The Best Espresso Beans for Pulling Fantastic Shots, According to an Expert

The first espresso I ever had was prefaced with a short warning: “Be careful, it’s pretty strong.” They were right, of course. Espresso is, on average, about eight to 10 times stronger than drip coffee due to its pressurized brewing process, and because an espresso shot is so concentrated, its flavors are, too. A coffee with bright fruit flavors might be intensely tart as an espresso shot, while a rich and chocolatey espresso blend may taste flat and dull when made as a pour-over. The best espresso beans are formulated with this in mind and are designed by coffee roasters to pull sweet and balanced shots. 

We compiled a list of some coffee beans for classic espresso options (think rich, chocolatey, and caramel-forward flavors) along with a few of our personal favorites to help you decide which option is the right fit for you. I relied on my experience in the specialty coffee industry, too, which I previously worked in for 15-plus years.

The Winners, at a Glance 

• A Lighter-Roasted Chocolatey Blend: Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic Espresso
• A Fruity and Chocolatey Blend: Stumptown Hair Bender 
• A Full-Bodied, Nutty Espresso: Counter Culture Coffee Big Trouble
• A Bittersweet Darker Blend: Blue Bottle Hayes Valley Espresso
• A Nutty, Darker Roast Option: Peace Coffee Black Squirrel
• A Bright, Medium-Bodied Blend: Onyx Coffee Lab Southern Weather
• A Classic Profile From a Coffee Pioneer: George Howell Coffee Alchemy Espresso
• A Well-Balanced Multi-Purpose Blend: Ruby Coffee Roasters Creamery Espresso
• A Lighter, Brighter Espresso: Kuma Coffee Roasters Classic
• A Rotating Subscription Option: Trade Coffee Espresso Subscription
• Editor Pick: Partners Coffee Roasters Flatiron

Things to Consider

What’s the Difference Between Regular Coffee and Espresso Beans? 

On a cellular level, there’s no difference between coffee advertised for drip coffee, pour-over, or French press and those labeled for espresso—they’re all roasted coffee beans. What separates them, more than anything, is the intent of the roaster. Because espresso uses extremely high pressure as a part of its brewing process, roasters often select coffees and roast profiles they think are best suited to properly extract under these intense conditions. Traditionally, this meant darker roasts and lower-density coffees (which usually mean heavier-bodied and chocolatey flavors) but these days there is a much wider variety of espresso blends. Nothing is stopping you from brewing your favorite espresso blend as a pour-over or pulling a shot with your favorite single-origin coffee—it’s just that roasters will run quality control taste tests based on the brew method on the label, making sure their espresso blends perform as advertised.

How Do Coffee Roasters Keep Their Bean Blends Consistent Year-Round? 

Coffee blends are made up of different coffees to achieve a specific flavor profile. Coffee trees are harvested once a year, and unroasted coffee can only be warehoused for around nine months before it starts to lose its flavor. Old-fashioned roasters used to warehouse coffee for years to keep their blends consistent, but that led to duller, flat coffee. Modern coffee roasters (including every roaster in this list) instead rotate the coffees that make up their blends seasonally. To keep coffee bean blends consistent, they match fresh, incoming lots of unroasted coffee to the flavor profile of a coffee that’s about to go out of stock. That way, blends stay fresh and vibrant while still being consistent throughout the year. 

So, What Do Espresso Bean Blends Taste Like? 

There’s no one defined flavor profile for an espresso blend, but traditional espresso blends tend to have a slightly darker roast and focus on sweeter flavors like dark chocolate and caramel. Historically, these coffees were easier to source in larger quantities, and roasting darker helped bring out sweeter flavors when espresso equipment wasn’t as high-tech as it is now. A lot of American roasters (like Intelligentsia and Blue Bottle) have replicated that traditional flavor profile in their blends because, well, it’s popular. But there are also roasters pushing the boundaries of what espresso can be, producing blends that are bright, fruity, floral, syrupy, nutty, or whatever the roaster thinks tastes good (these include Onyx, George Howell, and Ruby). No matter what profile you prefer, a good espresso blend should also be consistent and taste the same no matter the time of year.

