Our editors independently research the best products online to produce this list. We may receive commission on purchases made from the links below but this will never affect our product choices.
Top 10 Best Ground Coffee
- Happy Belly (Editor’s Choice)
- Death Wish (Luxury Choice)
- Illy Classico (Best Value)
- Lavazza Qualita Rossa (Best Medium Roast)
- Kirkland Signature Café (Best Dark Roast)
- Taylors Of Harrogate (Best for Mixing With Syrups)
- Misty Morning Dark Roast (Best for Organic Coffee)
- Solimo Roast (Best for a Mild Taste)
- Crazy Cat Colombian (Best for a Morning Coffee)
- Cafédirect Machu Picchu Organic Fairtrade (Best for a Sustainable Purchase)
Although most people drink coffee every day, not everyone likes this warm beverage with the same flavour or consistency. Coffee comes in many forms, so whether you want to stick to the flavours you know or try something new, we’ve got you covered.
If you love a freshly brewed drink at home and want to avoid instant coffee, then ground coffee is great.
We’ve rounded up some of the best ground coffee in the UK and thoroughly researched each product. In particular, we took the strength, location, and process of bean-picking into account. From medium roast to intense ground coffee, there’s something for every coffee advocate below.
How We Compared Ground Coffee
To find the right ground coffee, we considered multiple factors, including:
- Roast level
- Packet size
- Region
- Flavour
- Sustainability
Our team researched a wide range of products, comparing their features against the points above and meticulously fact-checking customer reviews. The following list is the result of a careful selection of ground coffee that would suit any kitchen enthusiast’s needs.
Discover more about our process here.
Ground Coffee Reviews
Happy Belly (Editor’s Choice)
This ground coffee boasts a strength of 3/5 that delivers a mild yet aromatic blend with hints of spice, and it’s available in four 250g bags. Having separate bags is great for preventing the coffee ground from going stale and lacking flavour over time.
When you purchase this ground coffee, you’ll get peace of mind that you’re contributing to lower carbon emissions. In particular, these Arabica coffee beans use less packaging with less air in the container.
In addition, the coffee beans are produced by UTZ-certified farmers who have great respect for people and the planet. Use the beans to flavour coffee or add ice cream; your options are endless. It has a smooth consistency and flavour with a slight hint of fruit.
On the other hand, you may find this product slightly weak and bitter if you prefer high-strength coffee. Also, you may need to add more products to your filter coffee maker for a stronger taste.
Pros:
- Packing produces fewer carbon emissions than other brands
- Grown by UTZ certified farmers
- It has a slightly fruity hint
- Available in four bags for optimum freshness
- 3/5 strength
Cons:
- It may be too weak for some coffee lovers
- It may require double the amount to add to a coffee machine
Death Wish (Luxury Choice)
The company brands this filter coffee as the “world’s strongest,” making it great for those who love dark roast and great-tasting coffee.
In addition, this smooth dark roast coffee is convenient to add to your auto-drop coffee maker. And the coffee beans were roasting to provide a bold taste and incredible aroma that’ll fill your kitchen. Plus, it gives an excellent caffeine boost, making ground coffee ideal for people who crave more energy than instant coffee.
While enjoying your cup of coffee, you can get peace of mind knowing that you’re driving USDA Certified Organic and Fairtrade coffee. It’s also available in two sizes: 450g and 1kg.
On the other hand, this ground coffee might be too much for you to handle if you’re used to medium roast or milder coffee, so you’ll need to reduce the portion amount recommended on the packaging. In addition, it may not last longer than a month to experience the coffee’s full freshness and taste.
Pros:
- Ideal for people who love dark roast ground coffee
- Provides an incredible caffeine kick for a quick energy boost
- It has an aromatic smell while brewing
- Available in two sizes options
Cons:
- It might be too strong for a large cup of coffee
- It may only have a month-long expiry date
Illy Classico (Best Value)
Available in a 250g packet and medium roast, these Arabica beans produce a great cup of coffee that isn’t too strong or doesn’t provide an intense caffeine hit.
You can use this to make espresso drinks, as it has a lingering sweetness and delightful notes of orange blossom, caramel sweetness, and jasmine. This lightness and mixture of flavours make it the best ground coffee for espresso machine coffee drinkers.
