To start every morning with pleasure, we recommend taking a closer look at ground coffee. At the same time, it is important to know the features of choice, existing varieties and the correct technology for preparing the drink. All this will be discussed in our article. In addition, we have prepared for you a rating of the best brands of ground coffee from trusted manufacturers, based on independent research by Control Purchase and Roskontrol. Read below!
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The role of coffee in human life
The modern rhythm of life, especially in megacities, dictates to humanity the need for constant mental concentration and self-control, as a result of which people quickly get tired, their thinking speed and reaction speed decrease. Fatigue can be “outwitted” by giving the body a cup of fresh, aromatic and invigorating coffee drink. Moreover, the source can be different: instant coffee or coffee beans that are ground and brewed in a Turkish coffee pot. There is another option - already ground coffee, which can be brewed over a fire or in coffee machines and/or coffee makers. It is convenient when there is a need for a real classic drink, but there is no opportunity or time to prepare it according to the classical canons.
High-quality ground coffee – what is it like?
When choosing ground coffee, you need to pay attention to the following aspects:
- Freshness. Any products, especially natural ones, have a limited shelf life. Likewise, coffee can lose its positive quality characteristics under the pressure of time from interaction with the surrounding air, humidity and foreign odors. That is why you should always check the expiration date. It is ideal when fresh coffee beans are ground in front of you at the point of sale or by yourself, but the previously ground composition retains its taste and aroma for several weeks after grinding or opening the vacuum packaging.
- Presence/absence of foam. Lovers of coffee foam know that it should be thick and creamy. You should also be aware that not all brewing methods can produce foam.
- Foreign impurities. The high-quality composition of the ground coffee drink should not include foreign impurities. Conscientious manufacturers indicate their presence or absence on the label or packaging, but there are cases of finding additives that were not declared by the manufacturer. This can be easily detected: add a spoonful of ground coffee to a glass of water at room temperature. If sediment appears or the color of the water changes, you should draw a deplorable conclusion about the poor quality of the product you purchased. Real ground coffee stays “float” and does not stain the water.
- Package. This is an important aspect of the purchase, since the packaging not only stores the product, but also displays all the necessary information about it: expiration date;
- country and company producing the product;
- type of grinding and degree of roasting;
- single variety or blend;
- strength level;
- cooking methods, etc.
Coffee Brand Comparison Chart
For a more clear comparison of the brands presented above, we use a comparison table.
| Model | Country of Origin | Compound | Expiration date (months) | Weight (g) | Price, rub) |
| Kimbo | Italy | Arabica | 12 | 500 | from 650 to 1,999 |
| Illy | America | Arabica | 36 | 600 | from 999 to 3,199 |
| Diemme | Italy | Arabica | 16 | 450 | from 799 to 1,899 |
| Danesi | Italy | Arabica | 24 | 250 | from 1,199 to 2,999 |
| Jardin | Russia | Arabica | 18 | 500 | from 219 to 449 |
| Paulig | Russia | Arabica, Robusta | 24 | 450 | from 319 to 499 |
| Live coffee | Russia | Arabica | 12 | 200 | from 219 to 599 |
Degree of roasting and grinding of beans
The taste of freshly brewed drinks is largely influenced by the initial degree of roasting of the grains, which are pre-selected, processed, sorted and dried.
There are several traditional types of roasting:
- weak, with a light taste and weak aroma, without bright shades;
- light, giving a soft taste and sweet aftertaste;
- medium – a perfectly balanced mix of taste with a low presence of bitterness and odor;
- dark, brightly conveying a combination of bitter and sweet coffee tones;
- very dark, which most plausibly reveals the full expressiveness of the bitterness of the drink, leaving behind a long aftertaste.
There are 3 degrees of grinding of coffee beans. These differences determine how this aromatic drink can be prepared:
- Coarsely ground coffee beans are used for brewing in coffee machines.
- Medium grind beans are designed for drip coffee makers.
- Fine grind for cooking over an open fire in a regular pot.
Manufacturer country
This criterion allows you to determine the main taste characteristics, depending on the country in which the beans are grown and the coffee is produced:
- India. The drink has strength, spice, and also tastes: sweet and bitter at the same time. There is no sourness.
