What to Buy Coffee, Tea & Espresso The Best Places to Buy Coffee Online, According to Our Highly Caffeinated Experts Find your perfect cup with our top picks for coffee By Will Franke Will Franke Will is a seasoned adventurer and traveler with a knack for storytelling based out of Chicago. If he isn't exploring new places or trying new foods or drinks, then he's probably writing about them. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on March 21, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: Tony Anderson / Getty Images For most of us, coffee falls somewhere between a daily pleasure and a daily necessity. There are countless different places to choose from, and if you’re reading this, you don’t want to settle for just any old coffee. Maybe you have a very specific or refined taste, or perhaps you want the best of the best. The best online coffee retailers will provide the variety, roast levels, and bean types you need to make your ideal cup of coffee. Regardless of what kind of coffee drinker you are, here’s our list of the best places to purchase coffee online. Where to Buy Coffee Online in 2023 Best Single-Origin Coffee: Intelligentsia Best for Cold Brew Coffee: Grady’s Cold Brew Best Ground Coffee: Seattle Coffee Gear Best Variety: Atlas Coffee Club Best for Coffee Pros: Driftaway Coffee Best for Coffee Brewing Equipment: Onyx Coffee Best Whole-Bean Coffee: Counter Culture Best Coffee Subscription: Trade Coffee Best Coffee for Travel: Wildland Coffee Best Single-Origin Coffee: Intelligentsia Intelligentsia Coffee Buy Now Key Specs Price Per Pound: $16.50 per poundDelivery Area: 50 statesBean Types: Both whole bean and ground Why You Should Try It Intelligentsia has more than a dozen different single-origin coffees, making it a great choice for this category. Pros and Cons Pros Great selection of single-origin coffee from just $16.50 Five different subscription options available Can filter coffee by flavor profile, country, variety, and more Cons Does not offer free shipping on orders below $40 Cannot return products if unsatisfied Overview Single-origin coffee (meaning that the coffee beans involved were all sourced from the same crop or location) is one of the most desirable types of coffee on the market. So if you are a long-time fan of single-origin coffee or just want to see what all the hype is about, then Intelligentsia is a great choice. At this time, it offers more than a dozen single-origin coffees in its online store, and with a subscription, you can try both bestsellers and new-to-you favorites. Intelligentsia also has several brick-and-mortar stores throughout the country, where customers can try its highly-prized brews in person. Best for Cold Brew Coffee: Grady’s Cold Brew Grady's Cold Brew Buy Now Key Specs Price Per Pound: $6 per 16-oz. bottleDelivery Area: 50 statesBean Types: Whole bean, cold brew, and cold brew concentrate Why You Should Try It There’s nothing like the smooth, creamy taste of cold brew on a warm day, and Grady’s is the quintessential cold brew. Pros and Cons Pros Website has store locator option Can buy cold brew as a concentrate, bean bags, or ready-to-drink Subscription and one-time purchasing options Cons Free shipping only for orders over $49 Price has increased substantially over the past year Overview Grady’s isn’t just a great cold brew you can order from the convenience of its website, but it is a surprisingly common staple in the refrigerated sections of many grocery stores. So if you need your cold brew in a pinch, take advantage of its store locator tool on its site to see where you can pick up a cold bottle or two near you. Whether you’re after ready-to-drink cold brew coffee, beans you can grind yourself, or concentrate, Grady’s is ready to fulfill all your cold brew coffee needs. Best Ground Coffee: Seattle Coffee Gear Seattle Coffee Gear Buy Now Key Specs Price Per Pound: $14 per poundDelivery Area: 50 statesBean Types: Both whole bean and ground Why You Should Try It There’s nothing like the convenience of buying coffee pre-ground. If that’s what you’re after, then we’ve found the site for you. Pros and Cons Pros Almost entire selection of coffee pre-ground Dozens of coffee makers, accessories, grinders, and more for sale Free shipping available Cons Very few bags of whole coffee beans available Some reviews say customer service is slow Overview Don’t have your own coffee grinder or don’t feel the need to put in the time to grind your own beans? No problem, Seattle Coffee Gear is one of the best sources of pre-ground coffee on the market. In addition to selling terrific ground coffee, Seattle Coffee Gear carries a wide selection of equipment and accessories, making it an excellent option if you want to add to your collection of coffee gear. However, if you prefer to grind your own coffee beans, this might not be the best option for you. Best Variety: Atlas Coffee Club Atlas Coffee Club Buy Now Key Specs Price Per Pound: $14 per 12-oz. bagDelivery Area: 50 states Bean Types: Whole bean, ground, pods Why You Should Try It There is so much variety when it comes to coffee; if you want to broaden your horizons, look no further than Atlas Coffee Club. Pros and Cons Pros Constantly alternating selection of coffee Monthly gifting options available Available in grounds, pods, and whole beans Cons Does not offer free shipping Cannot reorder favorite coffee Overview Atlas Coffee Club promises a unique curation of some of the world’s best single-origin coffee with every box. Some of its more recent coffee journeys include Costa Rica, Indonesia, and China, and in addition to coffee, each delivery contains pamphlets with tasting information, cultural notes, and