I Asked 3 Coffee Experts To Name the Best Grocery Store Coffee Beans, and They All Said the Same Thing

After a long iced matcha latte kick, my brain has decided we're ready to return to coffee. Suddenly, the other day, I had a strong craving for the nutty aroma and the warm, toasty taste of a nice cup of joe. The only problem in actualizing that craving? I haven’t found a bag of beans I’ve liked in a long time, which is probably why I turned to matcha in the first place. I was sick of weak pours and bitter shots.

So, as I often do, I turned to the experts for coffee bean-shopping advice. I wanted a quality bean I could find at any grocery store, at a reasonable price point. The three aficionados I consulted have years of experience tasting coffee brewed from specialty beans to commercial beans. I was surprised to find that all three had the same answer when I asked which beans to buy at the grocery store!

The Bean-Loving Coffee Experts

• Theodore Chan: Managing editor of Coffee Roast
• Mark Morphew: Founder of Bean Ground and member of the Roaster’s Guild of Europe
• Meg Scott: Former Simply Recipes editor and co-author of The Joy of Cooking

The Best Coffee Beans at the Grocery Store

“For a national grocery store pick that is consistently reliable, I always reach for Stumptown,” says Morphew. “They offer fresh-tasting beans with a balanced flavor right off the shelf.”

What a relief to hear! I’ve seen Stumptown in loads of grocery stores, making it accessible whether I’m stocking up near home or buying a bag for my Airbnb’s coffee maker on a trip. 

Chan praises Stumptown for their ability to scale without compromising on taste: “They’ve scaled up without losing their core quality, which matters because many roasters see their coffee slip a bit as volume grows. Buying bigger lots and roasting on giant roasters makes precision difficult, but Stumptown does it well.” The beans even hold up against boutique roasters, explains Scott: “As an Oregonian, I'm a bit biased (and admittedly a coffee snob), but Stumptown still makes some of my favorite coffee beans anywhere.”

With over 15 different bags of beans, including decaf, single origins, and blends, it’s not hard to find a roast that works best for your brewing preferences. “Personally, I never get tired of the Holler Mountain blend,” says Scott, “but the brand also has a great selection of single-origin beans and seasonal blends.” Holler Mountain blend, a medium roast with tasting notes of caramel and jam, has enough versatility to handle basically any brewing method like a pro.

But if you’re a pourover fan like Chan, “always go with light roast” (like Stumptown’s Homestead), he says, “because that is where I get the clearest sweetness and origin character.” For French press coffee, the Hair Raiser blend can't be beat.

Bottom line: Whatever your coffee-making method, Stumptown’s got a bag stocked at your local grocery store ready just right for you.