- Kenya and Yemen. High caffeine content, low acidity, delicate taste and rich aroma. There is almost no bitterness or sourness felt.
- Ethiopia. Impeccable production quality. The coffee is strong, high quality, with chocolate notes and light fruity tones.
- Brazil. Strength, bitterness and sourness in coffee compositions. Due to the increased content of quinine in the soil, coffee may have a “medicinal” flavor.
- Cuba. Export is made in the form of blends under the product brand “Kubita”.
Best lists
Based on the rating, tasting characteristics and customer opinions, we have selected the three best producers of ground coffee.
"Lavazza Qualita Oro" - the choice of buyers and experts
A blend of six South American Arabica varieties is a classic symphony of taste and aroma based on a 1956 recipe. The taste of the drink is sweet and refined with fruity and floral notes. A characteristic feature of the finished drink is a golden foam on the surface. This blend from the Italian brand has many fans among coffee gourmets, and according to the results of the Roskontrol examination, it also received high marks.
"Paulig Presidentti Original" - value for money
Among consumer reviews, the main advantage of this mixture is the extremely successful ratio of good quality and affordable price. Arabica beans for this blend are collected on plantations in Central America. They are lightly roasted, which gives the finished drink a delicate taste without harshness, bitterness or excessive sourness. A distinctive feature of the flavor profile is notes of black currant berries. A pack of coffee weighing 250 g can be purchased at a price of 189 rubles, which is more than justified for a product of this quality.
“Egoiste Noir” - an aromatic blend for universal preparation
The German brand has created an excellent blend of two varieties of African Arabica from lowland and highland plantations. Chocolate lovers should definitely like the drink - hints of cocoa are very noticeable in the aftertaste. Most consumers note the alluring and persistent aroma of the finished drink, which literally fills the entire space around. An undoubted advantage is that “Egoiste Noir” does not have to be brewed at all - grinding allows you to prepare coffee directly in a mug, which is very convenient in the office or when you are short on time.
What is the difference between ground coffee and instant coffee?
The differences between instant and ground coffee depend on production technology. An instant drink is more convenient to use, store and transport, however, there are also opponents of this type of coffee: many who like to drink a freshly brewed drink do not recognize an instant product.
Ground coffee beans are a compromise between preserving flavor authenticity and the convenience of preparing an instant drink.
Differences between instant and ground coffee:
- Taste. With the ground composition it is deeper and richer.
- Content of microelements. Instant coffee contains less potassium (affects the structure of bone and muscle tissue), magnesium (controls the functioning of blood vessels) and lipid acids (negatively affects the development of cancer cells).
- Compound. Instant products are made from Robusta beans, which contain large amounts of caffeine. The ground blends are made from a ratio of Robusta to Arabica, resulting in a smoother drink.
- Number of calories. An instant coffee drink contains 2 times less calories than the same volume prepared from ground coffee.
Varieties of coffee
Coffee beans grown around the world are divided into 4 main species groups.
Arabica
The most famous variety with a unique taste and aroma. The main difference between Arabica and other varieties is its unique smell and rich taste with notes of sweetness. Since the beans contain a small amount of caffeine, the variety is considered mild. The presence of bitterness in the finished drink depends on the type of roasting.
It is noteworthy that coffee trees grown in different countries produce fruits that differ in taste. Thus, Arabica from Brazil has a slight taste of nuts, Indian coffee has a chocolate flavor, and Ethiopian coffee has a slight taste of exotic berries.
Robusta
This variety is grown only in the Congo River areas (Central Africa). Robusta has great strength and astringency, which is why manufacturers create blends of this type with Arabica in different proportions. Instant coffee products are made from this species.
Liberica
Grains from Africa are initially very bitter and have a specific aroma, due to which they serve as additional ingredients.
Excelsa
It is the most expensive and rare type of coffee, which is considered the predecessor of Indian varieties. The world's gastronomic coffee gourmets are willing to pay fabulous sums in order to be able to enjoy the deep taste and unsurpassed aroma of this drink.
