My Current Favorite Coffee Brands

I don’t mess around when it comes to coffee. I’m not a snob either, but I will say I really don’t like diner coffee. That’s fair, right?

I thought I’d put together some of my current budget-friendly coffee picks that you can get from the grocery store, or online.

Disclaimer: I’m not a coffee expert. Yes, I was a barista for a number of years, but I don’t claim to know everything about coffee, or even that I do everything the right way when it comes to coffee making. I enjoy it, and these are some of the brands I’ve been enjoying. Just try them out and don’t get too sassy, that’s all I ask.

I’m gonna say something that may sound pretentious – I drink my coffee black when I make it at home. If it’s not good coffee then I probably won’t buy it is how I see it. If I’m getting Starbucks for example (their coffee is pretty bitter and burnt tasting to me,) splash that baby with almond milk, otherwise leave it be.

THE ORGANIC PICK – GOOD VIBES COFFEE ROASTERS

This is close to my heart so I had to start with it. I worked at a cafe back on the East Coast that used this and I really love it. I love a chocolate and citrus blend, and their Community Blend is just that.

THE ONLINE PURCHASE – DEATH WISH COFFEE

Hell yes. I can’t believe I didn’t try this sooner. My cousin had been trying to get me to try this for at least 3 years (before I moved to California). It’s been a while, but I finally got there. Death Wish Coffee is as strong as it sounds.

This is kinda magic. It’s very strong. If you don’t like dark roast coffee you won’t like this. I use so many beans when I make this, almost 2 inches at the bottom of the french press, but god damn does it do the job. It’s sooo good, but I will say you need to drink it somewhat fast. If you leave it too long it gets very bitter, probably because I put way too many beans.

The cons – drinking this on an empty stomach is way more brutal than other coffees, and you need to buy it online. I just ran out of our first bag that Matt got me for my birthday (which was only 2 weeks ago). Obviously don’t drink on an empty stomach, that’s just a dumb idea in general, but I do it every single day. This probably wouldn’t be the best coffee to drink before the gym on am empty stomach for example. Highly recommend something in your stomach beforehand.

THE GROCERY PICK – KICKING HORSE

I really love Kicking Horse coffee, it’s on the same level as Good Vibes. It’s easy to drink, affordable, and not too bitter. It’s hard to find whole bean unless you go to a Sprouts, or buy online from what I’ve experienced. It’s not too acidic, and it’s really enjoyable to drink black in the morning. This is just a classic one to have around.

THE BASICS – STUMPTOWN & INTELLIGENTSIA

I feel like these are so known it hurts. So, so, so many coffee shops use these two brands. I worked at a cafe in Boston that used Intelligentsia and it’s definitely delicious, but kinda like anything else. I wasn’t blown away, but I’d definitely drink it all.

I think I like Stumptown a little more than Intelligentsia honestly, it’s around the same price, and I just reach for it more. Plus, the bags are so cute. That’s where they get ya in LA, give us an aesthetic bag of coffee and it’ll fly off the shelves and be stocked on the walls of every coffee shop. It’s an easy sell, and I actually really enjoy the Hair Bender blend. This blend is citrus and dark chocolate, again, it’s just my go-to. I did not really enjoy Holler Mtn, too light for me even when I added more beans. I’m not a huge caramel blend person anyways unless I’m in the mood for it. Pretty sure I’ve tried the House Blend too, but can’t be sure.