee makes an ideal combination with dark chocolate because of the similar notes. It is one of the best Starbucks coffee bean products for cold brew.
Tasting notes: bright and tangy
As the name suggests, this is the perfect coffee for people who are not overly fussy and just want a good cup of coffee in the morning. Although this is a medium roast, it has the strength to jerk you awake when you need it to. It is smooth to taste and has the perfect level of strength. If you want a quick replacement of the coffee you buy at Starbucks every morning, then this is the best choice.
The Breakfast Blend adds something to your table when you have it with your bacon and eggs. The combination of the sweet orange and the brown sugar work wonderfully together. Being a lighter roast, this coffee is a tad more acidic and gives you a tangy and astringent flavor. This will contribute to making you feel more awake. The taste will be able to cut through the food.
The Breakfast Blend is packaged perfection, and you should definitely give it a go if you want to try something new.
Tasting notes: full-bodied and sweet, with a hint of caramelly undertones
The Starbucks Morning Joe is a dark roast from Starbucks, and you can expect a stout and refined flavor. Initially, it was known as the Starbucks Gold Coast Blend after the Chicago neighborhood of the same name, but the company changed the name later on. Made with 100% Arabica beans, the coffee tastes delicious. However, it does fall short of the other Starbucks dark roasts when it comes to packing a punch.
This coffee originates in the Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Since it is a dark roast, it has a full-bodied and robust flavor. As the name suggests, it is meant to be your early morning coffee that will rejuvenate you for the rest of the day. The bold flavors complement your breakfast, and you can feel the effect almost immediately as the aroma takes over your senses.
This coffee is infused with sweetness which makes it perfect for winters. You can detect the sweet notes from the very first sip. There are caramelly undertones with just a hint of a dark roast. As the coffee cools down, it brings out even richer flavors.
Tasting notes: rich and lively, balancing tastes of nut and cocoa with a touch of sweetness
If you are in the market for a well-balanced medium-dark roast coffee, then the Starbucks House Blend coffee is an excellent option. It has a single origin and comes from Latin America. The coffee does not have too much acidity. Since the coffee is a medium-dark, it has a significant body which is neither too full nor too light. This House Blend coffee is significantly better than some of the dark roast coffees. You will not detect any bitterness in the coffee. Instead, there is an infused sweetness which will allow you to have the coffee without any added sugar.
This product has the perfect balance of nut and cocoa in its flavor. The touch of sweetness ties it all together. You can have it as a black coffee without adding any sweeteners, milk or cream. The Starbucks House Blend is perfect for making espresso if that is what you are aiming for.
The House Blend was the first coffee to be ever produced by Starbucks back in the year 1971.
Tasting notes: spicy, earthy and herbal, almost no acidity
If you want to taste one of the most unique offerings of Starbucks, then you must taste the Sumatra blend because it lives up to the hype. The taste is so memorable that every coffee lover will immediately feel a jolt of pure pleasure when they sip this coffee. The Sumatra dark roast is strong but extremely flavorful. You will be able to detect the spicy, earthy and herbal taste even as you enjoy the darkness of the roast.
One thing to remember about the Sumatra blend is that it is not a universal favorite. It can be polarizing in the sense that you will either love it or hate it. Since the Sumatra is enriched with unusual, rich notes, it does not always adhere to people’s preferences.
The Sumatra blend is a bold choice. It has notes of fruit in combination with those of spice. It is hardly acidic because it is a very dark roast. It is not excessively bitter or smoky, which allows you to enjoy the flavor uninterruptedly. The Sumatra blend secretes natural oils that enrich the coffee further.
Tasting notes: cocoa and subtle spice
This coffee blend is perfect for coffee lovers who are fond of the Casi Cielo coffee bean that is not available for a major part of the year. The Starbucks Guatemala Antigua is an excellent substitute. It has an inherent sweetness that makes the taste delicious. Moreover, you can pair it with creams, milk, and syrups to further add to the flavor.
The origin of the coffee is in Antigua Valley (Guatemala) as the name suggests. The medium-dark coffee has a bold and robust flavor that will be appreciated by all coffee lovers. While the coffee retains the roasty flavor, it does taste acidic. The finish is rather astringent, so you might not like it if that is not your preference.
The sweetness of the coffee comes from cocoa, and it blends beautifully with the spicy notes. This coffee is complex and multi-dimensional and also has the famous Antigua smokiness. You will find yourself enveloped in the aroma as you take each sip of the coffee. It is one of the best Starbucks coffee beans for iced coffee.
Tasting notes: smooth and balanced with subtle notes of chocolate and toasted nuts
If you want a medium roast coffee that tastes absolutely delicious, then the Pike Place blend is the one for you. Smooth and well-balanced, this blend has the perfect harmony of chocolate notes and the flavor of toasted nuts. You can rely on this coffee to lift up your spirits and fill you with newfound energy. Your mood will instantly improve as you take a sip.
