Whether you see yourself as a barista in training, or simply look forward to a good cup of coffee for a relaxing Sunday morning, it's great to have a decent bag of coffee on hand. With the coffee industry in full swing, and many people turning their nose up at a cup of instant these days, we're spoilt for choice when it comes to finding ethically-sourced, delicious-tasting coffee.
We don't even have to leave our homes to stock up, with many companies now offering subscription services. But which coffee to try in this ever-growing market? We put four of the best coffees to the test. Read our review below, and find a new brew to help fuel your day.
Best coffee at a glance:
Late night coffee fan? Head to our review of the best decaf coffees.
Best coffee for 2024, brewed and reviewed
Pact Coffee
- Coffee buying options: Wholebean, pods and ground available
- Subscription: Choose between two - sixty days
- Packaging: Recycled (and recyclable) #4 LDPE Low-Density Polyethylene materials
- RRP: £7.95 - £9.95 a 250g bag (wholebean and ground) / £29.95 (56 pods)
A big player in the coffee subscription game, Pact works with farmers from over nine origins, including Brazil, Colombia and Honduras. All about keeping the coffee fresh, the beans we tried were roasted, packed and delivered within a few days.
The online ordering process goes into welcomed detail, allowing you to put forward your preferred brewing method — V60, stove top, Chemex, Aeropress, cafetiere and espresso machine — and ordering frequency. We were impressed by Pact's flexibility on the latter, as you can choose anything between two to 60 days. You've also got the option to reschedule, pause and cancel your subscription which is another welcomed addition for those with commitment issues when it comes to subscriptions!
We tried Pact's House Coffee beans, a dark roast with hints of milk chocolate, and realised quite quickly why the brand is a go-to for coffee fans. We thoroughly enjoyed the palatable, high-quality beans. We felt it was the kind of blend you could easily enjoy throughout the week as your daily brew.
The company's website is incredibly user-friendly, and if you're new to Pact, the company offers a coffee quiz to help you find your perfect cup.
The wholebean and ground coffee comes in bags of 250g, with some blends also available in 125g and 1kg options, and the pods come in packs of 56.
Pact is a certified B Corporation, and its coffee bags are carbon-neutral, fully recyclable and made from recycled materials. The bags are recycled along with plastic bags, so you'll likely need to find your nearest recycling point for soft plastics (often a supermarket).
For your caffeine fix on the go, check out our review of the best portable coffee makers.
Grind Coffee
- Coffee buying options: Wholebean, pods and ground available
- Subscription: Choose between two, three, four and eight weeks
- Packaging: Bags: industrially-compostable, made using wood pulp / Pods: home-compostable, made from organic matter
- RRP: £8 for a 227g bag, £12.75 for 30 pods
Starting back in 2011, London-based Grind is instantly recognised by its eye-catching pink branding and stylish coffee shops. The coffee brand is another certified B Corporation, and its proud of its approach to transparency, sharing farm details and harvest dates with consumers. The company also helps reduce ocean pollution, and in 2023, in partnership with Ocean Co., recovered 64,000kg of ocean-bound plastic.
A huge plus with Grind's coffee pods is the fact they're plastic free, and made of organic matter. So if you have your own home compost system, you can chuck your pods into the soil post coffee.
On offer is free shipping with subscription deliveries, and a rather lovely free refillable coffee tin on your first order, so you're not short of perks!
The unique size and design of the coffee bags really appealed to us, as the narrow shape makes them ideal for squeezing down the side of a backpack — ideal for camping trips, weekends away and commutes.
We loved the House Blend (ground), noting the smoothness of the coffee in particular. The tasting notes and roast level chart featured on the website is a nice touch coffee enthusiasts will appreciate.
Lost Sheep Coffee
- Coffee buying options: wholebean, ground espresso/filter, pods, iced
- Packaging: Fully recyclable bags and industrially compostable coffee pods
- RRP: £8.95 - £21.00 for a 200g bag, £45.00 for 100 pods
The Lost Sheep coffee brand is a result of an Australian trip, so if you're a fan of the Aussie-style brew, this brightly packaged coffee may be for you.
We were really impressed with the customer service, and the company earns itself plenty of green points too, offering industrially compostable coffee pods, made from a waste product from the paper industry, and recyclable coffee bag packaging.
Lost Sheep also clarifies not only the region of their coffee beans, but also the name of the farm and farmer for enhanced transparency. You can also explore the in-depth guides on offer for those looking for brewing tips.
We tried the brand's Big and Bold wholebeans, which promised bold tasting notes of treacle and dark chocolate. The coffee certainly packed a punch, with an an intense, almost smoky flavour, so the beans certainly lived up to their title.
Union Coffee
- Coffee buying options: wholebean, ground, cold brew
- Subscription: 1, 2, 4 and 6 week delivery
- Packaging: Fully recyclable bag (if purchased through trade/retail and not the website)
- RRP: from £6.95 for a 200g bag
Founded in 2001, Union Hand-Roasted Coffee roasts its coffee fresh to order, and works in 14 countries with over 42 producers. The company name comes from its focus on creating long-term partnerships with farmers and fair pay to producers.
The Certified B Corporation brand has both Great Taste and sustainability awards to its name, and its website is packed with information on everything from the company's approach to trade and overseas projects to training courses and recipes.
There's an array of subscription plans, including an exploratory 'discovery' box; a 'bolder' box filled with dark and medium roasts and the 'brighter' package for light and medium roast enthusiasts.
On review, we tried Natural Spirit; an organic blend with notes of candied lemon, fudge and chocolate truffle. The smooth and mild taste was a hit with our tasters.
For a more refreshing cuppa, check out our review of the best peppermint teas.
