10 Best Ground Coffees | UK Coffee Barista Reviewed
Ground coffee beans are the perfect compromise between instant and whole bean, enabling you to experience fresh, top-quality coffee with maximum convenience – and on a much more reasonable budget. You don't even need to commit to buying a kitchen full of barista-standard equipment to enjoy the daily Java either.
From a chocolatey Brazilian for your latte to a cafetière full of sophisticated Yirgacheffe for your espresso machine. We'll cover light, medium and dark roasts, advise you on the ideal preparation methods, as well as share our top 10 favourites this year. Whether you're a fan of Lavazza or Starbucks, we've brewed up offerings from Amazon, ASDA, and Tesco, with crowd favourites like Illy and Taylors alongside small batch and organic picks, so you're bound to find one worthy of your daily grind.
Quick List - Top Ground Coffees
Spiller & Tait
Rich, Smokey Coffee With notes of Roasted Almonds and Caramel
Moreish Coffee Roasters
A Bold, Dark Roasted Blend of Arabica Beans With a Deep Aroma of Cocoa and Spices
Marley Coffee
Full-Flavoured High-Quality African Beans From a Company That Supports Nature Conservation
Cru Kafe
Sweet Flavours of Roasted Nuts, Caramel and Fruits, From an Organic and Eco-Friendly Company
Celeste Wong: Actress & Top Coffee Barista. Born in Dunedin, New Zealand, Celeste is has held top positions in leading artisan cafes all over the world for over a decade. Since migrating to the UK, she has been listed as one of London’s top five Baristas in The Financial Times and noted for her excellence in a plethora of other publications.
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Table of Contents
- With Specialist Advice From Coffee and Lifestyle Blogger Celeste Wong
- How to Choose a Ground Coffee in the UK – Buying Guide
- Arabica Beans Have More Time to Develop and Give You a More Complex Experience but You’ll Find Robusta Is More Common in Blends1
- When Choosing Your Coffee, Consider Your Preferred Flavour Profiles by Looking at Region and Processing Method2
- Choose Single-Origin if You Want to Appreciate the Distinct Flavours of One Region, but Blends Give You a More Complex Experience3
- Think About the Flavours You Enjoy Before Choosing the Roast That Ranges From the Light and Vibrant to the Deep, Nutty Notes of Dark Roasts4
- Those Who Use French Press Should Go for Course Grinds Whereas Pour-Over and AeroPress Users Require a Medium/Medium-Coarse Grind5
- 10 Best Ground Coffees in the UK
- No. 1Spiller & Tait | Signature Blend Ground Coffee
- No. 2Moreish Coffee Roasters | Black Goat Ground Coffee
- No. 3Marley Coffee | One Love Medium Roast
- No. 4Cru Kafe | Organic Honduran Ground Coffee
- No. 5Café Direct | Machu Picchu Organic Fairtrade Ground Arabica Coffee
- 5 more products
- Celeste's Tips on Storing Your Ground Coffee
- Additional Links
- Get Inspired by a Barista and Coffee Bloggers At-Home Essentials for Coffee Lovers
With Specialist Advice From Coffee and Lifestyle Blogger Celeste Wong
An actress & Top Coffee Barista. Born in Dunedin, New Zealand, Celeste has held top positions in leading artisan cafes all over the world for over a decade. Since migrating to the UK, she has been listed as one of London’s top five Baristas in The Financial Times and noted for her excellence in a plethora of other publications.
Keep up-to-date with The Girl in the Cafe and all things coffee on her Instagram and YouTube channel, and you might discover some hidden gems along the way!
- Disclaimer: Celeste does not endorse, nor is she affiliated with any of the brands in our top 10 list. The products recommended have been independently selected by our team at mybest UK.
