Ground coffee is roasted coffee beans that have been ground down to be brewed for coffee, much like flour is ground wheat to be used for baking. There are many ways of brewing your coffee whether you prefer to use a coffee machine or cafetière, but they all require ground coffee beans and water.
For the best flavour, ground coffee should be filtered rather than just pouring hot water over it - as you would to make instant coffee - it's best prepared either in a cafetière or French press, using a coffee filter (whether a traditional paper dripper or a filter coffee machine), or even a dzezva (Turkish coffee pot) or Italian stovetop coffee pot - also known as a Moka pot. You can drink ground coffee without filtering it, but the above methods will help to filter out the worst of the leftover granules, for a much smoother brew.
Best ground coffee at a glance:
Best overall: Taylors Of Harrogate Rich Italian Ground Coffee - view on Waitrose
Best decaf ground coffee: Cafédirect Decaf Machu Picchu Fairtrade Ground Coffee - view on Amazon UK
Best for espresso: Lavazza Qualità Rossa, Ground Coffee Espresso - view on Amazon UK
A key thing to look out for in a good ground coffee is the packaging - how it is packaged matters to the quality of the coffee as the flavour can be directly affected by light and oxygen. Therefore, you should only look for ground coffee that comes in an air-tight container, sealed with foil paper with a valve which allows you to smell the coffee.
If you're looking for a flavourful good-quality cup, ground coffee can help you get close to the taste of your favourite coffee shop from the comfort of your kitchen. We've chosen the best ground coffee on the market, from independent companies to coffee subscriptions and supermarket options.
Best ground coffee UK
Best for a Moka pot
Enhance your morning coffee ritual with this popular Italian coffee that is specially ground to brew in a Moka pot. Fill your kitchen with a wonderful coffee aroma that's synonymous with Italian great taste. illy, Classico Ground Coffee comes in a canister to preserve its freshness.
Customer review: "As a starter coffee, it was great - it worked perfectly in the pot and brewed a strong coffee. Also, after you've finished the tin, it's the perfect size to store new coffee you buy that normally comes in awkward plastic bags."
Pros
- Reusable tin that keeps the coffee fresh
- Popular pick
- Rich and full-bodied taste
Cons
- Be aware this is for Moka preparation
Best for espresso
If you want to drink coffee like the Italians do, then Lavazza is for you. Lavazza Qualità Rossa, Ground Coffee is a Arabica and Robusta bean blend that's suitable for use in a coffee machine, French press and Moka pot. For espresso that consistently tastes divine, choose this delightful little red number.
Customer review: "Have drunk Lavazza for many years and as a readily available coffee it is good value. I have drunk other better-tasting coffees but as far as value for money, consistency of flavour and availability go I will stick with this brand."
Pros
- Authentic, great for espresso
- Fine grind
- Premium taste for good value
Cons
- Strong and intense, so may not be suitable for all drinkers
Best independent coffee brand
paddyandscotts.shop
Wether you're french pressing, espressoing, areopressing, or extracting Paddy & Scotts original crafted blend is for you. Sweet, bold and beautifully balanced, this medium roast is ideal for those who need more than one reason to get out of bed in the mornings.
Paddy & Scotts proudly work with Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance Association and UTZ, plus since 2004 all their coffee packaging has been made from aluminium free PET recyclable material.
Review: "I love Paddy & Scotts, we used to have one of their coffee shops nearby but after it closed I was so pleased to find out I could buy their coffee blends online. It tastes almost as good as straight from the barista - it's my go-to for a morning boost and just as easy as instant coffee. The aroma when using a cafetière or French press is amazing. They also do coffee bags which are great for travelling."
Pros
- Available as ground coffee and as coffee beans
Cons
- Bags are not resealable
4.
Cafepod
Best premium coffee
www.cafepod.com
CafePod offers a good range of strong, decaf and flavoured coffees that are available in pods, ground or whole bean. The brand gives information about the provenance without being too overwhelming. The Daily Grind is a blend that combines Central and South American and Ethiopian beans. It has nutty and fruity flavours and a caramel base. CafePod is an independent London-based coffee brand, its range of strong coffees are not for the faint-hearted… the Supercharger Espresso is 12 on the intensity scale.
Customer review: "We tried the Brunch Blend and the Daily Grind blend in the whole beans and both were really delicious. They were smooth, not bitter at all and the perfect strength. Great coffee."
Pros
- Good price, great variety
- Bridges the gap between an everyday coffee lover and a connoisseur
- Range of coffee accessories available
Cons
- Packaging on ground and whole bean coffee is not yet recyclable
Best strong coffee
volcanocoffeeworks.com
The Mount Blend is an award-winning espresso that encapsulates the rich flavours of South American coffee. The beans are grown by specialists, mostly family-run farmers in Brazil, El Salvador and Colombia. They're shipped to the UK where the coffee beans are roasted in small batches at Volcano Coffee Works roastery in Brixton. Volcano Coffee Works believes in supply transparency and is open about its social and environmental impact, including its carbon footprint and wages. They have a great range of coffees, which are hand-selected by Nick and roasted by Claire. Choose your delivery to be fortnightly, monthly or every six weeks. In addition, Volcano Coffee Works sell cool ranges of coffee brewing equipment and gifts.
