According to the
National Coffee Association, 86 percent of Americans brew their coffee at home, and the average coffee drinker has about 3.3 cups per day! Since we drink so much of it, it's important to get the best value for our money when it comes to the coffee we purchase. Here's a roundup of the top 5 coffee brands that taste the best at the lowest prices that will keep you happy and energized all day long.
1. Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donus is one of America's most popular coffee shops, and their packaged products definitely don't disappoint! They typically cost around $8.99 for a 16 ounce bag (more expensive than the other brands on the list) and come in a ton of flavors, including seasonal blends like pumpkin spice and gingerbread. Their coffee is a light-medium roast and gets consistently great reviews for its smooth, flavorful taste.
2. Folgers
Folgers is a classic brand and is one of the most popular at the grocery store- after all, "the best part of waking up is Folger's in your cup" (sorry, I had to say it).
Huffington Post rated Folgers French Roast blend as #1 for best store-bought French Roast, and the Black Silk blend is popular as well for it's great flavor and the lack of that burnt aftertaste the you get with many dark roasts. Folgers has a myriad of highly ranked flavors but their dark roasts are generally the most popular; they charge about $0.32/ounce. Folgers also has a line of "gourmet" blends available for about $0.66/ounce, which provides a larger selection of flavors at conservative prices.
3. Eight O'Clock Coffee
Unless you're part of Eight O'Clock Coffee's huge underground following, you may have been overlooking them! It's a super inexpensive brand at $6.28/pound (which is $0.15/cup), and their Colombian blend was actually rated number one by
Consumer Reports for it's smooth, earthy, non-bitter flavor. You can also get coupons for them frequently at their website for an even better deal!
4. Chock Full O'Nuts
Chock Full O'Nuts is another brand that's been around for a long time (since 1932) and they pride themselves as being "New York's most beloved coffee". They've received mixed reviews but the overwhelming majority are great, praising the brand for it's "smooth, nutty flavor". They charge about $0.33/ounce and their most popular variety is their Original flavor.
5. Maxwell House
You'll find Maxwell House alongside Folgers or store brand cannisters, and they have similar pricing at $0.27/ounce and come in a similar selection of flavors. Maxwell House came in #2 on
Huffington Post's dark roast rankings and reviewers loved the sweet, dark chocolate-like flavor. The taste is not super flavorful, but it's smooth and stable and makes for a great base for flavored creamers and sugar.
How to Store Your Coffee
Once you bring your coffee home, put it in an airtight bag or cannister and and store in a cool, dry place such as your refrigerator. Taking care of your coffee will preserve it's freshness and allow it to taste better for a longer amount of time. A 10-12 oz. bag of coffee can typically last you around two weeks if you use the a reasonable amount and store it correctly, so you can really get your money's worth from these brands.
