One of the most common questions we get is whether to buy whole beans or ground coffee. The answer depends on how you brew and how much fuss you want in the morning. Here’s the honest breakdown.
Why whole beans taste fresher
Once coffee is ground, far more of its surface is exposed to air, so the aromas fade much faster. Grinding just before you brew gives you the most flavour from every bag. If you have (or want) a grinder, whole beans are the way to go.
Why ground coffee still makes sense
Not everyone wants another gadget on the worktop, and that’s fine. Good pre-ground coffee, ground correctly for your brewer and stored well, still makes a far better cup than supermarket coffee. The key is getting the right grind size for your brewer.
Matching the grind to your brewer
When you order from us, you can choose exactly the grind you need:
- Beans: for anyone with a grinder
- Espresso: very fine, for espresso machines (and a good choice for Moka pots too)
- AeroPress: fine to medium
- Filter: medium, for V60, Chemex and drip machines
- Cafetiere: coarse, for French press
- Pods: for compatible pod machines
Keeping ground coffee fresh
Whichever you choose, keep the bag sealed tightly and store it somewhere cool, dark and dry. Not in the fridge, where moisture and smells creep in. Ground coffee is best used within a few weeks of opening, so a 250g bag is often a better buy than a 1kg bag if you’re the only coffee drinker at home.
Our recommendation
If you’re serious about flavour, buy whole beans and a simple grinder. If convenience matters more, order ground for your brewer in smaller bags, more often. Either way, you’ll taste the difference from supermarket coffee.