Where to Buy Coffee Online, According to Our Experts

Learn our top picks for places to buy coffee online

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Close-up of coffee cup on table
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Oh, coffee. Is there any other morning beverage that inspires more dedication and attention to detail? Probably not. Coffee lovers need their fix, and running out is simply not an option. That's why buying coffee online can be so appealing: You're guaranteed a regular supply.

Even if you are loyal to one particular type of roast or brand, it can be a fun experience to branch out and try new things. Many coffee connoisseurs love to compare one roast's notes to another, almost as you'd do with wine. But at the end of the day, we all just want a great cup of coffee. To help you find your perfect cup, we've compiled a list of our favorite places to buy coffee online.

Where to Buy Coffee Online in 2023

01 of 10

Best Ground Coffee: Seattle Coffee Gear

Seattle Coffee Gear

Key Specs

  • Price: From $6 for 9 ounces
  • Delivery Area: 50 states
  • Bean Types: Both whole and ground

Why You Should Try It

For a company that offers a little bit of almost every kind of ground coffee you can imagine, Seattle Coffee Gear is a great place to start for fresh coffee that arrives ready to be brewed.

Pros and Cons 

Pros
  • Inexpensive

  • Extensive variety

  • Can also order equipment

Cons
  • Can be tricky to filter by price

  • Free shipping only available on orders over $49

Overview

Seattle is well-known for its coffee culture, and Seattle Coffee Gear has been bringing people quality ground coffee since 2005. You can search by roast type, brand, region, flavor profile, and other characteristics, such as the intended brew method. If you're unsure where to begin, checking out the staff picks can help you narrow your selection. 

02 of 10

Best Coffee Subscription: Atlas Coffee Club

Atlas Coffee Club

Atlas Coffee Club

Key Specs

  • Price Per Pound: $9 for 6 ounces
  • Delivery Area: 50 states, Canada
  • Bean Types: Whole, ground

Why You Should Try It

Atlas Coffee Club is ideal if you're the kind of java lover who relishes trying different coffees from all over the world.

Pros and Cons 

Pros
  • Unique coffees sourced from around the world

  • Roasted to order, to your preference

  • Sources the top 1 percent of coffee worldwide

Cons
  • Selections don't typically repeat

  • Only two roast types available

Overview

Atlas truly lives up to its name, offering coffee from "micro-lot" roasters from around the globe, including beans from lesser-known coffee regions such as India, China, and Malawi. In addition to its unique offerings, Atlas' website is easy to use when ordering. You specify your grind type (if you're ordering it that way), and it can accommodate anything from standard drip to pour-over to French press, cold brew, or aero press, bringing the world of coffee to your door monthly.

03 of 10

Best Sustainable Coffee: Driftaway Coffee

Driftaway Coffee

Driftaway Coffee

Key Specs

  • Price Per Pound: $19 for 12 ounces
  • Delivery Area: 50 states 
  • Bean Types: Whole, ground

Why You Should Try It

If you care deeply about the sustainability of your cup of coffee, this carbon-neutral company sends you ethically sourced coffee in eco-friendly packaging.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Ethically sourced

  • Subscriptions available

  • Incredibly transparent about all aspects of production

Cons
  • Only one type of decaf coffee

  • Coffees are rotated every four weeks

Overview

For the utmost in transparency, it's hard to do better than Driftaway. Each coffee description includes information about its sourcing through a timeline depicting the harvest date, roasting, production, shipping, and estimated time of arrival. Additionally, each coffee tells a story, and Driftaway shares the info about each varietal's growing conditions, history, and flavor profile. Driftaway even goes so far as to give you the details around pricing, detailing how much it pays for its coffee and the fair trade cost per pound. 

04 of 10

Best Variety: Trade Coffee

Trade Coffee logo

Trade Coffee 

Key Specs

  • Price: $17 for a 12-ounce bag
  • Delivery Area: 50 states
  • Bean Types: Whole, ground

Why You Should Try It

With nearly 500 types of coffee to choose from, it's hard to find a better place to satisfy your coffee curiosity.

Pros and Cons 

Pros
  • Coffees are roasted to order

  • Impressive variety

  • Subscriptions available

Cons
  • Can't return coffee you don't like

  • Subscriptions are cheaper than one-time purchases

Overview


Trade Coffee's variety is astonishing; it would take you years to get through every one of its offerings. Trade's website uses filters based on roast type, price, roaster, region, and "coffee tastes like" to help narrow your choices. Additionally, you can sort based on criteria such as certifications (fair trade, organic, kosher, Rainforest Alliance Certified).

Perhaps the best part is that the coffees are roasted to order, ensuring that by the time the coffee arrives, it's in an optimal state of freshness. Subscriptions keep costs lower, as one-time purchases are more costly than buying in bulk. 

05 of 10

Best Organic Coffee: Bean & Bean

bean & bean logo

bean & bean

Key Specs

  • Price: From $18 per 11 ounces
  • Delivery Area: 50 states
  • Bean Types: Whole, ground, instant

Why You Should Try It

This New York-based mother-and-daughter team specializes in ethically sourcing beans from women-owned businesses around the globe for the best organic coffee possible. 