What Do I Need to Consider When Picking Out Espresso Beans?

The first thing to think about is your flavor preferences—it’s best to pick espresso beans that sound delicious when you read the label. But also consider your equipment. Lighter-roasted, denser coffees need a finer grinder to extract their sweetness, and entry-level grinders might struggle to stay consistently fine enough in that range. At the same time, high-end espresso machines are great at extracting flavors, so a darker roast might be a little smokier with a heavier body than desired. Most of the coffees on this list are medium to medium-dark roasts and will pull great shots no matter which espresso machine or espresso grinder you use.

Freshness is Important

Freshly roasted coffee has a lot of carbon dioxide built up inside, which shows up as a bloom when brewing drip coffee and as crema in espresso. Crema is the thick, slightly oily foam on top of an espresso shot that’s created when the pressurized water emulsifies CO2 with the coffee’s oils. It’s an indicator that your coffee is still fresh, but if your coffee is too fresh, there can be an excessive amount of crema that puffs up and out of your spouts, impinging the brewing process. Most pros suggest resting your coffee for at least four to five days before pulling a shot. However, blends also show their best flavors within two weeks of the roasting date, so keep that in mind. We suggest buying from roasters that roast to order, so you can age your coffee accordingly. 

Take a Look at Roast Levels 

Roast levels are pretty subjective. It’s easy to pick out a coal-black coffee as a dark roast, but other than that, people’s preferences vary, and there are a lot of roast levels that land somewhere in the “medium-roast” range. Even then, one person’s “deep medium” might be another person’s “charred mess.” Nailing down what you like takes some trial and error, so we included a variety of picks, from dark to light, that are good starting points for those roast styles. 

Okay, I’m Sold, But What Gear Will Give Me the Best Espresso At Home?

Glad you asked! We’ve got tested reviews of espresso machines and espresso grinders to look through, but we’d love to give you some recommendations. If you’re just starting out, the Breville Bambino Plus paired with the Baratza Encore ESP is a great low-cost option that pulls great-tasting espresso and even has an automatic steam wand for milk drinks. If you like to tinker around more, the Gaggia Classic Pro with a Baratza Sette 270 has more freedom for dialing in a specific flavor profile (though they are a little more expensive). Finally, if you're looking for an all-in-one option with a built-in grinder, we really liked the Breville Barista Impress Express.

I Don’t See My Favorite Espresso Beans On This List

There are hundreds of great espresso blends in the U.S. alone, and, unfortunately, we can’t put them all onto a single list. That doesn’t mean we don’t like your favorite blend, too, we just tried to select a variety of roasters as a general guide. We think it’s always worth checking out a blend you haven’t tried before, but espresso preferences are extremely personal, and it can be tricky to dial in a coffee that you’re unfamiliar with, so we do get it if you’re sticking with your fave. 

The Criteria: What to Look for in Espresso Beans

The best espresso blends have a flavor profile and roast level that match your preferences and are consistent throughout the year. They should also be versatile enough to brew well on any home espresso setup and come from a company that roasts to order for maximum freshness.

Our Favorite Espresso Beans

A Lighter-Roasted Chocolatey Blend

Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic Espresso

$15 at Amazon View on Walmart View on Intelligentsia.com

Black Cat Classic has been Intelligentsia’s flagship espresso blend since the roastery opened in 1995. Made with Brazilian coffees, Black Cat’s flavor profile is designed to be a modern, lighter-roast update of a traditional Italian espresso, with flavor notes of chocolate and molasses.

