The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Coffee Beans for Your Perfect Latte

Attention all latte lovers! Are you tired of settling for mediocre coffee beans that fail to deliver the perfect creamy, smooth flavor in your morning latte? Well, fret no more, because we have just the solution for you! In this article, we will unveil the best coffee beans for latte that will elevate your home brewing game to a whole new level. From the silky richness of a flat white to the decadent indulgence of a mocha, we have scoured the coffee world to bring you the top contenders for crafting the most delicious and velvety lattes you've ever tasted. Get ready to unleash your inner barista as we explore the ultimate coffee bean options that will take your latte experience to new heights!

Best Beans for Black Espresso Coffees: Ristretto, Espresso, Long Black

If you prefer your coffee without milk, opt for a lighter roast. Light to medium roasts produce a more flavorful and balanced cup, making them a great choice for black coffees.

Among our selection, we highly recommend Three-Oh-Three. This blend is lightly roasted to highlight the unique flavors of each region.

Three-Oh-Three combines the finest Brazilian, Colombian, and Zimbabwean Arabica beans. The Brazilian beans provide a base of caramel sweetness and smoothness, while the Colombian beans add delicate blackberry notes. The Zimbabwean beans contribute soft, crisp citrus flavors. It's a blend that offers a lot to savor.

For those who like to get technical with their espresso blends, here are our recommended extraction parameters:

• Dose/In – 23.5g
• Yield/Out – 50g
• Time – 30-33 seconds

Best Coffee Beans for Milk-Based Espressos: Flat White, Latte, Cappuccino, Mocha, Macchiato, Piccolo

Milk-based drinks are best paired with darker roasts because they provide a strong flavor that still shines through when mixed with milk.

Our top recommendation for milk-based espressos is Eight-O-Eight. This blend is full-bodied and crisp, with rich tasting notes of caramel, hazelnut, and chocolate. It's made from 100% Arabica beans sourced from Guatemala and Brazil.

The Guatemalan beans, grown in high-altitude volcanic soil, are perfectly balanced by the Brazilian beans sourced from tropical savanna regions known for their superior quality coffee. These factors contribute to a smooth and well-rounded blend.

Here are the recommended extraction parameters for Eight-O-Eight:

• Dose/In – 23g
• Yield/Out – 44g
• Time – 28-32 seconds

What coffee does Starbucks use for a latte?

Starbucks uses their Espresso Roast for lattes. This dark roast espresso bean is their go-to choice. However, if you prefer a different flavor profile, you can opt for the Blonde Espresso in your latte.

What kind of milk is best in lattes?

Whole milk is ideal for creating the best milk foam in lattes. Its protein, fat, and sugar content make it the tastiest and easiest for baristas to work with, allowing them to create creative latte art.

If you're avoiding dairy milk, there are plenty of alternatives that work well in lattes. Oat milk is a personal favorite non-dairy option.

Best Beans for Cold Brew and Alternative Brewing Methods: AeroPress, V60, Chemex, Moccamaster, Stovetop, Plunger/French Press

When using alternative brewing methods, we recommend choosing single origin beans. These brewing methods typically result in a lighter-bodied coffee compared to espresso. This allows you to fully appreciate the delicate flavors of the beans, especially when they are lightly roasted.

Throughout the year, we roast limited batches of single origin beans from around the world. When available, be sure to stock up on these. If they're out of stock, our lightest blends, Three-Oh-Three and Goofy, are our next recommended picks for alternative brewing. Goofy is slightly darker than Three-Oh-Three and pairs well with a touch of milk.

Sydneysiders can visit our HQ Tasting Bar in Bondi Beach to find our single origin coffee year-round. You can also purchase our beans online from our Sydney roastery. Visit this link to explore our range of specialty coffee beans. Don't forget to check out our subscription coffee program as well!

For more information on alternative brewing techniques, take a look at our helpful brewtorials.

6 Best Coffee Beans For Latte At Home

We have conducted extensive taste tests and narrowed down our list to six coffee beans that work exceptionally well in lattes.

Volcanica Sumatra Mandheling Coffee

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Our first recommendation is the exceptional medium roasted whole beans from Sumatra by Volcanica Coffee. They carefully select the finest coffees from around the world and roast them to perfection. The Sumatra Mandheling coffee offers subtle flavors of toffee and dried fruit that blend well with steamed milk in a latte. These low-acidity beans have bold hints of dried fruit flavors resulting from the unique washed process they undergo.

Lavazza Gran Riserva Whole Bean Coffee

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Lavazza is a well-known name in the coffee world, often served in restaurants and hotels worldwide. The Gran Riserva whole bean coffee is an excellent choice for lattes. Sourced from the highlands of Central and South America, this blend combines semi-washed Robusta beans with washed Arabica beans, resulting in a Southern Italian flavor. Expect flavors of maple syrup and walnut with a rich and thick texture, making it a perfect match for a milky latte.

Estate Dark Roast Whole Bean 100% Kona Coffee

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For a premium latte experience at home, look no further than the Estate Dark Roast Whole Bean 100% Kona Coffee from Koa Coffee. These dark roasted beans produce a rich and strong yet smooth espresso shot with an impressive crema. Don't settle for fake Kona coffee beans – these are the real deal sourced from single estate farms in Hawaii.