TOP 6 fine and very fine grind coffee
| Photo | Name | Rating | Price | |
| #1 | Dallmayr Esspresso Monaco | ⭐ 95 / 100 3 - votes | More details | |
| #2 | Blues Decaf (decaf) | ⭐ 93 / 100 1 - voice | More details | |
| #3 | Lebo Extra | ⭐ 91 / 100 2 - votes | More details | |
| #4 | Paulig Mokka | ⭐ 89 / 100 4 - votes | More details | |
| #5 | Paulig Classic | ⭐ 89 / 100 3 - votes | More details | |
| #6 | Peter the Great “Imperial grind” for brewing in a cup | ⭐ 88 / 100 2 - votes | More details |
Which of the presented coffees did you like best?
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This type of coffee is the most popular in the coffee market, as it has undeniable advantages. It prepares quickly (some manufacturers produce coffee that can be brewed directly in a cup), has a mild taste and a delicate, but quite rich aroma. Fine and very finely ground coffee also perfectly reveals the taste of various desserts and other products that lovers often add to the finished drink.
No. 6 – Peter the Great “Imperial grind” for brewing in a cup
Peter the Great “Imperial Grind” for brewing in a cup
This is a very popular brand of natural ground coffee, which does not require a Turk for preparation. It can be brewed directly in a cup, like any instant coffee, while the taste of the drink remains very bright and rich. This is a medium-roasted Arabica drink with the classic taste of black coffee. This type of coffee is convenient for people with a lack of free time, since it is extremely simple to prepare, and the brewing time is no more than 2 minutes.
Characteristics of Peter the Great coffee “Imperial grind” for brewing in a cup:
- variety - Arabica;
- grinding – very fine;
- degree of roasting – medium;
- average cost – 217 rubles per pack of 204 g.
Advantages:
pros
- can be brewed directly in a cup like instant coffee;
- 100% Arabica;
- The beans are roasted using hot air technology, which allows you to preserve all the properties of coffee, its taste and aroma.
Minuses
- not identified.
Prices for Peter the Great coffee “Imperial grind” for brewing in a cup
Coffee Peter the Great “Imperial grind” for brewing in a cup
No. 5 – Paulig Classic
Paulig Classic
A delicious combination coffee that contains Arabica and Robusta beans, which gives it a refined bitterness, rich taste and a rich, long-lasting aftertaste. The fine degree of grinding allows this coffee to be used for preparation in a Turk or a geyser-type coffee machine. According to buyers, this is one of the best manufacturers with an optimal price-quality ratio.
Characteristics of Paulig Classic coffee:
- variety – Arabica/Robusta;
- grinding – very fine;
- degree of roasting – medium;
- average cost – 192 rubles per pack of 200 g.
pros
- suitable for cooking in a Turk and geyser-type coffee maker;
- has an affordable price;
- The structure of the coffee is homogeneous, without lumps or inclusions.
Minuses
- not identified.
Reviews and prices for Paulig Classic coffee
No. 4 – Paulig Mokka
Paulig Mokka
Another variety of coffee under the Paulig brand is Paulig Mokka. It differs from Paulig Classic in its higher robusta content, which affects the taste of the drink. Paulig Mokka coffee has an increased strength, invigorates well in the morning, and has a pronounced tonic effect due to the large amount of caffeine included in robusta. Those who are going to try this coffee for the first time should take into account that it leaves a long aftertaste in the mouth with a characteristic bitterness.
Characteristics of Paulig Mokka coffee:
- variety – Arabica/Robusta;
- grinding – the finest;
- degree of roasting – medium;
- average cost – 178 rubles per pack of 200 g.
pros
- It tones well and helps you wake up in the morning.
Minuses
- high content of robusta (robusta contains a lot of caffeine, which negatively affects the functioning of the heart, central nervous system, and brain);
- strong bitterness.
Prices for Paulig Mokka coffee
Coffee Paulig Mokka
No. 3 – Lebo Extra
Lebo Extra
Lebo Extra is one of the most popular types of coffee among customers with a very affordable price and excellent taste characteristics. The coffee contains coffee beans grown in Colombia, has a bright rich aroma and a soft, refined taste, without an aftertaste. Used for cooking in Turk.
