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How To Buy Coffee Beans Online 

 February 29, 2016

By  Enda McLarnon

If you are considering buying coffee beans online, then hopefully this guide will at least point you in the right direction. More often than not I use a local coffee store as I can actually see them, smell them and you do get helpful advice as well. Some days you even get to have a taste.

The two problems with local coffee shops and stores is that they are usually tied to certain suppliers so choice can be limited. The other problem is that not every town and village even has one. In many supermarkets there is some choice but again I usually find those rather limited.

That is why sometimes I do like to go online and buy some coffee. This is because I do like to experiment a lot and try out coffee beans that I would not otherwise get the chance to do.

When you go online you will see there are a lot of varieties, and you may need to try a few and see which beans you like the best. Once you have those then all you need is a good coffee grinder, and you can always have fresh coffee, which simply tastes great. 

Below I have listed these by those that have received the highest rated by actual buyers.

My 3 Step Guide to Buying Coffee beans Online

1 - Know Your Bean Types

Coffee beans are generally classified according to the region they are grown in. That is the number one thing that can impact the taste. There are two general classifications of coffee beans:

  • Arabica
  • Robusta

By quite a long way Arabica is a higher-quality bean and is usually fuller in flavour than Robusta. Almost always the Robusta will be the cheaper option but in my opinion, they are just not a good taste so I never buy them.

Stick with an Arabica coffee bean and that will get you off to a good start. Often beans can be blended and both these types of beans are mixed. That can then be bought in pre-ground coffee.

However beans should never be mixed.

2. Try Out Different Brands

Coffee beans are usually described in terms of flavour, aroma, body and acidity. It is however a bit like reading the description of a wine. And like my red wine choices,

I think the only way to find out which coffee taste you like the best is to try out as many different types of coffee as possible.

That will help you develop your own favourites and be able to decide for yourself which types you like. Buy a couple of small packs at a time and you will over time figure out which tastes you prefer.

Everyone's taste is slightly different and only you really know what you like.

3. Beans from Brands

Find a coffee bean brand that you like. Now I am a Lavazzo fan and I think they make the best Italian coffee. However don't limit yourself at the start as there are many brands and many different tastes to experiment with and enjoy.

Before we look at the highest rated coffee beans online, it is worth remembering that no matter how high the quality of the bean is, the flavour of the coffee can still be impaired by grinding or brewing incorrectly.

Top 8 Coffee Beans to Buy Online by Buyer Rating

Now before looking at these, please keep in mind that these come in different sized packs. There are also some that come in multiple packs and that can often make a big difference in price. I have ranked these simply in the order of highest rated overall.

The average prices I have taken from Amazon UK and these can change so always be on the look out for any bargains.

Number 1 

Lavazza Super Crema Coffee Beans

Lavazza Super Crema Coffee Beans

Number 2

illy coffee Classico Coffee Beans

illy Coffee, Classico Coffee Beans, Medium Roast, 100% Arabica Coffee Beans, 250g

Number 3

Spiller & Tait Barista Blend 

Spiller & Tait Barista Blend Coffee Beans

Number 4

Spiller & Tait Signature Blend

Spiller & Tait Signature Blend Coffee Beans - Multi Award Winning - Freshly Roasted in the UK - Espresso Blend Suitable for All Coffee Machines

Number 5 

Lavazza Qualita Rossa Quality

Lavazza, Qualità Rossa, Coffee Beans, with Aromatic Notes of Chocolate and Dried Fruit, Arabica and Robusta, Intensity 5/10, Medium Roasting

Number 6

Presto Café Espresso Beans

Presto Coffee House Espresso Speciality Coffee Beans 1kg Medium Roast (4/5) Tasting Notes of Chocolate and Almond Rain Forest Aliance Certifed 100% Arabica

Number 7

Lavazza Crema e Aroma Quality Coffee 

Lavazza Crema e Aroma Coffee Beans

Check Amazon UK

Number 8

Pelican Rouge Barista Coffee Blend

Pelican Rouge DYNAMIQUE Whole Dark Roasted Coffee Beans | 75 percent Arabica | Rainforest Alliance Certified | New 2023 blend | 1kg bag | Fully-recyclable packaging

Any of the coffee beans shown above will be of very good quality. As we mentioned earlier though, it may take a few tries to find a brand that you really like.

Online Coffee Bean Buying Tips

Read Online Reviews

Online reviews like this one can help you to narrow down your coffee bean choices. They will give you a general understanding of the quality of the brand. If the coffee is too weak or too strong, the reviews will let you know. 

Buy Sample Sizes

Some types of coffee beans can be purchased in sample sizes. These smaller bags of coffee will allow you to try out the coffee out, before you commit to the purchase of a full bag.

That is always a good idea. When you find a few that you like, then you can always buy a bigger packet.

Experiment & Try New Things

There are quite literally hundreds of brands and flavours available. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Unique and unfamiliar types of coffee could wind up as your favourite brand.

If you have the money, simply buy a few various types of coffee. This will give you a better understanding of what coffee beans are available on the market.

Please remember that when buying fresh coffee beans that you should store them properly when you receive them. You can read my article about how to store beans by clicking here.

One final thing that I do on a regular basis is to ask what beans are being used, if you have a cup of coffee that you really like. Any good coffee shop will know what beans they are using, so should be able to tell you, or at least find out for you.

It is also worth simply asking around and see what friends or family may be drinking in terms of their coffee preferences.

Enda McLarnon


Enda McLarnon has a Business Management Honour's Degree and applies his professional insight, to analyse and write helpful product reviews with tips and useful advice. I am also a coffee lover and enjoy tasting all of the coffee types the world has to offer.

Enda McLarnon

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