When it comes to coffee enthusiasts, they broadly fall into two categories: those who savor their brew in its purest form, black, and those who indulge in an array of flavors and toppings. If you are a fan of black coffee, you’re typically regarded as a purist. Should you wish to explore the realm of undiluted coffee, a new world of flavor awaits you.
Table Of Contents
−- Understanding “Black Coffee”
- Best black coffee brands
- Lifeboost dark roast coffee – overall winner
- Keurig coffee lovers’ collection
- Lavazza armonico espresso
- Mccafé Breakfast Blend Light Roast
- Starbucks medium roast
- Green mountain coffee roasters
- Peet’s coffee decaf house blend
- Caza trail coffee
- Eight o’clock coffee
- Valhalla java ground coffee
- Kicking horse coffee
- Koffee Kult coffee
- Café don Pablo coffee
- Kauai coffee single-serve pods
- Bulletproof the original ground coffee
- Billy organic cold brew coffee
- Guide to Choosing Your Black Coffee:
- Coffee roasting levels (light to dark)
- Different kinds of coffee beans
- Conclusion
Get a hold of your favorite cup of java, and join us as we explore our top picks for the best black coffee brands in the market.
Understanding “Black Coffee”
The definition of black coffee may seem straightforward, but opinions differ. The common consensus is that black coffee refers to any type of coffee, from regular drip to espresso, that is brewed and served without any additives. No milk, sugar, or creamer – just the pure, unaltered taste of the coffee.
While some might argue that ingredients that don’t alter the coffee’s color, such as sugar, cinnamon, and cocoa powder, are permissible, we prefer to stick with the conventional definition for a couple of reasons. First, many black coffee drinkers purposefully avoid all additives, and second, if you’re aiming to enjoy the full flavor of the coffee, the addition of other ingredients may dilute the intended experience.
With this understanding, let’s delve into the world of coffee companies that offer the finest coffee beans, perfect for brewing as is, without the need for extra ingredients.
Best black coffee brands
If you want your coffee thick and robust (we are still talking about coffee folks!), we have hand-picked the best coffee brands for you—no need for milk and cream with these tasty Java varieties. We dare you to try them all!
Lifeboost dark roast coffee – overall winner
There are several reasons to pick Lifeboost’s Dark Roast, but the biggest argument is that it tastes (and smells) incredible.
Lifeboost farms its beans in the Nicaraguan mountains without the use of pesticides or chemicals. Instead, the organization employs a time-consuming and sophisticated harvesting and processing approach. What is the result? Delicious, well-roasted coffee beans with a mild acidity that is easy on the stomach.
Keurig coffee lovers’ collection
Key features:
- 60 K-Pod Pods
- Fair Trade Coffee
- Kosher Certified Coffee
- Variety Pack with 20 Different Types
- Roast Level: Dark, Medium, and Light
- Organic Coffee
Lavazza armonico espresso
Key features:
- Roast Level: Dark
- Nespresso Machines Compatible Only
- 100% Arabica Beans
- No Flavoring or Preservatives Added
- 180 Caps
- Intensity Level: 8 out of 13
Mccafé Breakfast Blend Light Roast
Key features:
- Resealable Can
- 100% Arabica Beans
- Roast Level: Light
- Kosher Certified
- Ground Coffee
Starbucks medium roast
Key features:
- Blend of Latin American Coffee
- Recyclable Cups
- 32 K-Cup Pods
- Roast Level: Medium
- Compatible with All Keurig K-Cup Brewers
Green mountain coffee roasters
If you prefer K-cup pods and are addicted to the rich flavors that dark roasts offer your tongue, perhaps this Green Mountain coffee is your perfect match.
This Green Mountain roast is for seasoned coffee drinkers only since it is an intense and powerful coffee with a powerful kick of fruity and chocolate overtones. This rich and deep blend, which is compatible with all Keurig K-cup makers, combines seductive taste and convenience in one.