Characteristics of Lebo Extra coffee:
- variety - Arabica;
- grinding – fine (“velvet”);
- degree of roasting – medium;
- The average cost is 75 rubles per pack of 100 g.
pros
- 100% Arabica;
- low price with high quality;
- soft taste.
Minuses
- not identified.
Prices for Lebo Extra coffee
Coffee Lebo Extra
No. 2 – Blues Decaf (decaffeinated)
Blues Decaf (decaffeinated)
Blues Decaf is a brand of elite coffee, for the preparation of which freshly roasted Arabica beans are used. Coffee under this brand does not contain caffeine and is prepared using a special Swiss Water Process technology, which allows several times to reduce the caffeine content in mature coffee beans without the use of chemicals. Blues Decaf coffee is perfect for strong coffee lovers who are contraindicated in drinking caffeine-containing drinks (persons with heart and vascular diseases).
Characteristics of Blues Decaf coffee:
- variety - Arabica;
- grinding – fine;
- degree of roasting – strong (dark);
- average cost – 421 rubles per 200 g.
pros
- suitable for people with cardiac pathologies, as it does not contain caffeine;
- contains 100% high quality Arabica beans, hand-selected;
- can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- You can drink it at night.
Minuses
- high price;
- slightly sour taste.
Prices for Blues Decaf coffee (decaffeinated)
Blues Ground coffee Blues Decaf decaf
No. 1 – Dallmayr Esspresso Monaco
Dallmayr Esspresso Monaco
A bright and rich deep roast coffee. Despite the fact that the composition contains robusta beans, the taste of the drink is still very soft and develops well, since their content is no more than 5% (95% is Arabica beans). You can prepare this coffee in a Turkish coffee maker, an espresso coffee maker or a geyser-type coffee maker. Dallmayr Esspresso Monaco is also great for making lattes and cappuccinos.
Characteristics of Dallmayr Esspresso Monaco coffee:
- variety – Arabica 95%, Robusta 5%;
- grinding – the finest;
- degree of roasting – strong (dark);
- average cost – 477 rubles per 200 g jar.
pros
- can be used to make espresso, latte and cappuccino;
- high Arabica content.
Minuses
- too tart and thick.
Prices for Dallmayr Esspresso Monaco coffee
Dallmayr Esspresso Monaco
The most delicious coffees
Based on the preferences of the majority of coffee drink lovers and professionals, as well as taking into account the monitoring of the sales of varieties, we have compiled the TOP 10 most popular varieties:
- Harari (Ethiopia). Beans of the highest quality with increased strength and a chocolate flavor.
- Kilimanjaro (Kenya). The variety has a slight sourness, a fresh hint of tropical berries and an alluring aroma of spices.
- Geisha (Panama). A variety belonging to the “extra” class, with a soft, enveloping taste, bright shades of lychee and lime.
- Mysore (India). Grains with a delicate taste and light wine notes, seasoned with pleasant sourness.
- Qubita (Cuba) A variety that has a rich astringent taste with hints of hot pepper. Opens up beautifully when cooked over an open fire.
- Mocha (Yemen). Coffee has an unusual aroma, taste and combination of fruit notes, chocolate and ripe grapes.
- Antigua (Guatemala). The strength of the drink from this variety is low, and the taste has a light chocolate tint.
- Blue Mountain (Jamaica). Coffee brewed from these beans has a mild taste and a slight hint of fruity sourness.
- Java (Java). The uniqueness of the taste, which once tried is difficult to forget, is due to smoky notes.
- Cherry (India). The brewed drink has strength, slight sourness and an enveloping aroma.
How the rating was compiled
The TOP of current brands and the best varieties presented below is compiled based on several criteria:
- Manufacturer.
- Taste.
- Brand popularity.
- Price-quality ratio.
- Reviews from experts and real consumers.
The rating of ground coffee varieties is, of course, subjective, because... It is impossible to measure such criteria as “like or dislike” in absolute units, but we hope that the presented informed opinions about your favorite product will help you in your choice.