Furthermore, this product is made from 100% sustainably-grown Arabica beans. As a result, it has a smooth, rich and full taste. The beans are selected worldwide, and it’s expertly blended before the roasting and cooling process for an excellent taste and texture when home brewing.
However, it may not have a delightful aroma, which some people love to experience when enjoying their morning coffee. It may also leave a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Pros:
- Perfect for use in an espresso machine
- Delightful notes of fruit and herbs
- Uses 100% sustainably-grown coffee beans
- Produced by a reputable, trusted brand
Cons:
- It doesn’t contain chocolate notes, which may not be desirable for some
- It may not create a wonderful aroma as it’s brewing
Lavazza Qualita Rossa (Best Medium Roast)
Lavazza is one of the most popular coffee brands you can buy online or from coffee shops. This medium roast ground coffee has a strength rating of 5/10 so that it doesn’t have too much intensity.
Its coffee flavour is smooth with hints of dried fruit and dark chocolate. You can use this in filter machines, a Moka pot, or a French Press. This ground coffee is fine enough to make an espresso and be used in a coffee machine.
The coffee beans are originated from South America and Africa and have a medium roast level. Meanwhile, your purchase contains 12 x 250g packets so that you can fill up your kitchen with one purchase.
In contrast, this ground coffee doesn’t have a single origin, which may disappoint some coffee enthusiasts. You may find the coffee’s grind too thin; therefore, it’s easy to accidentally overpour into your coffee, thus accidentally increasing your caffeine intake.
Pros:
- Excellent bulky buy
- Packed in a way with reduced carbon emissions
- Features a fine grind to use in espressos
- Smooth taste that’s easy to drink quickly
Cons:
- Grind might be too thin to obtain accurate measurements
- It may not be single-origin coffee
Kirkland Signature Café (Best Dark Roast)
If you love dark roast coffee, this might be the best ground coffee for you. The coffee beans are roasted to provide a deep, robust colour, and they’re then ground fresh to capture this rich flavour and a smooth sweet aroma.
In addition, these supremo beans were growing in the Andes Mountains of Colombia and handpicked to create delicious tasting coffee that’ll keep you energised.
Furthermore, this ground coffee is smooth without being too fine to retain a full body. Best of all, it’s one of the best ground coffee for a pleasurable after taste. You may even notice that you don’t have to add as much sugar into your morning coffee, thanks to its slightly sweet flavour.
Nonetheless, this coffee may have a sour aftertaste, which might affect its enjoyment. And it also has a slight hint of banana, which some coffee enthusiasts might not enjoy.
Pros:
- Receive 1.36kg in one package
- It might help to reduce your sugar intake
- Smooth consistency without being too fine
- Keeps you energised
Cons:
- The texture might be slightly gritty for some
- The hint of banana might not be enjoyable for everyone
Taylors Of Harrogate (Best for Mixing With Syrups)
You can use this speciality coffee in coffee machines, and it has a roast rating of 4 and uses 100% Arabica beans. It’s also presented in six packets of 225g.
This Taylors of Harrogate coffee provides a rich and refined ground coffee with elegant notes that Northern Italy inspires. Its coffee flavour provides rich tones of dark chocolate and almond.
It’s also a versatile bean that provides quality coffee. Using this Taylors of Harrogate coffee, you can make an Americano, latte, or flat white. Additionally, its cafetière ground with a slightly coarse texture. This means the grinds will become coarser the longer the coffee remains in the water.
Unfortunately, this Taylors of Harrogate coffee might lack some flavour if you prefer a stronger option, although this can make it great to incorporate with syrups to produce delicious lattes. You may find that it does not produce a delicious aroma while you’re making coffee, which can be disappointing for some.
Pros:
- Best ground coffee for after a meal
- Versatile for all coffee creations
- Great for mixing with flavoured syrups
- It uses 100% Arabica beans
Cons:
- It may have a slightly weaker taste than others on the list
- You might not get an aroma while brewing coffee
Misty Morning Dark Roast (Best for Organic Coffee)
The next on our list for the best ground coffee in the UK is the Misty Morning Dark Roast. Drink this coffee to energise yourself during the family-run or complete morning chores!