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Owners are Certified Q Graders (sommeliers of the coffee world)

  • Virtual coffee classes offered

  • Subscriptions available

Cons
  • Not every coffee available all year round

  • More expensive than other selections

Overview

Bean & Bean takes coffee seriously, roasting your beans just days before they arrive, with plenty of time for the flavors to develop and settle. (Freshly roasted coffee doesn't always taste as great as you think it might). Single-origin coffees are available, and you can also buy some of its coffees as "instant" types in a dunk and brew bag, which is great for travel. Another bonus? This brand donates 1 percent of sales to the Sloth Institute (the brand uses a sloth in its logo) to help protect sloths that have been impacted by environmental changes. 

06 of 10

Best for Coffee Brewing Equipment: Onyx Coffee Lab

Onyx Coffee Logo

Onyx Coffee

Key Specs

  • Price: $18 for 10 ounces
  • Delivery Area: 50 states 
  • Bean Types: Whole bean only; coffee can be ground in an Onyx cafe

Why You Should Try It

Onyx sells almost any kind of coffee equipment you'd need and high-quality coffee to go with it. 

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Extremely high-quality and unique coffees from around the world

  • Extensive equipment selection

  • Subscriptions available

Cons
  • Expensive

  • Website search is not intuitive

Overview

Onyx is an ideal place to buy quality tools that will last, whether it's a pour-over kettle, filters, drippers, or coffee grinders. You can even purchase a precision digital scale to ensure you're weighing your coffee accurately and a grinder that will produce the right consistency for your choice brew. Coffee lovers need not fear that this is a gadget-only retailer; besides coffee accessories, Onyx sells coffee, loose-leaf tea, and single-origin chocolates using cacao beans. 

07 of 10

Best Whole Bean Coffee: Tandem Coffee Roasters

Tandem Coffee Roasters logo

Tandem Coffee Roasters

Key Specs

  • Price: From $18 per 12 ounces
  • Delivery Area: 50 states
  • Bean Types: Whole, ground, instant

Why You Should Try It

Tandem's premium single-origin coffee, roasted on-site, is hard to beat. The fact that you can often order your favorite vinyl records, too, ups the cool factor considerably. 

Pros and Cons 

Pros
  • Website tells you when the next roast is for each varietal

  • Sells both coffee and equipment kits

  • Single-origin coffee

Cons
  • Offerings are seasonal and not always available

  • Shipping is not free for orders below $50

Overview

Tandem offers a range of single-origin coffee beans from places such as Peru, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Burundi, in increments of 12 ounces, two pounds, and five pounds. If you prefer pre-ground coffee, Tandem will grind your beans to your specifications, such as French press, cold brew, etc. It even sells the coffee green (aka unroasted) if that's your thing. (Yes, you can drink green coffee; it has a lighter and often grassier taste.) 

Bonus: If you live close to its Portland, Maine, location, you can experience its baked goods from its James Beard-nominated baker, too, along with its renowned coffee. The rest of us must be content with ordering its whole-bean coffee and flipping on the turntable in the comfort of our own homes instead.

08 of 10

Best for Unique Flavor Profiles: Devoción

Devoción coffee

Key Specs

  • Price Per Pound: $19 for 12 ounces
  • Delivery Area: 50 states
  • Bean Types: Whole, ground

Why You Should Try It

This company's coffee is not only incredibly fresh, but also boasts flavor profiles with descriptions such as caramel, wild berries, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and more. 

Pros and Cons 

Pros
  • Partners with 1,000+ farms

  • B-Corp certified company

  • Company controls buying, shipping, and roasting process

Cons
  • Not an extensive selection

  • Slightly more expensive than others

Overview

Devoción's coffee is incredibly fresh because it does just about everything except pick the coffee cherries. The beans are roasted within 10 days of leaving Colombia, and the company says the whole process takes no more than 45 days, ensuring the freshest possible coffee. Devoción's coffee beans are imbued with unique flavor profiles the company notes on its website, with evocative notes such as caramel, cinnamon, and eucalyptus, giving discerning coffee drinkers a rich experience, not unlike a wine tasting. 

09 of 10

Best Single-Origin Coffee: Rook Coffee

Rook Coffee logo

Rook Coffee 

Key Specs

  • Price: $17 for 12 ounces
  • Delivery Area: 50 states 
  • Bean Types: Whole, ground

Why You Should Try It

Rook Coffee offers the utmost in coffee simplicity; no bells and whistles, just excellent single-origin coffee, ethically sourced and roasted to perfection.

Pros and Cons 

Pros
  • Unfussy, straightforward selection

  • Fair prices

  • Subscriptions available

Cons
  • No free shipping

  • Can't ship internationally

Overview

With origins at the New Jersey shore, Rook has expanded to multiple locations up and down the coast and boasts a robust online business that also offers subscriptions. It's easy to determine which type of beans you want because each one has easy-to-understand descriptions of its process, origin, roast level, and some of its flavor notes. The roaster's pick makes it easy to find extra-special brews, but otherwise, you can choose among beans from Bali, Sumatra, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and more. 

