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For caffeine-loving Britons, a morning cup of coffee is the most integral part of their day.
Yet as the average cost of a cup of java has increased by 40 per cent in the last five years, coffee connoisseurs will certainly be keen to ensure that they are investing in the right coffee beans for their beloved breakfast brew.
Fortunately, four independent coffee experts from Which? are on hand to help resolve any caffeine-related woes.
Their extensive blind-test included tasting ground coffee from well-known pricier brands such as Cafédirect and Illy, as well as popular supermarkets, including M&S, Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
All the coffees included had a strength rating of three on the packet to reflect both roast intensity and flavour profile, rather than just strictly caffeine content.
Having undertaken a blind test of supermarket and big-brand coffees, their verdicts revealed which coffee brands are worth the investment due to their ‘complex flavours’ and ‘smooth’ textures.
Yet, sadly, some supermarket brands appeared to fail to achieve the same result – with experts citing a ‘rubbery flavour’ and ‘astringent aftertaste’.
The experts uncovered that when you splurge some extra cash, a deliciously smooth morning brew can be on hand at a cost of £6 for 200g.
Read on to find out how all the coffees compare, and which of your nearest supermarket offerings may be worth trying.
1. Cafédirect Fairtrade Colombia Reserva Ground Coffee – 74%
£6 for 200g (£3 per 100g)
Filled with tastes of caramel, butterscotch, fruit and a delightful aroma of rich brown sugar, this Arabica ground coffee was a firm favourite among the experts.
The key to its success? Both flavour and a nice full body of caffeine helped to create a deliciously rich and endlessly smooth brew with a stunning aftertaste.
As a top tip for any coffee fans, the experts suggested adding a small dash of milk to create a sweeter and velvety taste, while also retaining the delicious natural elements.
2. M&S Collection Fairtrade Colombian Ground Coffee – 72%
£4.75 for 227g (£2.10 per 100g)
M&S’s Fairtrade Colombian Ground Coffee contains a subtle sweetness with ‘bright notes of caramel and blackcurrant’.
Originally grown in the Andes, it is filled with Arabica beans that the experts said offered a satisfying mouthfeel.
Perfect for caffeine lovers looking for a lighter-tasting coffee, this cup would have suited a small amount of milk.
The experts advised against overindulging in milk in order to avoid losing its fruity notes and delicate acidity.
3. Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference La Celia Colombian Ground Coffee – 68%
£4.30 for 227g (£1.89 per 100g)
Grown by ‘incredible women farmers’, this Sainsbury’s coffee homes to offer a medium roast with subtle notes of ‘balanced apple, citrus and brown sugar’.
However, the blind-taste review suggested that the flavours had perhaps fallen slightly short – and instead it carried slight tastes of chocolate and caramel.
This drink would, they suggested, be best enjoyed with a splash of milk to create a smoother texture that was somewhat synonymous with a Bourbon biscuit.
4. Illy Ground Espresso Arabica Selection Colombia Coffee – 66%
£4.49 for 125g (£3.60 per 100g)
Marketed as a ‘smooth, balanced taste with notes of citrus fruit’, this Illy’s coffee is best for an espresso or Americano coffee.
When trialled by the experts, they recalled a delicate balance of fruity acidity, sweetness and intensity.
When the milk was added, it lost a slight bit of its acidity. Yet for those hoping for a sweeter brew, it offered a lighter alternative filled with complex flavours.
5. Waitrose No.1 Colombia Reserve Ground Coffee – 65%
£4.75 for 227g (£2.10 per 100g)
A fresh, sweet and lighthearted option filled with caramel and orange flavours, the experts described this coffee as full-bodied and full-flavoured, but with an intense bitter taste that led to a rather drying finish.
Milk, however, did complement the flavour, resulting in a more balanced beverage that even held flavours reminiscent of either dark chocolate or tiramisu.
Milk complemented the flavour, creating a more balanced profile with notes of dark chocolate and tiramisu.
6. Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Colombian Roast & Ground Coffee – 60%
£4 for 200g (£2 per 100g)
While the experts were not necessarily blown away by this option, they praised the caramel and roasted hazelnut touch as a nice taste.
Praised for being a well-developed roast that was not too dark, slightly sweet in taste and of a medium body, when combined with milk, the flavour became softer and creamier.
Some even have a slightly biscuity taste.
7. Caffè Nero Colombia Ground Coffee – 59%
£5.50 for 200g (£2.75 per 100g)
While ‘fresh’ from Caffè Nero’s roastery, experts sadly described experiencing a ‘lingering bitterness and dryness in the mouth’ when they tasted this Colombian ground coffee.
Set to be filled with notes of toffee apple, blackcurrant and fudge, the blind tasters reported slight hints of dark chocolate and dried fruit and ultimately saw it as an ‘average medium-dark roast’.
For those who may still have this coffee in their kitchen cupboards, experts recommended adding a light splash of milk, making this a strong candidate for those prone to a milky coffee.
8. Lidl Deluxe Fairtrade Colombian Supremo Roast & Ground Coffee – 56%
£1.99 for 227g (87p per 100g)
Filled with an ‘ashy roast flavour’, this Lidl Deluxe coffee is exponentially cheap – coming at a cost of just £1.99.
For the experts, however, it appeared to be rather underwhelming in taste, with reports of a dry taste and a rather ‘unpleasant’ experience when served black.
While milk helped to mellow the harshness of the initial taste, it ultimately led to a slightly malty brew that may not be too appealing first thing in the morning.
9. Morrisons, The Best Fairtrade Colombian Ground Coffee – 54%
£4.30 for 227g (£1.90 per 100g)
With a smoky aroma and a slight rubbery flavour, the experts described a drying aftertaste that sadly didn’t dissipate, even when a splash of milk was added.
10. Asda, Exceptional Ground Colombian Roast Coffee – 53%
£3.98 (£1.75 per 100g)
According to the experts, this coffee held notes of both tobacco and wood.
Sadly, there was also a thin body and watery, weak taste recorded.
11. Tesco Finest Fair Trade Colombian Supremo Ground Coffee – 52%
£4.30 (£1.89 per 100g)
With a strong bitter taste and a faint roasted chestnut roast, this coffee sadly wasn’t a winner.
The aftertaste was also rather underwhelming; however was made slightly more manageable with a dash of milk.
12. Aldi, Specially Selected Colombian Ground Coffee – 48%
£1.99 (88p per 100g)
The lowest-scoring coffee, our experts said, was affordable, yet had very faint chocolate and nutty notes that left no lasting impact.
Its downfall, moreover, was that it also had a thin mouthfeel, lacked complexity and had an unpleasant bitterness.
All the coffee in this test had a strength rating of three to reflect roast intensity and flavour profile, rather than caffeine content.
However, as there isn’t a consistent scale for coffee strength, the experts recommend reading the descriptions on the packet to help guide you – with medium-roast coffees set to be lighter and smoother, while Italian-style coffees hold darker elements.
Meanwhile, when selecting ground coffee, Fairtrade and organic certifications, alongside detailed sourcing information, are good indicators to look for to suggest that the beans have been sourced ethically and the growers are paid fairly.
In this test, all of the coffees displayed either the Fairtrade International logo or provided detailed farm and sourcing information.
Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services, said: ‘For many of us, there’s nothing quite like a cup of joe to start our morning routine, but having a disappointingly bitter, weak or flat coffee can ruin the trajectory of our day.
‘Our blind taste test shows that you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy a genuinely great cup of coffee at home.
‘While premium brands often trade on their reputation, our results prove that some supermarket options can deliver a smooth and balanced flavour at a much lower price.’