How to Choose a Ground Coffee in the UK – Buying Guide
- If You're Looking for a Complex Cup, Opt for Arabica Beans
- Compare Flavour Profiles by Looking at Region and Processing Method
- Blends Offer a Mixture of Flavours While Single Origins are more Distinct
- Think About Whether You’d Prefer a Lighter, Subtler Roast or an Intense, Darker Roast
- Make Sure to Check the Grind is Suitable for How You're Preparing Your Coffee
Arabica Beans Have More Time to Develop and Give You a More Complex Experience but You’ll Find Robusta Is More Common in Blends
Arabica coffee has a sweet, soft taste with complex tones of sugar, fruits and berries, which is one of the reasons why it is often the only type used in the speciality coffee industry. The acidity in Arabica beans is higher than that of Robusta beans, and also has a winey mouthfeel synonymous with top-quality coffee.
Robusta, on the other hand, is the more hardy bean, with a stronger, more bitter, and somewhat harsher taste that some find not as palatable. It is characterised by grainy overtones and a peanutty aftertaste and produces a strong crema.
Although Arabica is known for being easier to drink and generally the superior bean, Robusta is commonly used in coffee blends throughout the world, mostly because it is cheaper to produce – which will usually make it cheaper for you as the consumer.
Generally, Robusta is of poorer quality as it's grown at lower altitudes which means that they mature faster and don't have as much time as Arabica beans to develop more unique flavours. So you are more likely to find Arabica beans in a good specialty coffee shop.
When Choosing Your Coffee, Consider Your Preferred Flavour Profiles by Looking at Region and Processing Method
Opt For Ethiopian Coffees if You Like to Experience Different Flavours From One Region Ranging From the Wine-Like Heavy Bodied to the Mild and Floral
The coffee plant has its origins in Ethiopia, where there are three main coffee growing regions: Harrar, Ghimbi, and Sidamo (Yirgacheffe). Harrar coffee beans are dry-processed and are often used in espresso blends due to their rich, winey aroma and heavy body.
Conversely, Yirgacheffe and Ghimbi coffees have been wet-processed, or 'washed', which results in a cleaner, brighter flavour. Yirgacheffe is grown at high altitudes from 1,700 to 2,200 meters above sea level and is the most favoured coffee from South Ethiopia. Mild and light with a floral aroma, it's perfect for an afternoon filter coffee or cafetière.
I love Ethiopian coffees, especially if they are good quality, and roasted expertly and not too dark. Each process lends to different flavours; one of my favourite processes is a "natural" process where the whole coffee cherry is sun-dried and ferments in the fruit and skin of the cherry. It means when it breaks down it has all the lovely sugars to add flavour to the coffee bean.
My favourite way to drink a coffee like this is as a pourover or filter coffee!
Kenyan Coffee Has a Rich Flavour With Vibrant Complex Notes, Whereas Rwandan Coffee Has a More Silky, Buttery Texture
The Kenyan coffee industry is known for its cooperative system of production, with around 70% of its beans being produced by small scale holders. Rwandan beans are also known for their small scale grinds, so if this is something you look for when buying coffee, Kenyan and Rwandan varieties are the way to go.
Known for its consistently rich flavour and wine-like acidity, Kenyan coffee is considered top class and has a distinctly bright, vibrant taste with complex fruit and berry notes.
Floral, berry and fruit tastes are also present in Rwandan coffee, but it boasts more of a silky texture, a creamier body and slightly buttery overtones, with hints of cinnamon and caramelised sugar. Acidity-wise, it's also high and bright like Kenyan coffee, due to their similar altitudes and growing climate.
Buying coffee from small-scale farmers or micro-lots can be interesting because it means that they can pay more attention to the limited crop and often results in good quality coffees.
Sometimes the farms are too small to sell on their own so cooperatives are great because it means the farmers can group together a larger quantity of high-quality yield to sell which means they still get good prices and also get to carry on with their good farming practices.
If You Enjoy More Chocolatey Flavours or the Sweetness of Caramel, Go for South American Coffees From Brazil or Columbia
Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer, producing a third of the world's coffee, and has been for the last 150 years. Brazilian coffee is soft and nutty with low acidity and a bittersweet chocolatey taste that makes it perfect for espresso lovers.
