Nothing beats a freshly-ground and brewed espresso to really pump some pep into your step. Ranging from velvety smooth to tastefully astringent, a good cup of espresso gives you plenty to consider on your palate while also doling out a much stronger dosage of caffeine compared to a regular cup of coffee. And while much of your espresso’s quality can depend on exterior factors, such as purchasing a high quality espresso machine, the heart of a truly great cup of espresso comes down to those dark coffee beans themselves. With different roasts and levels of intensity, one brand of espresso might differ greatly from another. With this in mind, there’s one store-bought espresso brand that stood above the rest.
In Chowhound’s ranking of the best store-bought espresso beans, Peet’s Coffee emerged as the victor — more specifically, the brand’s “Off the Grid” medium roast took the gold. Our reviewer registered a delightful nose of floral, spicy, and mildly-sweet notes, with the espresso providing a nutty, chocolatey profile on the palate. The acidity was balanced, present enough to be noticed without interfering in the espresso’s more delectable notes. Our reviewer couldn’t help but return to this cup, which is arguably the most glowing review you can get from a critic, and a perfect reason to grab a bag for yourself.
What makes this espresso stand out?
With so many bags of espresso beans lining your store shelves, it’s beneficial to have a reason to select one brand over the other. In the head-to-head matchup, Peet’s came out on top, but what did it have that other roasts didn’t? And perhaps more importantly, which brands fell way short of Peet’s in the rankings, making them espressos you’d be better off avoiding?
The review criteria are all simple enough: rate the coffee in terms of quality based on several factors, with the most attention being paid to the balance and the sweetness of the espresso on-hand. And while other elements, such as the nose and the freshness of the brew, are still important, it’s stressed that a balanced espresso takes precedence. This might give you some insight as to why the selections lower on the list placed where they did, with the less-desirable reviews stressing the sheer imbalance of the espresso in one way or the other — either way too bold and bitter or far too weak and vapid. Even though espresso and coffee are quite different, the importance of a balanced roast is paramount for both, as Peet’s makes quite clear in its exceptional offering.