Key Specs 

• Bag size: 12 ounces
• Coffee origin: Brazil
• Roaster’s tasting notes: Chocolate, molasses

A Fruity and Chocolatey Blend

Stumptown Coffee Roasters Hair Bender

$16 at Amazon $23 at Walmart View on Stumptowncoffee.com

One of the original omni-purpose blends, Hair Bender is Stumptown's flagship espresso and drip blend and is designed to balance brightness with body and sweetness—they use citrus, dark chocolate, and raisin as their main flavor descriptors. Though Stumptown has always been protective of exactly which coffees are in the blend at any given time, its goal is to feature coffees from all three major growing regions: Latin America, Africa, and Indonesia. It's what editorial director Daniel Grtizer and senior commerce editor Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm use with their machines at home.

Key Specs

• Bag size: 12 ounces
• Coffee origin: Coffees from Latin America, Africa, and Indonesia
• Roaster’s tasting notes: Citrus, dark chocolate, raisin

A Full-Bodied, Nutty Espresso

Counter Culture Coffee Big Trouble

$14 at Amazon $30 at Walmart View on Counterculturecoffee.com

In 2014, Counter Culture Coffee relaunched its blends to better reflect its seasonal coffee sourcing. Big Trouble is their version of a balanced and sweet flavor profile that they describe as caramel, nutty, with a full body, and is intended for both espresso and drip (though it’s their default espresso recommendation). They also have a brighter and more fruit-forward blend called Hologram, if you want something just a little more vibrant.  

Key Specs

• Bag size: 12 ounces
• Coffee origin: Columbia, Ethiopia
• Roaster’s tasting notes: Caramel, nutty, full body

A Bittersweet Traditional Blend

Blue Bottle Hayes Valley Espresso

$13 at Amazon $37 at Walmart View on Bluebottlecoffee.com

Blue Bottle’s flagship espresso is a tribute to their original cafe in a garage in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley. Heavily influenced by darker roasted Japanese coffee culture, Hayes Valley Espresso has a bittersweet edge that pairs well with milk—think baking chocolate, orange zest, and brown sugar. 

Key Specs

• Bag size: 12 ounces
• Coffee origin: Not listed
• Roaster’s tasting notes: Baking chocolate, orange zest, brown sugar

A Darker Roast Option

Peace Coffee Black Squirrel

View on Peacecoffee.com

A tribute to traditional espresso flavor profiles, Black Squirrel is a darker roasted option from Minneapolis’ Peace Coffee. For anyone looking for roasted, sweet flavors, Black Squirrel’s big flavor profile (dried cherry, fig, and dark chocolate, according to the label) can cut through larger milk volumes making it a great option for bigger lattes. 

Key Specs

• Bag size: 12 ounces
• Coffee origin: Not listed
• Roaster’s tasting notes: Dried cherry, fig, dark chocolate

A Bright, Medium-Bodied Blend

Onyx Coffee Lab Southern Weather

$20 at Amazon View on Onyxcoffeelab.com

Onyx Coffee Lab’s Southern Weather reflects the company’s ambitious coffee-sourcing processes. Based on rotating coffees from Colombia and Ethiopia, Southern Weather is a modern espresso blend with fruit-forward flavors that are anchored by a deep sweetness. Onyx references milk chocolate, plum, and candied walnuts in their tasting notes, and it’s the brand’s first-ever espresso blend that has become a standard for many cafes around the U.S. 

Key Specs

• Bag size: 10 ounces
• Coffee origin: Colombia, Ethiopia
• Roaster’s tasting notes: Milk chocolate, plum, candied walnuts 

A Classic Profile From a Coffee Pioneer

George Howell Coffee Alchemy Espresso

View on Georgehowellcoffee.com

George Howell founded The Coffee Connection in Boston in 1975, and after selling his original cafes to Starbucks in 1994 (along with the concept for the Frappuccino), he set about building a new namesake coffee company. Alchemy features the company’s traditional espresso profile: a medium-roast blend that focuses on chocolate, almond, and nougat flavors. 

Key Specs

• Bag size: 12 ounces
• Coffee origin: Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala
• Roaster’s tasting notes: Chocolate, almond, nougat

A Well-Balanced Multi-Purpose Blend

Ruby Coffee Roasters Creamery Seasonal Blend

View on Rubycoffeeroasters.com

Founded by an Intelligentsia alumnus 10 years ago, Ruby is based in a small town in Wisconsin and prefers multi-purpose blends over dedicated espresso options. Creamery is their flagship multi-purpose blend and balances dark chocolate sweetness and an almond-like body with hints of brighter fruit flavors, like cherry and fig. 

