The 10 Best Coffee Brands

Few things are as satisfying as that first sip of coffee in the morning when all feels right with the world. However, a low-quality coffee brand can totally spoil this inward moment, and that’s no way to start the day. When it comes to coffee, ‘quality’ means different things to different people. For some, it’s all about how it tastes, others it's about how the beans were sourced, while some look for added health benefits in their morning cup of java. 

To make mornings even better, I spoke with a coffee expert to learn more about what sets a coffee brand above the rest. Plus 10 of the best brands to try if you’re in the market for a new go-to. 

First, what should you look for in “good” coffee?

There are several factors to take into account when assessing the quality of a coffee brand according to Matt Woodburn-Simmonds, former professional barista, writer, and co-founder of Home Coffee Expert, where he and his wife give advice on the best beans, methods, machines, and accessories for amazing coffee at home. 

“For us, the most important thing when looking at a coffee brand is how they source their beans,” he says. Woodburn-Simmonds looks for brands that have direct links to coffee farmers, as opposed to sourcing through third parties. 

“The goal is to ensure we're buying from companies that pay a fair price for the beans and also work with farms that pay their workers a good wage,” he adds. “This goes beyond just great coffee, it’s about ensuring your money isn't going to the continued exploitation of farm workers in underdeveloped nations.” 

While assessing this can be tricky for the average consumer, Woodburn-Simmonds suggests looking for Smithsonian Bird Friendly, Rainforest Alliance, and Fair Trade certification seals as a good place to start. These certifications each include specifications for fair farm labor practices.

Woodburn-Simmonds also prefers to support a variety of coffee roasters in terms of ownership. “Coffee companies are overwhelmingly owned by white men, so supporting BIPOC- or woman-owned coffee companies is a great way to increase diversity in the coffee world and increase the overall quality of coffee available,” he explains.

Environmental impact is the final consideration he takes into account when selecting a brand of coffee. Certification seals like USDA Organic, Rainforest Alliance, Regenerative Organic Certified and Smithsonian Bird Friendly all indicate sustainable production methods. “But they're not the be all and end all as many small farmers struggle with the costs of getting and maintaining these certifications even when their farming practices meet the standards,” Woodburn-Simmonds adds, warranting further research if a small company catches your eye.And a bonus consideration (coming from me, an RD) is if the coffee has any added health benefits. There are tons of emerging brands that include adaptogens, like functional mushrooms and herbs, that studies show can potentially help the body adapt to stress while still offering the burst of energy you expect from your morning cup.

10 of the best coffee brands

Taking all of these factors into account, we’ve compiled a list of 10 coffee brands that check most of the boxes when it comes to the quality coffee considerations outlined above.

Best Ethically-Sourced

Spirit Animal Coffee

$20

Shop at Spirit Animal

“Spirit Animal is amazing quality Honduran coffee sourced directly from the farmers and roasted at source, so the maximum amount of money stays within the country that has grown the coffee,” says Woodburn-Simmonds, “This is a great way to help improve farming communities in coffee-growing regions, something Spirit Animal is committed to.” He also adds that the flavor of this coffee is tough to beat.

Pros:

• Single origin coffee sourced directly from farmers
• Sells a range of bean varieties
• Offers single-use pour over drip bags for coffee on-the-go

Cons:

• Slightly pricier than many grocery brands
• Needs to be purchased either online

Best Adaptogenic

Rasa

$29

Shop at Rasa

If you’re looking for added health benefits in your morning cuppa, Rasa might be the perfect brand for you. While most of their products are coffee (and caffeine) free, they do offer Dirty Rasa which is coffee mixed with a variety of herbs including burdock root, dandelion, cinnamon, ashwagandha, rhodiola, chaga, and reishi mushroom. Many of these ingredients are well-known anti-inflammatory agents that will help you start your day off on the right foot. Plus, it’s the perfect option to reach for when trying to cut down on caffeine intake—and has a deliciously nutty, earthy flavor to boot.

Pros:

• Fair Trade certified, women-picked coffee
• Offers nutrient-dense additional ingredients
• Aids in cutting down caffeine intake

Cons:

• Requires a french press for brewing
• Has a distinct flavor that die hard coffee lovers may not prefer

Best Variety

Volcanica

$20

Shop at Volcanica

For the indecisive coffee buyer, Volcanica has more than enough options to choose from. “This is a family-owned coffee company with a wide range of exciting coffee beans sourced from the world's volcanic regions,” shares Woodburn-Simmonds. “They have a great selection of decaf coffee as well as single origins and blends.” He also loves that this brand prioritizes sustainability and direct sourcing practices, too. 

