11 Best Flavored Coffees
Looking for recommendations for the best flavored coffee? Then you are at the right place!
What are the best flavored coffees? The best flavored coffees are made from responsibly sourced high-quality Arabica, Columbian, or Robusta coffee beans that provide rich flavor notes and a smooth texture. Premium flavored coffee is available in K-cups, whole bean, ground, and instant-coffee varieties.
Read below to learn more about flavored coffee, its different forms, a buyer’s guide, and our recommendations for the best flavored coffees!
Popular Coffee Flavors
There are many delicious coffee flavors to choose from, here are a few of our favorites:
- Hazelnut
- Caramel
- Blueberry
- Mocha
- Vanilla
- Pumpkin
These are just some of the popular flavor options available in the market but you can find tons of variations of these and many other flavors too.
Coffee flavorings are made from either natural or artificial ingredients. In the case of most artisanal coffee makers, the coffee is usually flavored using natural ingredients – but with added artificial flavor notes.
See, the thing is, coffee alone has a lot of variable flavor notes. Some can be acidic while others can be fruity and even subtly sweet.
But to overcome these natural flavors, coffee makers will use different concentrations of flavors to enhance the overall range of the beverage (more on this below).
Buyer’s Guide For The Best Flavored Coffees
This guide is designed to help you pick the best coffee flavor and brand in the market.
To make things easier, we will list down the four most important things that you need to look for in a flavored coffee or coffee brand.
Here is what you should look out for:
- Bean Quality
- Artificial vs Natural Flavorings
- Quantity and Types
- Sustainability/Company Ethics
Bean Quality
We have already discussed how flavorings are added to coffees during different stages of the manufacturing process – but there is another huge factor that determines the overall flavor of the coffee: the quality of the beans.
Remember when we talked about how these added flavorings must overcome the natural flavor notes of coffee beans?
Well, some manufacturers may opt to use inferior quality beans to minimize the flavor of coffee and maximize the artificial flavorings in the mixture.
Sure, you will end up with a cup that has a much more pronounced artificial flavor, but the coffee will still be hugely inferior in texture and flavor compared to brands that sell high-quality flavored beans or coffee.
If you think that the difference will be negligible, then you would be surprised by what high-quality Arabica or Robusta coffee beans can offer.
Always go with a brand that offers superior quality beans and high-quality flavoring agents for the best experience!
Artificial Vs. Natural Flavorings
We have already discussed how manufacturers use a range of artificial and natural flavorings to add an extra dimension of flavor on top of the inherent flavors of the coffee beans – but you should also be wary of the types of flavorings used in these coffee products.
If you are a purist who enjoys the natural notes in coffee beans then we highly recommend that you opt for an all-natural brand that uses natural flavorings or advanced roasting techniques to extract the hidden flavor notes in the beans.
But if you enjoy a fun and flavorful twist in your morning cup of coffee then you can choose from a range of artificial and naturally flavored coffee beans.
Don’t know where to start? Browse through our list below to pick a delicious flavor and then move on to a different brand and flavor to explore everything that the world of premium coffee has to offer.
Quantity and Types
Like everything else, coffee can go bad if it isn’t consumed within the recommended storage period but what’s worse is that it will first begin to lose its flavor before it goes bad.
This is why quantity should be a huge factor in your purchase decision. If you don’t intend to make large batches of coffee then we recommend that you start with an 11-ounce bag.
For most people, an 11-ounce bag is a great starting point because it will allow you to make several cups of coffee before the product starts to lose its original flavor and quality.
The exact number of cups depends on different standards. For example, in the USA, the recommended mixture of coffee in a cup is 10 grams of coffee for every 6oz (180ml) cup. The Euro standard calls for 7 grams of coffee for every 125 ml cup.
As a general rule of thumb, you can get anywhere from 16-25 cups in every 11-ounce bag of coffee – you can use this approximate to figure out how much coffee you will need for your daily or monthly use!
Don’t have time to grind the beans at home? Then why not try one of the many other forms of flavored coffees!
Our recommendation list includes a range of instant and pod coffees that you can use as an alternative to whole coffee beans!
Sustainability and Company Ethics
This factor is as important as the coffee itself.
Global coffee consumption is at an all-time high and is expected to keep growing in the coming years. Historically, the coffee industry has been known to underpay workers and use questionable harvesting techniques that lead to waste and environmental harm.
When you make a cup of coffee, you must also think about the consequences and impact your beverage has on the environment as a whole.
This is why we recommend that you only purchase coffee from brands that pledge to help the environment by employing better practices, paying better, and using efficient harvesting methods that minimize wastage.
The good news is that many companies (and all of the ones in our list below) are now making a point to help the environment by promoting sustainability.
Sure, the coffee may end up costing a bit more but the relative extra cost will go a long way in easing your conscience and helping the environment!
The Best Flavored Coffees
Now that you know what to look out for in the best flavored coffee, it is time to make a purchase decision!