It’s a dark roast ground coffee available in a 227g bag, the perfect size for retaining its freshness. And it’s one of the best coffee brands on this list that only produces organic coffee.
This ground coffee features tones of ripe red apple and apricots along with a long-lasting nutty finish. It has an excellent intensity that doesn’t produce a bitter aftertaste. It also delivers deep chocolate notes that make this coffee great for enjoying after a heavy meal.
Making your cup of coffee is a pleasure, thanks to its wonderful aroma that intensifies as the coffee brews. And its fine grind means that you can even 12 use this ground coffee to make rich espresso.
On the other hand, this ground coffee might lack flavour for some people, making you’ll have to incorporate syrup or sugar to brighten its flavour. Also, you may have to use more scoops than other dark roast coffee, resulting in the amount going down way quicker than others.
Pros:
- It doesn’t contain any artificial flavours
- Using organic ingredients
- Donations are made to One Tree Planted Non-Profit Organization
- No bitter aftertaste
- Perfect for making a shot of espresso
Cons:
- It might be too nutty for some
- May need to increase the amount per scoop for intensity
Solimo Roast (Best for a Mild Taste)
This roast and ground coffee has a strength rating of 3/5, making it the perfect middle-ground coffee if you don’t want anything too overpowering or mild. It has a mild and delicate taste combined with a caffeine hit to energise you for the day.
You will eventually realise that you don’t need to use much sugar-free coffee; one dessert spoon is enough to make a delicious cup.
For enhanced flavouring, the ground coffee is packaged in a protective environment to prevent any loss of aroma. Its taste is mellow and balanced, which is ideal if you prefer a soothing cup of coffee rather than ground coffee with pure intensity.
On the other hand, this ground coffee may have less than a six-week shelf life, which isn’t long-lasting. Additionally, you may have to be careful when using a french press to ensure you don’t get any coffee grounds in your cup due to how fine it is.
Pros:
- It only requires one dessertspoon
- Mellow and balanced flavours
- Packed in a protective environment to seal the flavour and aroma
- Grown by UTZ certified farmers
- Perfect for those who love a soothing cup of coffee
Cons:
- It may only have a six-week shelf life
- You may have to be careful in a french press
Crazy Cat Colombian (Best for a Morning Coffee)
This is one of our favourite coffee brands and ground coffee for many reasons. It’s available in a 250g packet and has a medium strength of three.
It has the perfect balance of flavour and strength, making it a full-bodied coffee. What’s more, the company only grinds small amounts of coffee at a time, helping to keep the beans fresh.
In addition, it offers a creamy flavour that’s perfect for a wake-up drink to energise you in the morning. It also doesn’t produce any bitterness, helping to keep your palate tasting good long after a cup of coffee.
On the other hand, this ground coffee might be slightly coarse for some people, making an espresso watery. You may need to add some sugar to your cup of coffee to enhance the flavour—even if you don’t usually.
Pros:
- It doesn’t produce a bitter aftertaste
- Provides a creamy flavour
- A great way to wake up and feel energised in the morning
- Intensity isn’t too strong for those who prefer milder flavours
Cons:
- It may be too coarse for an espresso
- You may need to add sugar to enhance the flavour
Cafédirect Machu Picchu Organic Fairtrade (Best for a Sustainable Purchase)
This is the best ground coffee for a sustainable option. In particular, it’s organic and Fairtrade, helping to support farming communities. Plus, it’s a single-origin coffee.
This Arabica coffee has a strength of four, and it’s suitable for filters and cafetière. You’ll receive 45 paper filters with your purchase, helping to reduce your spending and allowing you to enjoy medium roast coffee.
A little of this product goes a long way, so you can enjoy Arabica coffee without feeling guilty about how much each spoonful costs.
Moreover, this coffee produces a rich and smooth flavour with fine, dark chocolate. And the coffee beans are grown within the Inca heartland of the Peruvian Andes. The coffee beans are handpicked when they’re perfectly ripe and then blended to create a dark blend with a strength of four.
On the other hand, it’s only available in two largely varied sizes, 60g and 750g. And its strength might be too intense for some people.