Colombian coffee is also extremely popular and a good place to start when buying a ground coffee, due to its classic profile of a strong caramel sweetness and a nutty undertone alongside a mellow acidity. Many other South American countries also produce top quality coffee and are worth trying if these flavours tempt you, such as Ecuador, Guatemala and Peru.
You will often find Brazillian and/or Columbian coffees in espresso blends because they provide a really good base. They offer slightly heavier, rich and chocolatey notes that can be added to other coffees from other origins that have contrasting characteristics. Though one of my favourite coffees of all time I have had from South America was a Guatemalan Atitlan bean from a tiny micro-lot.
Choose Single-Origin if You Want to Appreciate the Distinct Flavours of One Region, but Blends Give You a More Complex Experience
When it comes to choosing between single-origin and blended ground coffee, it isn't necessarily a matter of one being superior – they both have their draws, and both will appeal to different tastes. Single-origin beans come from one specific region or estate and are loved by coffee connoisseurs for their unique and distinct qualities. Single origins are a great way to immerse yourself in the tastes of a region you like.
Blends, however, combine beans from several origins, and when done well, will offer up the best of each bean and generally a more complex coffee. Skillfully pairing beans that complement each other can be akin to creating a delicious, signature dish.
These days more cafes are using single-origins for espresso than they used to, and there are a few reasons for this. One being that coffee bean quality is generally higher, as are roasters skills and equipment. Though it is still very common to have blends for espresso than it is for filter coffees.
Espresso coffee requires higher pressure, higher temperatures, and faster extraction. I personally love a good espresso blend. There's so much scope to mixing different flavours and characteristics together which I think can give an espresso a different journey when drinking. Though, a single-origin coffee can give a really consistent, clean drop.
Think About the Flavours You Enjoy Before Choosing the Roast That Ranges From the Light and Vibrant to the Deep, Nutty Notes of Dark Roasts
Ground coffee quality is constantly getting higher with the demand for a world-class taste, and lighter to medium roasts are now getting their time in the limelight. Most coffee drinkers have a favourite, but we'll list their characteristics below to lend a hand with your choice.
- Light roast: usually has a crisp acidity, mellow body and vibrant flavours, preserving the characteristics of the bean.
- Medium roast: has medium acidity and body with a well-rounded flavour and the beginnings of a rich, caramel sweetness.
- Dark roasts: are characterised by a heavy body, with deeper flavours and nutty or chocolatey notes.
Isn't it wonderful that there are so many choices within coffee to suit our tastes? Many of us are used to slightly darker roasts because, in the past, that's often what has been more widely available. But now there's been a trend toward lighter roasted coffees and this has offered new and different flavours.
If a roast is too dark, sometimes it can mask the underlying flavour characteristics of the bean. I often liken it to cooking meat. Sometimes you want to cook it slowly so that it's soft, moist and sweet, and others you might want to flash cook for a different texture and so the flavour is locked in. Either way, different coffees lend better to different roast profiles, but ultimately drinking one profile of coffee over another is up to your own preference!
Those Who Use French Press Should Go for Course Grinds Whereas Pour-Over and AeroPress Users Require a Medium/Medium-Coarse Grind
To get the most out of your cup, it's important that the grind of your coffee is suitable for your preferred brewing method. Each packet should mention whether it is fine, medium, or coarse, or, to take the guesswork out, will helpfully note exactly which coffee gadgets it can be used with.
The most common method is the cafetière, or the French press, which is best used with a coarse grind to avoid over-extraction. Filter machines and percolators are in the same family of 'slow-brewing' methods, so also suit coarser grinds.
Medium or medium-coarse grinds should be chosen if you favour pour-over coffee, siphon coffee and AeroPress coffee. Lastly, go for a fine grind for espresso and stovetop Moka pots. A lot of everyday ground coffees do create a 'one grind fits all' consistency, but if you're serious about your Joe you may like to stay a bit more precise.
While you're here, take a look at our french press coffee makers too!
A good grind is probably one of the most important factors that can affect the taste and quality of your coffee. I suggest that if you are interested in seeing the difference for yourself, try one recipe using the same brew method, water, dose of coffee, extraction time etc three times, but each time only change the grind size (fine, medium, or coarse) and see what happens.