In order to make it convenient for you to choose ground coffee based on advantages, disadvantages, average price and characteristics, we took the most popular blends/varieties and compiled a rating. Points for the rating were given based on the percentage of the best indicator, reduced by 10 times.
When compiling the rating, customer reviews were taken into account, which guarantees the fairness of the models in the top.
TOP 4 medium ground coffee
| Photo | Name | Rating | Price | |
| #1 | Lavazza Crema e Gusto | ⭐ 98 / 100 6 — votes | More details | |
| #2 | Julius Meinl Viennese breakfast | ⭐ 94 / 100 1 - voice | More details | |
| #3 | Julius Meinl President | ⭐ 90 / 100 | More details | |
| #4 | Jardin Americano Crema | ⭐ 85 / 100 4 - votes | More details |
Which of the presented coffees did you like best?
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Medium grind coffee is a drink with a classic taste of medium strength. It is best to drink it for breakfast or after lunch, as this coffee has a strong tonic effect. Good additions to medium-ground coffee are lemons, cream and desserts based on natural berries.
No. 4 – Jardin Americano Crema
Jardin Americano Crema
One of the most popular brands of ground coffee. Jardin Americano Crema coffee has a soft and harmonious taste and a rich caramel shade due to low roasting. A special feature of the finished drink is the presence of dense creamy foam. Arabica beans are used in production (more than 90%), and the taste is diluted with notes of robusta, resulting in a delicate and tart aftertaste after drinking the drink.
Characteristics of Jardin Americano Crema coffee:
- variety – Arabica/Robusta;
- grinding – medium;
- degree of roasting – light;
- average cost – 181 rubles per pack of 250 g.
pros
- high Arabica content;
- soft and harmonious taste;
- delicate creamy foam;
- affordable price.
Minuses
- not identified.
Reviews and prices for Jardin Americano Crem coffee
No. 3 – Julius Meinl President
Julius Meinl President
Julius Meinl President is one of the most popular brands of medium ground coffee. This is premium coffee with a bright, memorable taste, made from high-quality high-mountain Arabica beans. All products from this manufacturer are produced in tight vacuum packaging, which allows you to preserve all the taste and aroma as much as possible. Julius Meinl President has a slightly bitter aftertaste and slight sourness, as it contains 15% robusta.
Characteristics of coffee Julius Meinl President:
- variety – Arabica 85%, Robusta 15%;
- grinding – medium;
- degree of roasting – medium;
- average cost – 287 rubles per pack of 250 g.
pros
- contains high quality grains.
Minuses
- not identified.
Coffee prices Julius Meinl President
Coffee Julius Meinl President
No. 2 – Julius Meinl Viennese breakfast
Julius Meinl Viennese Breakfast
Another type of coffee from the manufacturer Julius Meinl. It has a tart taste with a piquant bitterness and is high in strength, so it is recommended to drink it during an early breakfast to invigorate and recharge your batteries. The strength is ensured by the high content of robusta, as well as Italian (dark) roasting.
Characteristics of Julius Meinl Viennese Breakfast coffee:
- variety – Arabica 75%, Robusta 25%;
- grinding – medium;
- degree of roasting – dark;
- average cost – 348 rubles per pack of 250 g.
pros
- helps to wake up in the morning or cheer up after hard mental work.
Minuses
- very strong;
- The taste is not for everyone (according to customer reviews, it is very bitter).
Coffee prices Julius Meinl Viennese breakfast
Coffee Julius Meinl Viennese breakfast
No. 1 – Lavazza Crema e Gusto
Lavazza Crema e Gusto
One of the best brands of strong black coffee, medium grind, containing only 30% Arabica. Due to strong roasting, the drink turns out strong, rich and thick with dense foam.
Characteristics of Lavazza Crema e Gusto coffee:
- variety – Arabica 30%, Robusta 70%;
- grinding – medium;
- degree of roasting – dark;
- The average cost is 253 rubles per pack of 250 g.
pros
- excellent tart taste for lovers of strong coffee.
Minuses
- not identified.
Prices for Lavazza Crema e Gusto coffee
Coffee Lavazza Crema e Gusto