Pros:

• Over 150 different coffees to try from across the globe
• Sells blends, beans, flavored coffees, espresso, and plenty of decaf options
• Family-owned and offers Fair Trade, Organic, and Rainforest Alliance certified options

Cons:

• Can be overwhelming to make a purchasing decision
• Some options are on the pricier side

Best Ready to Drink

Original Cold Brew with OATLY

$5

Shop at Stumptown Coffee Roasters

If you don’t have time to brew up a cup of coffee in the morning, a can of Stumptown will do just the trick. While Stumptown sells beans and grounds of several different coffee varieties, they’ve also collaborated with Oatly to offer a line of delicious ready-to-drink cold brew options including original, horchata, and chocolate. And you won’t even know that they’re dairy-free based on their delicious taste.

Pros:

• Three delicious flavors
• Cold brew for an extra jolt in the morning (or afternoon)
• Dairy-free but still plenty creamy

Cons:

• Contains added sugar
• No milk-free options for those who prefer black coffee

Best BIPOC-Owned

Southeastern Roastery

$18

Shop at Southeastern Roastery

“Southeastern Roastery is black woman-owned with Master Roaster Candy Schibli tracking down amazing beans to blend as well as absolutely stunning single origins,” says Woodburn-Simmonds. From Colombia to Central America, Ethiopia to the Congo, they truly have varieties from all over the globe—and even sell an adaptogenic blend. “They have a totally different philosophy to coffee than many roasters and an exciting way of exploring new flavors,” Woodburn-Simmonds adds.

Pros:

• Intentionally-sourced coffee
• Black- and women-owned business
• USDA Organic and Smithsonian Bird Friendly

Cons:

• Requires online purchasing
• Has a limited number of purchasing options

Best Coffee Pod

Lavazza

$30

Shop at Lavazza

If coffee pods are your preferred brewing method in the morning, then look no further than Lavazza. It’s available in many grocery stores, pretty affordable, and offers a variety of blends and flavors. These range from decaf and espresso to whatever roast your heart desires. They generally brew up fairly strong, too—weak coffee is a common complaint among many K-cup varieties.

Pros:

• Accessible nationwide
• Plenty of flavor options to choose from
• Affordable

Cons:

• Coffee runs through plastic before hitting your cup, potentially impacting flavor
• Requires frequent purchasing

Best Sustainable

Equator Coffee

$20

Shop at Equator Coffee

When sustainability is your number one priority in a coffee choice, Equator is a fantastic grab. “B Corp certified, Equator Coffee has been at the forefront of sustainable coffee for over 25 years,” says Woodburn-Simmonds, “with a large stable of fantastic blends and single-origin coffees, there's something for everyone and they also frequently do fun collabs with chefs.” They sport a range of impressive certification seals, too.

Pros:

• Many products are Fair Trade, USDA Organic, Regenerative Organic Certified
• Dozens of coffee options to choose from
• Lots of unique, tasty blend offerings

Cons:

• Not widely available for supermarket purchase

Best Accessible

La Colombe

$20

Shop at La Colombe

For those who want to buy high-quality coffee while grocery shopping, La Colombe is a pretty accessible brand with tons of offerings. With beans, grounds, ready-to-drink, and K-cup options and more, this brand has something for everyone. They source globally and many varieties are also organic, which bodes well for the farms the beans are grown on.

Pros:

• Lots of options to choose from
• Widely available in many grocery stores
• Offers some organic varieties

Cons:

• Higher price than other varieties
• Not all products are available in stores

Best Woman-Owned

City Girl Coffee

$16

Shop at City Girl Coffee

“City Girl Coffee Co. is not only woman-owned, but also sources as much of their coffee as possible from woman-owned or woman-managed farms and cooperatives around the world,” explains Woodburn-Simmonds, “with the majority of coffee farm work being done by women globally, it's important to ensure the money we spend on coffee is going back to these communities.” He also raves about their blends and single-origin coffees, too.

Pros:

• Women-owned
• Fair Trade and USDA Organic
• Very affordable

Cons:

• Requires an online purchase
• Offers a more limited selection compared to other brands

Best Equity-Focused

Equal Exchange

$55

Shop at Equal Exchange

And for those most focused on the labor impacts of their coffee habit, Equal Exchange is an easy choice. “They’re not only selling environmentally sustainable and ethically-sourced coffee but also chocolate, tea, and more,” offers Woodburn-Simmonds. “They are showing the power of worker-owned cooperatives in delivering incredible quality products and mutually beneficial trade that works for everyone in the long term.” They also offer a huge and diverse selection of single-origin coffee and blends to suit every taste.

Pros:

• USDA Organic
• Focused on ethical labor
• Also sells chocolate and tea

Cons:

• Not available in stores
• Many products are sold in 5-packs, increasing the cost of a single purchase