You might find that a finer grind gives you a stronger flavour, or a coarse grind is sweeter. Coffee beans last longer if you grind as you go. So investing in a decent grinder might be more important than the equipment you use to brew on. Though if you are going through your coffee relatively quickly (1-2 weeks for a small bag), then getting it pre-ground is totally fine!
10 Best Ground Coffees in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Spiller & Tait Signature Blend Ground Coffee | | Rich, Smokey Coffee With notes of Roasted Almonds and Caramel | |
2 | Moreish Coffee Roasters Black Goat Ground Coffee | | A Bold, Dark Roasted Blend of Arabica Beans With a Deep Aroma of Cocoa and Spices | |
3 | Marley Coffee One Love Medium Roast | | Full-Flavoured High-Quality African Beans From a Company That Supports Nature Conservation | |
4 | Cru Kafe Organic Honduran Ground Coffee | | Sweet Flavours of Roasted Nuts, Caramel and Fruits, From an Organic and Eco-Friendly Company | |
5 | Café Direct Machu Picchu Organic Fairtrade Ground Arabica Coffee | | Full-Bodied Coffee With Notes of Dark Chocolate From the Peruvian, Andean Mountains. | |
6 | Starbucks Veranda | | Subtle Blonde Flavours of Cocoa and Nuts for Your Filter | |
7 | Crazy Cat Coffee Colombian Ground Coffee | | Rich and Creamy Columbian Coffee Suitable for Any Brewing Method | |
8 | Taylors Of Harrogate Rich Italian Ground Coffee | | A Rich Medium Roast Delivering Deep Flavours of Dark Chocolate and Almond | |
9 | illy Classico Medium Roast Ground Coffee | | Fine Ground and Mild Italian Coffee Perfect for an Espresso Machine | |
10 | Lavazza Qualità Rossa | | Strong and Dark Italian Coffee that's Great in a Moka Pot |
Rich, Smokey Coffee With notes of Roasted Almonds and Caramel
Spiller and Tait's signature blend is rich and smoky with a palate of roasted almonds and caramelised sugar, making it a smooth coffee with very little bitterness. It's best for espresso, but can be suitable for most other finer brewing methods.
The blend itself features beans from Columbia, Brazil, Kenya, Ethiopia and India, and has a delicious balance from its medium to dark roast. An award-winning coffee perfect at any time of the day!
A Bold, Dark Roasted Blend of Arabica Beans With a Deep Aroma of Cocoa and Spices
Bold Ugandan Robusta is combined with a trilogy of Arabica beans from Honduras, Brazil and Ethiopia, to create a blend with real character. It has a beautiful aroma of pure cocoa and spice and is both sweet and bold.
While it's perfect with any type of filter, it lends itself particularly well to French press and AeroPress preparations. If you're a fan of darker roasts, this bold and brash offering has a deep aroma and unique taste that you won't forget!
Full-Flavoured High-Quality African Beans From a Company That Supports Nature Conservation
This Ethiopian blend is made from the highest quality African beans, with a beautifully rounded and full flavour. The coffee is grown, washed and roasted locally and indeed showcases the best of Ethiopia.
Marley coffee helps support nature conservation of the forests around the world by making donations to the One Tree Planted non-profit organisation, so you know your money's going somewhere good. And with it being a blend that the family of Bob Marley approve of, how could we not try it!
Sweet Flavours of Roasted Nuts, Caramel and Fruits, From an Organic and Eco-Friendly Company
This organic, Fairtrade single origin ground from Honduras is a good choice if you're looking for an ethically produced coffee. Smooth and full-bodied, its sweet notes offer flavours of roasted cashew, caramel, and various stone fruits.
In terms of brewing, this coffee is a special omni-grind suitable for cafetière, filter, and even AeroPress and Moka pot. Its flexibility makes it an excellent all-rounder.
Café DirectMachu Picchu Organic Fairtrade Ground Arabica Coffee
Full-Bodied Coffee With Notes of Dark Chocolate From the Peruvian, Andean Mountains.
