Top Espresso Bean Brands: A Caffeinated Delight!

Espresso enthusiasts are often on the hunt for the perfect beans to create the ideal cup of coffee. Numerous brands around the world are renowned for their exceptional espresso beans, each offering unique flavors and blends to satisfy diverse palates. From traditional Italian roasters to innovative new brands, there's an abundance of choices available for both casual drinkers and connoisseurs alike. To help you explore the finest options, we've compiled a list of the best espresso bean brands for your next brew, as detailed below.

Illustration of espresso beans

Best brands of espresso beans in 2025

Lavazza

Lavazza, a renowned Italian coffee roaster, has solidified its position as one of the best producers of espresso beans, achieving record revenues of EUR3.1 billion in 2023, a 13% increase from the previous year. Despite facing significant challenges from soaring raw coffee costs, particularly for robusta which peaked at close to $3,200/ton, Lavazza maintained its market share and volumes by limiting consumer price increases. The company's beans business segment grew by 6.6%, with a market share increase of 9.1%, and its single-serve capsules segment saw a 15.3% growth. Geographically, Lavazza reported strong growth in the US (+9.8%), Poland (+21%), and the UK (+8.6%), along with notable increases in Italy and France. The company's robust financial health enabled it to seize market opportunities, including the acquisition of MaxiCoffee, and deliver continuous growth across both at-home and out-of-home channels. For more detailed insights, visit their news article on the subject.

Illy

Illy is renowned as one of the best producers of espresso beans, known for its consistent high quality and superior taste. In 2022, the company achieved a record 13.6% increase in revenue, reaching EUR567.7 million, and a 15.8% increase in EBITDA, despite rising production costs. Illy's coffee is appreciated for its elegant and restrained flavor profile, often featuring notes of chocolate and almond, and is favored in both home and out-of-home consumption channels. The brand's commitment to quality is underscored by its strict green coffee grading and innovative packaging technology. With a presence in 147 markets worldwide, Illy continues to promote a culture of coffee excellence. For more information, visit their official website.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Stumptown Coffee Roasters is a renowned brand in the coffee industry, particularly celebrated for its high-quality espresso beans. Founded in 1999 by Duane Sorenson, the company is a pioneer of the third wave of coffee movement and has been recognized as 'Roaster of the Year 2006'. Stumptown is known for its flagship blend, Hair Bender, which balances brightness with body and sweetness, featuring flavors of citrus, dark chocolate, and raisin from coffees sourced from Latin America, Africa, and Indonesia. The company has expanded significantly, with locations in Portland, Seattle, New York, and Los Angeles, and was acquired by Peet's Coffee in 2015. Stumptown's commitment to quality and innovation has made it a favorite among coffee enthusiasts. For more information, visit the Stumptown Coffee Roasters website.

Intelligentsia Coffee

Intelligentsia Coffee, founded in 1995 by Doug Zell and Emily Mange, is a pioneering brand in the third wave coffee movement, renowned for its high-quality espresso beans. Known for their Direct Trade model, Intelligentsia ensures equity in the supply chain by sourcing beans directly from growers in various regions. The company, now with a majority stake owned by Peet's Coffee & Tea since 2015, operates multiple locations across the US and Canada, including 13 retail cafes. Intelligentsia's Black Cat Classic Espresso, a blend of Brazilian and Colombian coffee, is particularly acclaimed for its balanced flavor profile. The company's commitment to quality and ethical sourcing has earned it numerous national and international honors.

Blue Bottle Coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee is renowned for its high-quality espresso beans, particularly with blends like the 17ft Ceiling, which combines organic Robusta from India with Ethiopian natural beans to create a robust, crema-heavy espresso with a flavor profile of caramel, almond, and dried cherry. Founded in 2002 by James Freeman, the company has grown into a $700 million eCommerce business, known for its meticulous small-batch roasting and ethical sourcing. Their roasting practice is guided by the Japanese concept of Kaizen, ensuring continuous improvement and consistency. Blue Bottle Coffee offers a variety of blends, including the popular Hayes Valley Espresso and 17ft Ceiling, both of which are dark-roasted to bring out rich, complex flavors. The company's commitment to quality and customer experience has made it a leader in the specialty coffee market.

Counter Culture Coffee

Counter Culture Coffee, established in 1995, is a leading independent roaster known for its relentless pursuit of coffee perfection and commitment to sustainability. With 2 roasteries and 12 training centers nationwide, they source high-quality beans from global producers, prioritizing transparency and environmental responsibility. They fund 16 sustainability projects annually and offer over 100 varieties of coffees. Their blends, such as Big Trouble, are renowned for their smooth, nutty, and chocolatey flavors. Counter Culture Coffee has been recognized for its consistent growth and quality over 28 years.

Death Wish Coffee

Death Wish Coffee is renowned as one of the best producers of espresso beans, offering intensely strong and bold coffee blends that fuel bold souls. Their espresso roast coffee is made from USDA Organic and Certified Fair Trade arabica and robusta beans, ensuring a smooth, bold taste with no bitter notes. With an average customer rating of 4.8 out of 5, Death Wish Coffee has established a strong reputation for quality. The company, based in Saratoga Springs, NY, generates an estimated annual revenue of $44.5 million and employs 150 people. Their website traffic has seen a 13.33% increase in the last month, reflecting their growing popularity.

Peet's Coffee

Peet's Coffee is renowned for its high-quality espresso beans, sourced from the finest Arabica beans and roasted to order to ensure maximum freshness. The company, founded by Alfred Peet in 1966, maintains a commitment to artisan quality, roasting in small batches and delivering products within 24 to 48 hours of order submission. Peet's has doubled its revenue over the past five years and is part of JDE Peet's, the world's leading pure-play coffee and tea company, which has increased its responsibly sourced coffee to 77% globally as of 2022. Their blends, such as Espresso Forte and Major Dickason's Blend, are crafted to provide rich, complex flavors. With a strong focus on quality and freshness, Peet's stands out in the coffee industry.

Coffee Collective

Coffee Collective stands out as a premier producer of espresso beans, known for its commitment to transparency and quality. In 2023, they purchased 133 tons of green coffee, with an average Return to Origin price of $4.47 per pound, significantly higher than the market price of $2.16 per pound. The company pays a "Quality Bonus" to farmers, sometimes as high as 419% above the market price, to reward high-quality coffee production. Their sourcing directly from farmers ensures the best green beans and fair compensation for producers. Coffee Collective is also a certified B Corporation, adhering to high environmental and social standards. For more insights on their transparent practices, visit their transparency report.

Café Bustelo

Cafe Bustelo is renowned for its rich and robust coffee, particularly favored for its bold and full-bodied flavor profile, which includes chocolatey and nutty notes. The brand, especially its Supreme variant made from 100% Arabica beans, is highly regarded for its intensity and is often compared to the powerful kick of espresso. Cafe Bustelo has seen significant growth, with net sales increasing by 19% in 2020, and it continues to be a leading brand in the Latin market and among non-Latino millennials.