Customer review: "My go-to coffee for V60; also good for stove-top espresso; rich, flavourful safe bet."
Pros
- Great taste, flexible subscription
- Range of quantities available
- Comprehensive information on provenance
Cons
- Some reviews didn't find it as strong as they'd expected
Best decaf ground coffee
Rich and smooth with a subtle orange finish, Machu Picchu coffee is Cafédirect's bestseller and is now available in decaf. The Arabica beans are handpicked and only harvested when perfectly ripe.
Grown at extreme altitudes within the Inca heartland of the Peruvian Andes and close to the sacred site of Machu Picchu, this coffee is 100% organic Arabica. Rich and smooth with overtones of fine, dark chocolate.
Review: "It's taken me quite some shuffling in different coffee brands (organic) till I discovered Machu Picchu, and I'm hooked on it now. The decaf range in my local supermarkets is disappointing so it was a joy to find this stocked on Amazon. It is a good drink and very reasonably priced. Tastes very smooth, smells incredible."
Pros
- Can be prepared in a cafetière or filtered
- Smooth taste
- Full-flavoured despite being decaf
Cons
- Some reviews found it bitter
Best ground coffee subscription
beanscoffeeclub.com
It's a club for coffee lovers that delivers speciality coffees and so much more. With an ingenious matching system, Beans Coffee Club guides you to discover new coffees. And you can log your favourites in your very own coffee journal. This subscription service offers a wide variety of speciality coffee from independent roasteries and some exclusive award-winners, too. Roasted to order, the coffee subscription will deliver eco-conscious coffee whenever you'd like in recyclable, letterbox-friendly packaging. Plus, you'll receive behind-the-scenes information about your favourite coffee roasteries, as well as brewing guides and how-to videos. If you love knowing the story behind your beans, this one's for you. You can join the Beans Coffee Club or purchase gift vouchers. In addition to superb-tasting coffee, you'll have access to brewing guides, masterclasses, giveaways and more.
Our review: "I sampled 47" Coffee's Colombian - Supremo, which I received in the post from Beans Coffee Club. 47" is an independent roastery run by Aidy in Langley Mill, Derbyshire. It's great to put a face to the name and see that a personal touch goes into roasting these Columbian speciality grade coffee beans. On first impressions, this coarse ground Supremo coffee has the most incredible chocolatey aroma. Taste-wise, there are definitely chocolate and fruity notes. In addition, it has a smooth and rich mouthfeel."
Pros
- Lots of information about the roastery
- Delicious taste and incredible aroma
- Quality, resealable and economical packaging
Cons
- Couldn't find much information on the coffee beans or farmers
Types of ground coffee
When buying ground coffee beans you’ll sometimes see a selection of grind sizes to choose from. The trick is to match up your grind type with how you're making coffee at home. For example, if you're making french press coffee, choose a cafetiere/ French press grind option.
Coffee grind sizes
1). Coarsely ground
A coarse coffee grind setting has larger coffee particle sizes compared to medium and finely ground. This is because the brew methods like the cafetiere require a brewing process called 'immersion brewing'. In other words, the coffee and hot water are infused together for a longer period of time (5-10 minutes), and that is how the flavour is extracted.
By comparison, if you were to use a fine grind setting with the cafetiere brew method, you'd likely experience bitterness as a result of something called 'over extraction'.
2). Medium ground
A medium-ground coffee consists of medium-sized particles. This sits pretty much in the middle between a cafetiere style grind and an espresso grind. These grind type is designed to work for brew methods like filtering, that utilise gravity to extract the coffee via water.
3). Finely ground
A fine grind is designed for espresso coffee. Espresso uses applied force from your espresso machine, Turkish brew or Moka potto push/pump water through the puck of ground coffee.
How to choose the best ground coffee
With coffee being highly subjective, it’s really all down to your personal taste preferences, so that means experimenting until you find a coffee you like. There are other factors to consider, however. For example, taste, quality, price, reliability and support from your roaster.
There are also sustainable and ethical practices to consider.
How long will ground coffee keep?
Unopened ground coffee will stay fresh until its best-by date. Opened or freshly ground coffee should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature away from heat, light, and moisture. For maximum freshness, consume within 1–2 weeks.
Stephanie Anthony is the Deputy Digital Editor of Yours.co.uk. Having worked across a variety of topics, from travel and food to pharmaceuticals, she also has a particular interest in mental health and wellness. She has a house full of pets with two dogs and two cats.