Our handpicked recommendations are selected as per our buyer’s guide above – which means that you can buy any of these brands with peace of mind.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | New England Coffee Blueberry Cobbler | All-natural, blueberry flavor, high-quality arabica beans |
| 2. | Dunkin' Caramel Me Crazy Flavored Ground Coffee | Smooth caramel and brown sugar notes |
| 3. | Cameron's Coffee Roasted Ground Coffee | Convenient, premium quality, medium-roasted |
| 4. | Amazon Fresh Hazelnut Flavored Coffee | Classic hazelnut flavor |
| 5. | Gevalia Chocolate Mocha Flavored Coffee | Chocolate, high-quality, sustainably sourced |
| 6. | Wallacea Certified Wild Kopi Luwak Coffee | Exotic, premium coffee |
| 7. | 100% Jamaica Blue Mountain Roasted Coffee | Mineral-rich volcanic ash, cedar flavor |
| 8. | Schuil Whole Bean Coffee | All-natural fruity notes, 100% authentic |
| 9. | Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Spice | Hints of pumpkin, seasonal spices |
| 10. | Lifeboost Coffee French Vanilla Ground Coffee | Mellow French vanilla flavor |
| 11. | Volcanica Hazelnut Flavored Coffee | Balanced and full-bodied flavor, hints of hazelnut |
1. New England Coffee Blueberry Cobbler
Quality in every sip! New England Coffee has been in the business for around a century which means that you can be sure that you will not only get great-tasting coffee but a product that is a result of decades worth of experience and best practices.
Made from 100% arabica beans with blueberry notes, this is the best all-natural option for people who are looking to up their coffee game in the morning.
These beans are medium-roasted in small batches and provide rich textures along with subtly sweet and spicy notes that are neither overpowering nor subliminal.
The brand has a long-standing sustainability plan and promises to deliver extremely high-quality beans for every type of coffee lover!
2. Dunkin’ Caramel Me Crazy Flavored Ground Coffee
Enjoy caramel in your coffee in the morning? Who doesn’t! Dunkin’ has outdone itself with its classic caramel-flavored ground coffee.
Made with 100% premium arabica beans, get delicious flavor notes of caramel, butterscotch, and brown sugar in every sip!
Since this product is pre-ground and contains artificial flavorings, you can just add water to make a fresh cup within seconds.
It can be prepared in multiple ways and comes in different quantities too! Just pour out the contents of the bag and enjoy.
Oh, and the packaging is designed to retain the quality of the coffee without you having to move it into a different jar too!
3. Cameron’s Coffee Roasted Ground Coffee
Experience premium arabica coffee in all its glory. If you are someone who enjoys a freshly brewed cup of authentic coffee then this product is just for you.
It isn’t artificially flavored and relies solely on the natural fruity notes of the bean.
Cameron’s coffee is roasted and ground to perfection and however way you make it, you will be able to enjoy a coffee that isn’t bitter and is ALWAYS smooth.
If you haven’t tried all-natural arabica coffee then this is an excellent place to start.
4. Amazon Fresh Hazelnut Flavored Coffee
Enjoy a balanced flavor, aroma, and acidity with this medium-roasted hazelnut-flavored ground coffee by AmazonFresh.
This product is backed by Amazon’s brand image and promise of sustainability and quality.
This 12-ounce bag is enough to make 25-30 cups of coffee – and with its smart packaging, you can keep the mixture fresh for longer!
The artificial hazelnut flavor and aroma are guaranteed to renew your interest in coffee and will help you make commercial-level cups from the comfort of your home.
5. Gevalia Chocolate Mocha Flavored Coffee
The ultimate treat for chocolate and coffee lovers – Gevalia’s chocolate mocha flavored coffee is made from 100% high-quality arabica beans with a medium-roast.
This product is compatible with all coffee brewing methods and is an excellent way to start the day!
Gevalia uses advanced manufacturing processes and snap-cool technology to preserve the inherent flavor and aromatic notes of the beans.
It is velvety, smooth, and indulgent and is available in six 12-ounce bags that you can enjoy throughout the month – or sooner if you are an avid coffee lover.
6. Wallacea Certified Wild Kopi Luwak Coffee
Looking for the next best thing in your coffee journey? Then say hello to Wild Kopu Luwak coffee.
This blend is known to be one of the most expensive exotic coffees in the world – and for good reason.
What makes this coffee stand out is its unique manufacturing method that gives the coffee low acidity and a surprisingly sweet flavor!
The beans are harvested from the waste of wild civet cats that only ingest and digest the ripest coffee cherries.
The process of digestion gives the beans their distinct flavor and makes them easier to consume as well!
A typical cup of certified Wild Kopi Luwak can sell for as high as $80 in the USA – and now you can enjoy a cup at home using this resealable 8.8oz bag!
7. 100% Jamaica Blue Mountain Roasted Coffee
Known as the finest coffee in the world, now you can enjoy 100% Jamacia Blue Mountain coffee sourced from high-quality beans that are grown in mineral-rich volcanic ash.
This coffee provides an excellent texture and a deliciously mellow cedar flavor that is guaranteed to tantalize and fit anyone’s coffee preference.