Pros:
- Purchases help farming communicates
- Includes 45 paper filters
- A little coffee goes a long way
- It doesn’t have a bitter aftertaste
- Single-origin
Cons:
- Lack of size variety may be restricting
- It may be too intense for some coffee drinkers
Ground Coffee Buying Guide
If you want to avoid instant coffee, there’s a plethora of ground coffee on the market that we’re sure you’ll love. But if this is becoming a little overwhelming for you, see our helpful buying guide below.
Roast Level
One of the most important considerations is the roast level, and there are five popular options to choose between. Scandinavian roasters are light in colour, sporting an almost beige shade, and have a delicate and soft flavour and consistency that won’t give you too much caffeine rush.
American roast continues a few hints of bitter notes and has a medium intensity to produce quality coffee. This type of coffee is produced by roasting the beans and not letting the oils remain on the beans’ surface. Therefore, there’s little aroma revealed.
Another option to consider is the Vienna roast. This boasts a slightly sweet flavour with notes of dark chocolate. And sometimes nutty. These have a shiny appearance because they still contain essential oils.
For a more bitter and tart taste, opt for French roast. This is typically identified as 4/5 for strength. But for the more intense coffee flavour and aroma, Italian roast is an option to consider. This coffee has a bitter aftertaste and a distinctively velvet and deep flavour once brewed.
Region
Believe it or not, where your coffee beans come from can hugely impact the overall taste. No matter how you roast or flavour the coffee, where it’s made can influence the final result and longevity.
Although it will boast high acidity, Latin American beans from Central and South America, such as Columbia, Panama, and Mexico, consist of a light, sweet, well-balanced flavour. You’ll typically find Latin American coffee in mild to medium roasts.
Grown in a coffee plant in Africa, these beans tend to have medium acidity with dark chocolate and spice notes. Finally, Indonesian coffee is full-bodied and boasts earthy flavours with slight acidity. These full-bodied coffee beans tend to have a dark or very dark intensity with a typical rating of 4–5.
For more defined flavours, you will want to opt for single-origin ground coffee so you can guarantee your coffee has been produced from the same crops.
Ground Levels
You may have noticed that some coffee have a variety of drink recommendations while others have minimal. This is typically based on the grind levels, and it’s important to realise that the best ground coffee for cafetiere brewing will not be the same as what you will use for an espresso machine.
Extra coarse ground coffee isn’t the size of a whole bean but is the largest type of coffee, similar to ground pepper. This is typically used in popular conical burr grinders.
Opt for a coarse grind with a French Press, which is similar to sea salt. Alternatively, a medium-coarse grind is around the texture and size of rough sand and has a versatile brewing method: clever dipper and cafe solo brewer.
If you’re new to buying ground coffee, we recommend medium ground, which you’ll soon add to the coffee menu after your first use. This ground level is suitable for flat-bottomed drip coffee makers, siphon brewers, and cone-shaped pour-over coffee machines.
If you prefer a finer grind than sand, choose a medium-fine grind. This is ideal for a cone-shaped pour-over brewing method. You can also use it with an Aeropress with a two–three minute brewing time.
If espresso is more your cup of tea, choose a fine grind, one of the most popular ground coffee you can buy. It’s usually finer than salt and is ideal for espresso and use with an Aeropress. For an even finer grind, you’ll need an extra fine. This has a flour texture and is used in the Ibrik brewing method.
Packet Size
Before making your purchase, you should also consider how many coffee you usually drink each day. There are plenty of department stores that allow you to buy Robusta beans and other types in multiple bags, helping to keep the beans fresh. Opting for a big bag of ground coffee can impact its flavour, as the coffee will soon go off if not used quickly.
The Winning Ground Coffee
Overall, we rate Happy Belly as the best ground coffee in the UK. It produces a mixture of mild flavours with spice notes while producing and packing the beans with lower carbon emissions. This coffee certainly allows you to experiment with an espresso or add it to foods. The options are endless, allowing you to play around with the brewing method and enjoy what you come up with.
We hope you enjoyed these ground coffee reviews, but now it’s time to make up your mind. Which of the above stood out to you? Share your feedback in the comments.
Additional Resources
Tom is a former chef turned full-time food blogger. He has always been passionate about food, and loves nothing more than experimenting in the kitchen and sharing his recipes with others. Tom’s blog is one of the most popular food blogs on the internet, and he has won numerous awards for his cooking. When he’s not blogging or cooking, Tom enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children.