Grown at high altitudes on the Andean mountainsides of Peru, this ground is full-bodied with dark chocolate overtones. It's a single origin with a coarseness especially ground for filter or cafetière methods and is best paired with milk or plant milks.
Café Direct invests over 50% of their profits back into the farming communities they work with. And through their farmer-led charity, they have invested over £6 million, helping to improve farmers' livelihoods and continually improve coffee quality. For these reasons, it's a brilliant pick for coffee drinkers with a conscience.
StarbucksVeranda
Subtle Blonde Flavours of Cocoa and Nuts for Your Filter
This Latin American blend from Starbucks is their blonde roast, offering subtler soft and mellow flavours than their espresso blend. If you're after something a little less bold and punchy for your morning filter of French Press, then this is well worth trying.
Although branded as a lighter roast, your mileage may vary depending on what other coffees you are used to. If you're a fan of Starbucks, Costa, Lavazza, or any of the popular high street brands, then this is much subtler by comparison. If you're more of a speciality coffee connoisseur, however, this will seem more medium roast than light.
Rich and Creamy Columbian Coffee Suitable for Any Brewing Method
Grown in the volcanic soils of Colombia, this ground coffee is rich and creamy without any bitterness – ideal for drinkers who like it mellow. It has a wonderfully fruity aroma with mild chocolate tones, making it a great match for milk-based coffees.
Medium strength and smooth enough for any time of the day, the packaging also boasts that it's suitable for any brewing method. Coffee experts or those who know their grinds may find this a little hard to believe, though!
A Rich Medium Roast Delivering Deep Flavours of Dark Chocolate and Almond
This medium roast coffee is rich, refined and is inspired by the local roasting style of Northern Italy. Delivering deep flavours and distinct notes of dark chocolate and almond, it's simply Bellissimo on a morning!
To add to the appeal, this Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee helps to protect the environment and ensure sustainable livelihoods for coffee producers. However, the package doesn't contain any information on the origin or type of coffee beans used.
Fine Ground and Mild Italian Coffee Perfect for an Espresso Machine
A finely ground coffee made for optimal extraction with an espresso machine, this really does mimic the cafe bought stuff! Mild and balanced, and easy to make, Illy's ground is an excellent go-to for your everyday cup.
It features a rich yet balanced taste with notes of caramel and dark chocolate and is packed in an air-free pressurised can to retain the freshness. Unfortunately, it isn't clear which region the blend is from, which limits its desirability for real coffee lovers.
Strong and Dark Italian Coffee that's Great in a Moka Pot
When it comes to drinking coffee, Italy should be one of the first countries to pop into your mind. Italian coffee is strong and dark, so it's no surprise that Lavazza's Qualità Rossa is the same, with a simple dark chocolate and dried fruit flavour.
If you're looking for something on the stronger end of the spectrum, then Lavazza works well as an espresso or morning Moka pot but as it's a blend of both arabica and robusta beans there aren't many interesting notes or flavour profiles for the more speciality inclined.
Celeste's Tips on Storing Your Ground Coffee
"I generally advise people to treat coffee similar to potatoes. Store them in a dark, dry place. It's best they are kept in a container or the bag they come in to stop oxygen and moisture from getting in. The bags usually have a valve that releases the CO2 that is constantly released as the beans age."
Get Inspired by a Barista and Coffee Bloggers At-Home Essentials for Coffee Lovers
Whether you're looking for a gift for a coffee lover or it's something for yourself, you'll want to take a look at top barista, blogger and all-round coffee expert Celeste's top picks! She has selected a fantastic range of products perfect for when you're working from home, from coffee machines to monthly subscriptions. Take a look!
Top 5 Ground Coffees
No. 1: Spiller & Tait｜Signature Blend Ground Coffee
No. 2: Moreish Coffee Roasters｜Black Goat Ground Coffee
No. 3: Marley Coffee｜One Love Medium Roast
No. 4: Cru Kafe｜Organic Honduran Ground Coffee
No. 5: Café Direct｜Machu Picchu Organic Fairtrade Ground Arabica Coffee
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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