10 of 10

Best for Cold-Brew Coffee: La Colombe

La Colombe

La Colombe

Key Specs

  • Price Per Pound: $14 for 12-ounces
  • Delivery Area: 50 states 
  • Bean Types: Whole, ground, canned, and liquid concentrate

Why You Should Try It

La Colombe has made a name for itself with cold brew coffee, whether it's a concentrate that just needs water or milk, or beans you can grind and brew for your own optimal at-home cold brew.

Pros and Cons 

Pros
  • Canned, bottles, and beans available

  • Cans are shelf stable and don't require refrigeration

  • Cold brew lattes are lactose-free

Cons
  • More expensive

  • More caffeinated than drip coffee

Overview

When it comes to cold brew, you can get the concentrate, cans of cold brew, or even cold brew lattes in a variety of flavors, styles, and varietals. Imagine a single-origin cold brew, a cold brew latte with frothed milk, or even a box of cold brew coffee to keep in the fridge "on tap." La Colombe excels with seasonal offerings, too, if cold brew is your thing for a memorable holiday drink. You can also order beans for cold brew; the company has a whole area of specific varieties it recommends for this process, and it can grind them coarsely for cold brew before sending them off to you. 

Final Thoughts

There are so many places to buy coffee online that it can be overwhelming. We liked these companies for the variety they provide. Sometimes you want a favorite organic or single-origin bag of beans sent to your doorstep, as with Bean & Bean or Rook. But others might enjoy a different type of coffee every month and not mind a lack of repeats, as with Atlas Coffee Club. If you've got an inexhaustible curiosity about all the different types of coffee available, then something like Trade Coffee may be the choice for you.

Compare the Best Places to Buy Coffee Online

Company Price Delivery Area   Bean Types   Free Shipping  
Best Ground Coffee: Seattle Coffee Gear $6 for 9 ounces 50 states Whole, ground Yes, for orders $49 and up
Best Coffee Subscription: Atlas Coffee Club $9 for 6 ounces 50 states, Canada Whole, ground No
Best Sustainable Coffee: Driftaway Coffee $19 for 12 ounces 50 states Whole, ground Yes
Best Variety: Trade Coffee $17 for 12 ounces 50 states Whole, ground Yes, for subscriptions only
Best Organic Coffee:  Bean & Bean $18 for 11 ounces 50 states Whole, ground, instant Yes, for orders $35 and up
Best for Coffee Brewing Equipment: Onyx Coffee Lab $18 for 10 ounces 50 states Whole; can only buy ground in their cafes Yes, for orders $40 and up
Best Whole Bean Coffee: Tandem Coffee Roasters  $18 for 12 ounces 50 states Whole, ground, instant Yes, for orders $50 and up
Best for Unique Flavors Devoción $19 for 12 ounces 50 states Whole, ground Yes, for orders $50 and up
Best Single-Origin Coffee: Rook Coffee $17 for 12 ounces 50 states Whole, ground No
Best for Cold-Brew Coffee: La Colombe $14 for 12 ounces 50 states Whole, ground, canned, and liquid concentrate Yes, for orders $50 and up

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How Much Caffeine Is in a Cup of Coffee?

    The short answer is that it can vary widely depending on several factors. The standard answer is that an eight-ounce coffee contains between 80 and 100 milligrams of caffeine. However, the caffeine content can vary from bean type to bean type. 

  • What Is Fair Trade Coffee?

    Fair trade coffee is coffee whose production standards match those set by fair trade organizations. The idea is that there is transparency and fairness around sourcing, wages, and labor conditions. Fair trade ideals help the farmers by giving them a reasonable price for their coffee beans. 

  • Is Whole Bean Coffee Better Than Ground Coffee?

    Some people prefer to grind the coffee themselves because it produces a fresher-tasting brew, but it's a matter of preference. If you're brewing something other than drip coffee, such as cold brew, pour-over, or French press, you might prefer that the company you order from grinds it to your preference. This way, the coffee will taste right based on the brewing method

  • What Is the Best Way to Brew Coffee?

    The answer to this question depends on how you like your coffee to taste. If you're into a no-fuss approach, the standard drip coffee will work fine to produce a predictable cup of coffee. However, some people like a pour-over method, which gives you more control over the taste of the coffee and has a lighter result; it's undoubtedly become trendy. Still, others like French press, which results in a more robust, full-bodied cup. 

  • What Is the Best Way to Store Coffee?

    Coffee is best stored in an airtight sealed container in a cool, dry, and dark place. Keep it away from bright light, moisture, heat, and air. People also debate whether you should freeze coffee to keep it fresh (not necessarily). Suffice to say if you buy coffee from any of the providers on this list, you won't need to freeze it to preserve its freshness.

Methodology

There seems to be no end to the number of companies selling high-quality coffee online. Still, several factors were top of mind when reviewing the several dozen we considered. First, freshness is a factor, with transparency around sourcing also being a top consideration; we liked fair trade companies and kept an eye on organic and/or sustainable practices. Additionally, the ease with which you can find what you want on the website was helpful, along with descriptions of coffees and the ability to order according to your roasting preference. Finally, we considered the companies' customer service and the ease with which customers could place or return orders.

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