Key Specs

• Bag size: 12oz
• Coffee origin: Peru, Colombia, Mexico
• Roaster’s tasting notes: Fig, cherry, almond, dark chocolate

A Modern, Lighter Espresso

Kuma Coffee Roasters Classic

View on Kumacoffee.com View on Mistobox.com

Kuma’s approach to coffee is centered around lighter roasts to highlight the nuance in the coffee itself. Their Classic blend is a multi-purpose option built around rotating coffees from Central and South America to highlight a balance of brighter fruit flavors and deep sweetness that they list as stone fruit and honey mixed with caramel and chocolate.

Key Specs

• Bag size: 12 ounces
• Coffee origin: Honduras 
• Roaster’s tasting notes: Caramel, chocolate, stone fruit, honey

A Rotating Subscription Option

Trade Coffee Espresso Subscription

View on Drinktrade.com

If you can’t quite decide the next blend you want to try, a coffee subscription is a great option. Trade offers a rotating espresso subscription that lets you pick how many bags you want at a time and how frequently they come. Trade works with a variety of specialty coffee roasters who ship directly from their roastery to your home, so you always get a fresh roast. You can let their algorithm select for you, or you can override their choice with your own pick. Examples include Klatch’s chocolatey and citrusy House Espresso, PT’s vanilla and brown sugar-like Southpaw Espresso, or Huckleberry’s milk chocolatey and nutty Blue Orchid Blend. 

Key Specs

• Bag size: 12 ounces

Editor's Pick

Partners Coffee Roasters Flatiron

$18 at Amazon View on Partnerscoffee.com

"I am a devoted subscriber to Partners Coffee and get their Flatiron blend in the mail twice a month," says culinary editor Genevieve Yam. "I've been drinking this blend for several years now and have never switched because I love it so much—it's got warm chocolate and caramel-y notes."

Key Specs

• Bag size: 12 ounces (there are also 2 lb. and 5 lb. options)
• Coffee origin: Huila, Colombia and Carmo de Minas, Brazil
• Roaster’s tasting notes: Dark chocolate, praline, dates

FAQs

What makes a good espresso blend? 

A great espresso blend is built around coffees that have sweet and balanced flavors that can be easily extracted in an espresso shot. While traditional roasters have turned to coffees from Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Guatemala, modern roasters have embraced progressive flavor profiles that are bright and fruit-forward, bringing in coffees from Ethiopia, Kenya, and other African countries.

What is the difference between coffee blends and espresso blends?

The main reason why coffees are labeled for espresso or for filter brewing is that the roasters have specifically picked out coffees and roast profiles that are best suited for each brew method. So while you can pull an espresso shot with coffee intended for filter brewing, you might not get as good of results as a coffee that was specifically blended, roasted, and taste-tested for espresso. 

Do espresso blends have more caffeine? 

While some species of coffee trees have slightly higher caffeine content than others, an espresso blend and a regular coffee blend have the same caffeine levels. The biggest caffeine differences come from preparation methods. A double shot of espresso has about the same amount of caffeine as six ounces of brewed coffee, it’s just more concentrated and your body might feel the effects sooner. Someone who grabs a 12-ounce coffee on their way to work might be consuming more caffeine in total, but they also ingest it over a longer period of time, making the caffeine spike happen at a slower rate than someone who downs an espresso in one gulp.

What roast of coffee makes the best espresso?

While any coffee can be used to make espresso, dark roasts have become more common. These yield the heavy, more bitter flavors many have come to associate with espresso.

Why We're the Experts

• Jesse Raub was Serious Eats' commerce writer.
• Jesse worked in the specialty coffee industry for about 15 years and has reviewed numerous espresso machines, including those from Breville.