TLDR: Choosing the right coffee beans revolves around four factors: roast (the darker, the more roasted and less acidic flavors), origin and composition (Arabica generally offers more nuance, Robusta more body and caffeine), coffee intensity (the strength of the flavor, from 2/5 to 5/5 at Bunafide) and your brewing method. If you're looking for a mild, accessible bean, choose Straight Up or Daily Grind. If you want something fruity, Lush Bloom is a good option. For a powerful, full-bodied flavor, choose Bold Move.
"Buying the best coffee beans" is one of the most searched terms when it comes to coffee, and at the same time one of the least honest, because there's no such thing as an objectively best bean. What does exist is the bean that best suits your taste, your brewing method, and how strong you want your coffee. In this blog, we explain what to look for, so you can make that choice yourself instead of relying on a generic "best of" claim.
What to consider when choosing coffee beans?
Four factors together determine how a coffee tastes and whether it suits you: the roast (how dark the bean is roasted), the origin and composition (which type of bean and from which country), the coffee intensity (how strong the flavor is in general) and the brewing method you use. These factors work together, not independently, which means you can never rely on just one of the four.
Roast: from blonde to dark, and what that means for the taste
The roast, or degree of roasting, broadly determines how much of the bean's original, origin-specific flavors are retained, and how much is created by the roasting process itself.
A blonde roast, like Mellow Mood, is the lightest roast. This brings out more of the bean's original flavors, often with a rounder, less sharp finish. A medium roast, like Straight Up, Daily Grind, Super Nova, and Hyper Charge, sits in the middle in terms of flavor balance: still plenty of origin character, with some more roasted notes added. A dark roast, like Bold Move and Lush Bloom, gives more chocolate, caramel, and sometimes smoky notes, because the longer roasting process partly overwhelms the original bean flavors.
Note: roast is not a direct predictor of coffee intensity. Mellow Mood, for example, is a blonde roast, but with a 4/5, it has one of the higher intensity scores in the range. So don't assume "darker automatically means stronger," but look at the intensity score itself.
Origin and composition: what Arabica and Robusta do to the taste
Arabica and Robusta are the two main coffee species, and they differ fundamentally in taste and properties. Arabica generally provides a more nuanced, sweeter, and less bitter taste, with more room for fruity or floral notes. Robusta has a fuller, earthier profile with more body, and naturally contains more caffeine.
Within the Bunafide range, most coffees are entirely Arabica, such as Bold Move, Mellow Mood, Hyper Charge, Still Kicking, and Easy Does It. A few coffees contain a portion of Robusta or other additions: Daily Grind and Lush Bloom contain a little Robusta alongside Arabica, and Super Nova contains Djimmah beans from Ethiopia in addition to Arabica, which adds an extra fruity, citrusy accent.
The countries of origin also play a role. Straight Up and Bold Move, for example, use beans from Vietnam, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, and Nicaragua: a broad, classic base. Lush Bloom, on the other hand, sources its beans from Uganda, Honduras, Peru, Indonesia, and Nicaragua, a combination that contributes to this coffee's more pronounced, fruity character.
Coffee intensity: what the number does and doesn't say
Coffee intensity, indicated by a number from 1 to 5 on each product page, indicates how strong and full a coffee tastes. A higher score means a more intense, robust flavor experience, usually with a longer finish; a lower score indicates a more subtle, milder taste.
This number says nothing about caffeine content. It refers purely to taste intensity, and applies to the entire range, including the decaf options Still Kicking and Easy Does It, both of which have an intensity of 3/5 despite the absence of caffeine.
Brewing method: partly determines which bean is suitable
In addition to taste, your brewing method also plays a role in which bean is suitable, and what form (beans, ground or capsule) you need. Bunafide coffee is available in multiple forms: coffee beans and ground coffee for common methods such as filter coffee, espresso and French press, and Woodcups for those who prefer capsules. Which method, grind size and bean best suit each other, including a recommended roast per method, you can read in our complete guide to coffee brewing methods.
One thing to mention here: Daily Grind and Easy Does It are specifically ground for filter coffee and therefore not suitable for other methods. Coffee beans such as Straight Up, Bold Move and Hyper Charge can be ground yourself and adapt to any method, as long as you adjust the grind size.
Still in doubt? Compare instead of guessing
If, after reading this overview, you're still stuck between two or three options, the most reliable way to proceed is not to read more, but to compare based on what you already drink. If you find your current coffee too weak or not pronounced enough, choose a bean with a higher intensity score than what you're used to, instead of jumping straight to the highest segment of the range. If you find your coffee too overpowering, do the opposite and look for a lower score.
The same applies to flavor direction: if you know you prefer fruity wines or teas to heavy, woody drinks, there's a greater chance that a bean like Lush Bloom or Super Nova will suit your taste better than a classic, chocolatey dark roast like Bold Move. These small, recognizable preferences outside of coffee are often a better guide than an abstract flavor description alone.
Overview: which bean suits your needs
| Bean | Roast | Composition | Intensity | Brewing Advice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | Medium | Arabica blend | 2/5 | All methods |
| Daily Grind (ground) | Medium | Arabica + a little Robusta | 2/5 | Filter coffee |
| Lush Bloom | Dark | Arabica + a little Robusta | 3/5 | All methods |
| Super Nova | Medium | Arabica + Djimmah | 3/5 | All methods |
| Still Kicking (decaf) | Medium | 100% Arabica | 3/5 | All methods |
| Easy Does It (decaf, ground) | Medium | 100% Arabica | 3/5 | Filter coffee |
| Hyper Charge | Medium | 100% Arabica | 4/5 | All methods, ideal for espresso |
| Mellow Mood | Blonde | 100% Arabica | 4/5 | All methods |
| Bold Move | Dark | 100% Arabica | 4.5/5 | All methods, ideal for espresso |
Why we don't speak of "the best" coffee beans
You won't find any claims on our site that a particular bean is objectively the best. That's a conscious choice: the best coffee beans are the beans that suit your taste, your brewing method, and how much intensity you're looking for, not a fixed answer that applies to everyone. Someone looking for a mild, daily filter coffee simply needs a different "best bean" than someone who wants to brew a strong espresso.
That's also precisely why we provide factors and an overview in this blog instead of a single recommendation: so you can decide what suits you best, instead of having to believe a claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arabica always better than Robusta?
Not necessarily better, but different. Arabica generally offers a more nuanced, less bitter taste, while Robusta provides more body and naturally more caffeine. Which variety is "better" depends on your taste preference.
What is the difference between a blend and a single origin bean?
A blend, such as Straight Up or Bold Move, combines beans from multiple countries for a consistent, balanced flavor profile. A single origin bean, such as Still Kicking and Easy Does It (both 100% Colombian), comes from one country or region and most clearly expresses the character of that specific origin.
Does a higher coffee intensity indicate the quality of the bean?
No. Intensity is a flavor characteristic, not a quality indicator. A bean with lower intensity, like Straight Up, is not of lower quality than a bean with higher intensity, like Bold Move: it's simply a different flavor profile.
Ready to make your choice? Browse the full range of coffee beans and ground coffee, or read more about coffee intensity and which flavor suits you.
