Natural form

Whole roasted coffee beans showing their oval shape, split seam, and deep brown color.

Shows readers the exact physical form and color range of whole roasted beans they will encounter at purchase.

Beverages

Coffee Beans

Whole roasted beans for the freshest cup, ground to order

Roasted whole and ground just before brewing, coffee beans give the freshest, most aromatic cup. Buy what you'll use in a couple of weeks and keep them airtight and dark.

Coffee beans are the roasted seeds of the coffee cherry, sold whole to be ground fresh just before brewing — the form that preserves the most aroma and flavor. Their character is shaped by species (smooth Arabica vs. bold, bitter Robusta), origin, and roast, ranging from floral and fruity to deep, chocolatey, and smoky. Whole beans are prized in cooking precisely because freshly ground coffee tastes brightest, but the beans themselves also infuse: steeped whole in cream or syrup they perfume custards, ice cream, and panna cotta with pure coffee aroma, and they can be candied or used as a crunchy garnish.

Measured in: g
Storage: Airtight

Find it in

Beverages

Types & varieties

Arabica

Smooth, aromatic — most cooking and specialty

Robusta

Bold, bitter, high caffeine — espresso blends

Light/medium/dark roast

Brightness to boldness across the spectrum

How to use in cooking

Grind whole beans fresh for the most vivid brewed-coffee flavor in any dish. Whole beans also infuse gently: warm them in cream or milk, steep, then strain to make coffee ice cream, custard, panna cotta, or ganache with clean coffee aroma and no grittiness. Chocolate-covered or candied beans become a crunchy dessert garnish. Lightly crushing the beans before infusing speeds extraction.

How to choose

Arabica beans are smoother and more aromatic — best for most cooking and brewing; Robusta is more bitter and caffeinated, used in some espresso blends. Buy beans with a roast date and use within a few weeks. Medium roasts suit infusions and desserts; dark roasts give bolder, more bitter results.

Common uses

Grind fresh to brew for any recipeInfuse cream for coffee ice cream or panna cottaSteep in syrup for coffee dessertsMake ganache with a coffee noteGarnish with chocolate-covered beansFlavor custard or crème brûléeCrush into a coffee rub