Peet’s coffee decaf house blend
Key features:
- Recyclable Cups
- 100% Arabica Beans
- Small-Batch Roasted
- Roast Level: Dark
- Decaf K-Cup Pods
Caza trail coffee
Key features:
- 100% Arabica Beans
- 100 K-Cup Pods
- Roast Level: Medium
- Latin American & Kona Moku Coffee Blend
- Kosher Certified
Eight o’clock coffee
Key features:
- 100% Arabica Beans
- Certified Kosher
- Award-Winning Colombian Coffee
- Roast Level: Medium
- K-Cup Pods
Valhalla java ground coffee
Key features:
- Robusta and Arabica Blend
- Fairtrade
- Ground Coffee
- Roast Level: Dark
- USDA Organic
Kicking horse coffee
Key features:
- Arabica Beans
- Kosher Certified
- Whole Bean Coffee
- USDA Organic
- Shade-Grown
- Roast Level: Dark
- Fairtrade
Koffee Kult coffee
Key features:
- 100% Arabica Beans
- Whole Bean Coffee
- Small-Batch Roasted
- Roast Level: Dark
- A blend of Colombian, Sumatran, and Brazilian Coffee
Café don Pablo coffee
Key features:
- 100% Arabica Beans
- Whole Bean Coffee
- Roast Level: Medium-Dark
- Small-Batch Roasted
- Cultivated in Honduras
- CCOF Organic
- Non-GMO
Kauai coffee single-serve pods
Key features:
- Made in Hawaii
- Roast Level: Dark
- 100% Arabica Beans
- 12 Pods Compatible with All K-Cup Brewers
- Environment-Friendly
Bulletproof the original ground coffee
Key features:
- 100% Arabica Beans
- Certified Clean Coffee
- Rainforest Alliance Certified
- Bulletproof Purity Process
- Roast Level: Medium
- Ground Coffee
- Toxin-Free
Billy organic cold brew coffee
Key features:
- Ground Coffee
- Roast Level: Medium
- 100% Arabica Beans
- Certified Organic
- Sweet and Smooth Profile
- 67% Less Acidity than Regular Coffee
Guide to Choosing Your Black Coffee:
If you enjoy your coffee black or are looking to embark on a journey of tasting coffee without the influence of additional sweeteners, consider the following factors: freshness, acidity, roast, brewing method, and the coffee beans’ origin and processing method.
- Acidity: Many people love coffee but have sensitive stomachs. If this is you, choose a low-acidity coffee (like our top pick, the Lifeboost Dark Roast) especially when you’re starting your transition away from sweeteners.
- Freshness: As most coffee enthusiasts will agree, the best coffee is brewed from freshly ground beans. But convenience matters too, so we’ve included a pre-ground coffee option in our list.
- Roast: There are many types of roast available, and some are milder than you might expect. Whether you prefer something fruity and light or something robust and sweet, you have options.
- Brewing Method: Make sure your grinder won’t get clogged if the beans are too oily – a common problem with automatic espresso machines. If you’re using pre-ground coffee, ensure it’s ground finely enough for espresso to bring out the best flavor.
- Origin of Coffee Beans: The bean’s origin significantly affects the taste. For a pure taste, opt for beans from South or Central America. If you like an earthy flavor, choose Asian beans. If you prefer a rich, fruity flavor, African beans are the way to go.
- Processing Method: If you’re looking for a clean flavor in your black coffee, go for ‘washed’ coffee beans. If you prefer robust flavors, opt for the “natural” processing method. The way the beans are processed greatly affects the final flavor.
Coffee roasting levels (light to dark)
Aside from the quality of the coffee, the degree to which the Java beans are roasted impacts the flavor of the cup. In general, we may categorize the roasts into four groups
- Light Roasts – These beans attain a temperature of 356-401 degrees F and have a bright color, light body, and no oil on the surface. This roasting process comes to an end when the first crack of the roasting occurs.
- Medium Roasts – Medium-brown, full-bodied, and with a balanced taste and acidity, medium roasts reach 410-428 degrees F.
- Medium-Dark Roasts –Darker, richer, and slightly oily, this spicy roast occurs at the moment of the second crack and has a temperature of 437-446 degrees F.
- Dark Roasts – A chocolate-brown hue with a lustrous surface and a smoky flavor, the dark roast occurs toward the conclusion of the second crack and hits a temperature of about 565-482 degrees F.
Different kinds of coffee beans
Coffee comes in various flavors, even though they may appear, to you, to be the same. But, as much as we would like to go further into the coffee species, two primary Java varieties are to be concerned with: Arabica and Robusta.
Arabica Beans – Arabica beans make up most commercial coffee (60 percent, to be exact). Arabica coffee is more nuanced, tasty, and vibrant in color, making it the favored and most popular form of coffee.
Robusta Beans – This is the more potent kind that is typically blended with Arabica beans to produce highly caffeinated mixtures. They are more resistant to climatic change than their Arabica siblings; yet, their hardiness makes them unsuitable for most tastes.
Conclusion
Your palate’s best buddy may be found among our top 15 taste brands. Our recommendation is to try them all and then select a favorite. We would love to hear about your black coffee-sipping adventures!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2024-05-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