This coffee is perfect for mornings when you just do not want to get out of bed. Once you get hooked to a great cup of Pike Place coffee, you will not be able to resist waking up in the morning just to taste the coffee. The Pike Place Roast combines toasted nuts and cocoa to create a nutty but chocolaty flavor that brings out the flavor of your coffee further.
Each individual bean has been carefully roasted at the appropriate temperature so that it retains its rich taste. The flavors are balanced together in such a way that there is no dominant note. You will detect all the undertones in every sip. This coffee originates in Latin America.
Starbucks is known to make amazing coffee products and all the coffee beans listed above will be well worth your money. However, we understand that you might need some help in narrowing down your choices. That is why we have prepared a buying guide for you that will allow you to evaluate each product based on its merits and take a final call.
Starbucks believes that the secret of exceptional coffee lies in the exceptional coffee beans. To that end, they try to secure the best coffee beans they possibly can so that you fulfill all your coffee cravings. The Starbucks Arabica beans differ from regular Arabica beans because the company makes sure that the beans meet the highest benchmarks of quality at every step. They choose denser beans which have more complex flavors so that you can taste all the undertones of the coffee. A batch of coffee has to undergo tasting at least three times before it can be approved by the company for sale.
Buying whole coffee beans might give you access to a wider range of flavors and notes as compared to pre-ground coffee. When you grind your own coffee, you will be able to unleash an entirely new layer of flavors. When you grind the coffee beans, you will extract the soluble compounds present in the beans, and that will lead to each cup of coffee you make having a distinct taste and aroma. You will be able to make fresh batches of coffee whenever you want.
Having whole beans at your disposal will also allow you to experiment with different brewing methods.
If you are not accustomed to buying coffee beans, it might be a little daunting the first time you try it. Do not worry; you will soon master the art. We have listed some of the important features that you need to look out for when you are buying coffee beans. This will allow you to judge all the products yourself.
Arabica is easily the most popular type of coffee in the world. You must have heard all coffee lovers rave about Arabica. The truth is that Arabica coffee beans deserve all the praise.
High-quality Arabica coffee ideally has a rather sweet flavor. It also has undertones of chocolate, nuts, and caramel which add even more flavor to the coffee. You might even be able to detect hints of fruit and berries. Arabica coffee does have slight acidity usually, and it tastes a little bitter. However, neither the bitterness nor the acidity is overpowering. Cold-brewed Arabica coffee tastes brilliant.
There is no doubt that Arabica has a much more pleasant flavor as compared to Robusta, which is bitter and earthy to taste.
Arabica coffee also has antioxidants such as Vitamin E which cut down the risk of infections and diseases. It has magnesium, Vitamin B and potassium.
Roasting is the process by which green beans are turned into the coffee beans that we have to grind. There are different kinds of roasts and brands characterize them differently. Starbucks is no exception.
Certain coffee-growing regions are more popular than the rest. Starbucks tends to source 100% Arabica coffee beans from ethical sources. Most of their coffees originate from Latin, African or Asian countries. Some of the blends have a single origin, while others have mixed origin. If you try their signature blends, you will be able to detect the characteristics of different regions. The growing conditions of coffee dictate the flavor of the coffee. For example, Colombian coffee usually has floral aromatics and slightly fruity notes. Sumatran coffee, on the other hand, has green, aromatic woods and earthy notes.
When you have the first sip of coffee, you will be able to taste beyond just pure coffee. Most Starbucks whole beans have extended undertones which help the flavor of the coffee stand out anymore. You might like a slight hint of cocoa in your coffee, or you might prefer sweet caramel infused with your coffee. Either way, Starbucks has your back. You can go for the Starbucks Espresso Roast if you want caramelly sweet notes. On the other hand, you can choose the Starbucks Komodo Dragon Blend when you want your coffee to have some earthy or herbal notes. The Starbucks Caffe Verona Dark Roast has distinctive notes of dark cocoa.
If you want each cup of your coffee to be rich in flavor, then you need to take care of it. Coffee must be kept far away from moisture, strong odors and heat and light. It also needs to be ground properly.
All the above-mentioned products are excellent at their price. Whether you are new to Starbucks coffee or a long-time customer, there are plenty of options for everyone.
However, we admit that we have certain favorites.
The Starbucks Espresso Roast tops our list because of its rich flavor and sweet caramelly taste. It tastes great whether you blend it cream or not and is versatile.
The Starbucks Italian Roast, with its sweet and intense flavor, is full-bodied and robust. The flavor runs deep, and you will love it if you are fond of dark roast coffee.
The Starbucks French Roast is known for its intense and smoky flavor. The aroma is delicious, and it is unlikely that you will detect any acidity in the coffee.
We hope that our list of best Starbucks coffee beans helps you choose the ideal coffee for your household.