more. If you are looking for a coffee subscription that will expand your global palate, then Atlas Coffee Club is the site for you, and if you fall in love with it, you can order a gift subscription for a friend or loved one too. One drawback; since it’s a monthly subscription, you cannot repurchase a coffee that you particularly enjoy from its site: You’ll either have to track it down or hope it reenters the rotation. Best for Coffee Pros: Driftaway Coffee Driftaway Coffee Buy Now Key Specs Price Per Pound: $24 per poundDelivery Area: 50 statesBean Types: Both whole bean and ground Why You Should Try It We gave Driftaway Coffee the title of best for coffee pros due to its excellent à la carte selection, subscriptions, and tastings. Pros and Cons Pros Personalized subscriptions to fit your taste Commitment to sustainability and fair labor Can sign up for virtual coffee tastings Cons Selection is somewhat limited Overview Your friends may call you a snob, but you know you just have great taste. If that sounds like you, then you might like Driftaway Coffee. This site offers a terrific selection of single-origin, cold brew, and decaf from across the world, and best of all, it is extremely transparent about its sustainability efforts and fair labor practices. So, you can drink your imported coffee knowing it is from a business helping foreign businesses thrive — many women-owned. Looking for a way to enhance your coffee experience? You can sign up for Zoom and self-guided tastings, too. Best for Coffee Brewing Equipment: Onyx Coffee Onyx Coffee Lab Buy Now Key Specs Price Per Pound: $23 per poundDelivery Area: 50 statesBean Types: Whole bean Why You Should Try It If you have all the coffee you need but are looking for accessories that will give you the optimal brew, check out Onyx Coffee. Pros and Cons Pros Selection of luxury kettles, weighing panels, coffee makers, and more Private events, catering, and other services offered Can purchase subscriptions for yourself or as a gift Cons Free shipping only on orders over $40 Does not accept coffee returns Overview Most online coffee sites also let you buy equipment, but very few stores carry inventory as high-quality as Onyx Coffee. From origami drippers, gooseneck coffee kettles, AeroPress coffee makers, and more, Onyx Coffee’s elegant equipment selection can help you find a great addition to your home coffee bar. It also has an excellent selection of coffee, which can be purchased individually or as a subscription for you or a loved one. Unfortunately, this site only offers free shipping on orders over $40, but seeing as a lot of its equipment and accessories run on the more expensive side, you shouldn’t have a problem meeting this minimum. Best Whole-Bean Coffee: Counter Culture Counter Culture Buy Now Key Specs Price Per Pound: $16 per 12-oz. bagDelivery Area: 50 states Bean Types: Whole bean, ground Why You Should Try It Counter Culture is one of our top destinations for buying whole, gourmet coffee beans online. Pros and Cons Pros Available as a subscription or one-time purchase Can purchase whole-bean coffee in 12-oz., 24-oz., or 5-lb. bags All coffees are listed with flavor profiles to help with your selection Cons Shipping only available on orders $30 or more Cannot purchase pre-ground coffee Overview Whole-bean coffee is a terrific option for those with the time and energy to grind their own since beans preserve their flavor for much longer when they are whole as opposed to pre-ground. Whether you’ve been grinding your coffee for years or want to see what the hype is all about, you’ll be happy to know that Counter Culture has an excellent selection with a delicious variety of light, medium, and dark roasts. Not sure where to start? No problem: Counter Culture includes handy flavor profiles under each of their items to help guide your selection process. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sell pre-ground coffee online, but if you happen to live near one of its stores, Onyx will grind your beans for you. Best Coffee Subscription: Trade Coffee Trade Coffee Buy Now Key Specs Price Per Pound: $16 per month Delivery Area: 50 statesBean Types: Both whole bean and ground Why You Should Try It Many online coffee retailers also have monthly subscription options, but Trade Coffee’s subscription is easily one of the best. Pros and Cons Pros Affordable subscription options starting at just $16 Free shipping available Several gifting options available Cons Customer support not available on weekends Overview While Trade Coffee has a great selection of specialty coffee, equipment, and roasters, its subscription is really what sets it apart from the pack. Coffee of the month clubs are a dime a dozen these days, but Trade Coffee’s customization level and premium offerings make it a terrific choice. Before you even get your first bag, you begin your subscription journey with a questionnaire to give the people at Trade Coffee a feel for your flavor preferences. From there, it curates your monthly coffee selection and helps you discover your new favorites. After that, this site even lets you customize how much or what kinds of coffee you receive at any time. Best Coffee for Travel: Wildland Coffee wildland coffee Buy Now Key Specs Price Per Pound: $10 per boxDelivery Area: 50 states Bean Types: Whole bean, sachet Why You Should Try It Coffee isn’t always the easiest drink to make on the go. That’s no longer the case, thanks to Wildland Coffee. Pros and Cons Pros Simple and easy coffee, ideal for traveling Can purchase in 10-, 40-, or 80-serving increments Ready in less than 10 minutes Cons Limited variety Overview Wildland Coffee markets itself as the “No mess French