Available in K-cups, these pods are compatible with every K-cup brewer and 2.0 Machines.
8. Schuil Whole Bean Coffee
The best full-bodied artisan coffee in the market with unbelievably delicious notes of sweet and rich maple syrup!
This product contains 100% natural and authentic Columbian beans that are roasted to perfection.
Schuil believes in quality and providing its customers with options which is why you can purchase this product in either ground or espresso bean form!
This is the perfect starting point for people who enjoy fruity notes in their coffee and will certainly be a huge improvement over whatever run-of-the-mill coffee you have stored away in your kitchen cabinet.
9. Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Spice
Dunkin’s pumpkin spice K-cups are designed for novices and coffee aficionados!
The extremely mellow and delicious flavor of pumpkin spice paired with its velvety smooth texture is going to blow you away.
These K-cups are fully compatible with Keurig Coffee Makers and can be enjoyed in a pack of 22 cups!
The coffee is made from high-quality arabica beans along with artificial pumpkin and seasonal spice flavors – it is perhaps the best way to get a coffee-house-level cup of coffee at home!
10. Lifeboost Coffee French Vanilla Ground Coffee
A classic French vanilla coffee is a must to have in any caffeine lover’s cabinet.
Try Lifeboost’s French vanilla ground coffee which is likely going to become your next go-to coffee!
Sourced from sustainable harvesting and 100% natural and authentic arabica beans, this ground coffee is an easy recommendation, especially if you enjoy low-acidic coffee that is both easy on the stomach and teeth!
Want more? Then this particular medium-roast coffee is also available in hazelnut too – and with a 12-ounce bag, it’s an easy commitment that you can enjoy on your own or with friends and family!
11. Volcanica Hazelnut Flavored Coffee
The difference between this coffee product and other inferior quality hazelnut coffee beans is that Volcanica uses extremely high-quality arabica beans that are medium roasted to help bring out the bean’s natural flavors.
The result is a highly balanced coffee product that retains not just all the natural flavors but also adds a delicious layer of hazelnut too!
With a creamy smooth texture and full-bodied flavor, we think that this flavored coffee will become your new go-to for any occasion.
Flavored Coffee – A Brief History
With an estimated 2 billion cups consumed every day, it is safe to say that almost everyone enjoys a fresh brew of delicious coffee.
Humans have been consuming fresh coffee for over a millennium and while the idea of flavored coffee may seem like a modern invention, the concept has been around for a long time.
Raw coffee beans are soft, spongey, and have a distinct grassy aroma. But roasting them brings out the “hidden” flavor notes within the beans and turns them into the classic coffee bean that we all know and love.
On its own, coffee offers a nutty or very slightly fruity flavor that varies depending on how deeply the beans are roasted.
Apart from altering the flavors of the coffee beans by manipulating the roasting time, ancient cultures discovered that the mixture could also be paired with spices, herbs, and essence to give it an altering flavor.
Even today some old pairings, like cinnamon and coffee, are a huge hit – and this pairing can be found in many artisanal coffeehouses around the world.
Most of the natural flavorings were usually added as a seasoning after the coffee had been prepared but as manufacturing processes evolved, so did our beloved cup of coffee.
The first true commercial flavored coffee hit the shelves in 1958; this ushered in a new era of coffee and was sold (for the first time) in instant form.
Instant coffee is the defacto choice for flavorings and is the best way to preserve the natural flavor of the coffee beans, its aromatic notes, and the added flavors.
Back in the day, instant coffee was relatively new to the game as most people were only accustomed to roasting and grinding their coffee beans at home or relying on coffee houses for freshly brewed cups.
This form was also infamously known as an inferior quality product to fresh-brewed coffee – but things started to change during the late 90s when manufacturers invented new ways to not only retain the quality of coffee but also add a whole lot of fun flavors to them!
Instant Coffee And Flavorings
There was once a misconception about instant flavored coffee where people perceived it to just be a chemical mixture and not “true coffee” – but this can’t be further from the truth!
High-quality instant coffee is made from 100% arabica beans and is manufactured using meticulous manufacturing processes:
First, the raw beans arrive at a processing plant. Here, the beans are cleaned of debris and then sent off to a large revolving roaster.
The beans constantly move around the mixing chamber while also getting roasted, this circular movement ensures that the beans are equally roasted on all sides.
Once roasted, the beans then head towards a grinder that turns the beans into a fine powder. The powder is then forced down a chute that leads into large industrial coffee machines that heat the powder until it condenses and turns into an extract.
This extract is then spread across an assembly line and then flash-frozen.
The frozen sheets of coffee are then broken down and then dehydrated using pressurized chambers that evaporate excess water via sublimation. The resulting coarse or fine powder is then mixed with a range of flavors.
Adding the flavors at the end ensures that the ingredients don’t react with or mitigate the natural flavors of the beans – but some brands may opt to use a different approach and add the flavors during the brewing process too.
Once everything has been homogenized, the mixture is then packaged, labeled, and sent off to coffee lovers all around the country.
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