press,” proving that delicious, premium coffee doesn’t need to be fussy or pretentious. Wildland specializes in bags of coffee that you can carry on the go, soak in water for a few minutes, and enjoy whenever and wherever you are. Buying coffee for an entire camping trip? You’ll be happy to hear that Wildland Coffee lets you buy bags that provide up to 80 servings, so you and the whole group will be energized and well-caffeinated for those long hikes and early mornings. One thing to note, however, is that its variety of coffee is somewhat limited. Final Thoughts Coffee is as versatile as it is popular, and if you are a coffee lover, you know that it has so much variety to offer. So it’s no surprise that so many online coffee retailers specialize in different tastes, hence the reason we put this article together. To be featured on this list, it wasn’t enough for a coffee vendor to specialize in one thing over another, it had to stand out in a long list of criteria. These include price points, types of coffee offered, customer reviews, commitment to sustainability, and more. Compare the Best Places to Buy Coffee Online Company Price Per Pound Delivery Area Bean Types Free Shipping Intelligentsia Best Single-Origin Coffee $12 per pound 50 states Whole bean, ground No Grady’s Cold Brew Best for Cold Brew Coffee $6 per 16-oz. bottle 50 states Whole bean, cold brew, and cold brew concentrate Yes, on orders of $49 or more Seattle Coffee Gear Best Ground Coffee $14 per pound 50 states Whole bean, ground Yes Atlas Coffee Club Best Variety $14 per 12-oz. bag 50 states Whole bean, ground, pods No Driftaway Coffee Best for Coffee Pros $24 per pound 50 states Whole bean, ground Yes Onyx Coffee Best for Coffee Brewing Equipment $23 per pound 50 states Whole bean Yes, for orders over $40 Counter Culture Best Whole-Bean Coffee $16 per 12-oz. bag 50 states Whole bean, ground Yes, for orders over $30 Trade Coffee Best Coffee Subscription $16 per month 50 states Whole bean, ground Yes Wildland Coffee Best Coffee for Travel $10 per box 50 states Whole bean, sachet No Frequently Asked Questions How Much Caffeine Is in a Cup of Coffee? There are 95 mg of caffeine in a standard cup of coffee. For perspective, there are around 50 mg of caffeine in a standard cup of black tea and approximately 30 in a cup of green tea. Generally, most health experts recommend you limit your caffeine intake to 400 mg in a single day. What Is the Difference Between Types of Coffee? Even though there is a seemingly endless list of cool coffee drinks with catchy Italian names, nearly all coffee comes from one of two different types of coffee beans: arabica or robusta. Arabica is by far the most popular, accounting for nearly 70% of coffee worldwide, and due to its delicate, sweet flavor, you often see it sold as beans to grind yourself. Robusta is much more bitter and gives you that quick caffeine fix, so it’s usually used in either instant coffee or espresso shots. There is a third variety of beans called liberica, but since it only accounts for 2% of coffee worldwide and just recently came back from near extinction, it hasn’t found its niche yet. Is Grinding Your Own Coffee Beans Worth It? People who grind their coffee beans insist that their coffee has better consistency and quality than coffee from pre-ground beans. This is largely because coffee begins to lose its flavor quickly after it is ground compared to when the beans are intact. So, it stands to reason that coffee stored for long periods after being ground has lost more flavor than freshly ground coffee. With that being said, do whatever makes you happy, and don’t let anyone else tell you how to enjoy your coffee. How Many Cups Can a Bag of Coffee Make? Obviously, the answer depends on how big of a bag you are talking about. You can expect to get 16 cups of coffee out of every 12 ounces of coffee grinds, so work with that ratio. What Are the Different Brewing Methods for Coffee? Drip: Think of the coffee from your favorite diner. One of the easiest and most popular ways to brew coffee is to drip boiling water over ground coffee. Pour over: This is nearly the same method as drip. However, those who use the pour-over method claim it offers more flavor and control than drip.French press: Brewing French press coffee involves an instrument known as a French press. These work by immersing ground coffee in boiling water and then using pressure to separate the grounds from the coffee for a richer, more intense flavor.Espresso: This Italian coffee brewing method is known for its strong, bitter taste, resulting from a much lower grounds-to-water ratio and finer grind.Cold brew: No, this is not just cold or iced coffee. Cold brew is made by brewing coffee with cold water and steeping it for at least 12 hours. This leads to a smoother taste than just sipping drip coffee or espresso over ice. What Is the Best Way to Store Coffee? Like tea, coffee is best kept in an airtight container away from light, heat, and moisture. Additionally, the closer to room temperature you can keep your coffee beans, the better. Methodology Tastes in coffee are as varied as those who drink it. Whether you’re looking for a site that can help you buy the best variety of coffee, offers a good selection of fair trade coffee, specializes in single-origin, or anything else, our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive list of the best online retailers. To equip you with the most accurate information possible, we compared the companies to several of their competitors on the basis of price, customer reviews, inventory, and more. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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