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Aged Coffee Beans

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Cooper's Cask Coffee offers a range of barrel-aged coffees with natural flavors. These Arabica beans, sourced from a Colombian single-origin farm, are small-batch roasted. Experience the flavors of cocoa and dark fruit with a bourbon finish in your latte. These bourbon-flavored whole coffee beans are a unique and delicious choice.

Café de Loja Gourmet Coffee Beans

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Grown at a high elevation in the mountains of Ecuador, Café de Loja Gourmet medium roast coffee beans are packed with crisp, fruity flavors. These low-acidity beans are organically grown and roasted to perfection. They are an excellent option for your latte.

Olde Brooklyn Coffee Dark Roast Whole Bean

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Our final recommendation is the Olde Brooklyn Coffee dark roast whole bean espresso beans. Handpicked and roasted in small batches, these beans offer unique and flavorful blends from around the world. This dark roast is smooth, robust, and slightly smoky – a perfect choice for a latte. The quality and freshness of these beans are guaranteed as they are roasted every week in New York.

?? Related: Best Latte Machines: 6 Barista Approved Options

Top 7 Best Coffee Beans for Lattes

Ready to create your very own latte masterpiece? Here is a list of some of the finest coffee beans that you can use:

1. Kicking Horse Coffee, Three Sisters Medium Roast

Experience the taste of Kicking Horse Coffee's Three Sisters, a Medium Roast Whole Bean blend from the Canadian Rocky Mountains. This blend combines light, medium, and dark roasts to create a smooth, savory, and sweet cup of coffee. Professionals will appreciate the unique flavor profiles that harmonize together. It's an unforgettable experience for coffee enthusiasts!

• Strong, robust flavor
• Smooth, satisfying finish
• Enjoy the taste of a locally crafted cup of coffee.
• Feel energized and focused all morning.

• While this coffee is better than most, it is not necessarily the best value for its cost and size.

2. Peet’s Coffee, Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee

For over 50 years, Peet’s Coffee has been committed to providing high-quality craft coffee. Our award-winning signature roast, Peet’s Big Bang Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee, exemplifies our dedication to excellence.

With carefully imported Arabica beans and a bold, intense flavor, our Big Bang blend offers a luxurious yet down-to-earth coffee experience. Its balanced flavor profile makes it a favorite among professionals and discerning buyers.

By savoring each cup, you pay tribute to Alfred Peet, the man behind it all. Make Peet's Big Bang Medium Roast Coffee a part of your daily ritual – it's the perfect blend of sophistication and quality.

3. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

Discover the intricate flavors of Jamaica with Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. This unique offering provides a complex flavor profile with spicy undertones of cinnamon and a caramelized sweetness. The rich and savory balance comes from single-origin beans sourced from Rodriguez de Mondouza, Amazonas, Peru. USDA Organic Certified and Fair Trade Certified, this coffee is both intensely flavorful and sustainable.

The coffee is freshly roasted in an environmentally friendly Loring roaster, allowing you to enjoy your cup of joe while taking care of the Earth. Whether you're a coffee connoisseur, shop owner, or coffee lover, this is a special treat you can't miss.

What we like:

• Delicious coffee flavor
• Easy to open packaging
• Enjoy the aroma of freshly brewed coffee each morning
• Surprise your partner with a special treat they’ll love

• This bean produces a smooth and fresh-tasting coffee with no bitterness.

4. Lavazza Super Crema Espresso

If you desire a coffee that embodies a century of experience, Lavazza Super Crema Espresso is the perfect choice. This premium blend consists of exquisite coffee beans from around the world, offering a classic taste and aroma appreciated by professional buyers.

Every cup of Lavazza Super Crema Espresso delights with its smooth, rich flavor and slightly sweet aroma. The full-bodied taste of this extraordinary blend will satisfy even the most discerning coffee enthusiasts.

• Selection of quality gourmet coffee
• Perfectly roasted and processed
• Enjoy Europe's finest coffee in the comfort of your own home.
• Experience a specialty quality cup of coffee every day.

• This medium roast coffee provides a non-bitter flavor with excellent crema, making it an ideal choice for automatic machines or for making cappuccinos and lattes.

5. Fresh Roasted Coffee, Dark Brazil Cerrado

Introducing Fresh Roasted Coffee, Dark Brazil Cerrado. This delicious coffee is made from the finest quality beans sourced directly from Brazil.

Crafted using an artisanal roasting and brewing process, the blend of Arabica and Robusta beans carefully harvested from the Cerrado region in Brazil imparts a smooth and rich aroma with every cup. The note of caramel and nutty undertones make this perfect for anyone looking for an intense and flavorful experience.

With this coffee, you won’t just get an energizing cup of coffee, but the assurance of a superior quality product. We at Fresh Roasted Coffee are dedicated to producing the highest quality coffee products according to strict standards of quality assurance.

So, whatever type of coffee you’re looking for, you can trust us to provide. And, since our Dark Brazil Cerrado has no additives or preservatives, it’s the perfect choice for health-conscious professionals who want to enjoy a flavorful cup of joe without sacrificing taste or quality.

What we like:

• Receive freshly roasted coffee delivered to your door.
• Enjoy consistent and uniform flavor in each cup.
• Treat yourself to a luxurious home coffee experience.

• This coffee has a pleasant hint of vanilla, a velvety taste, and no rough aftertaste; however, the lack of a roasting date reduces its professional appeal.

6. Koffee Kult Dark Roast Whole Bean Coffee

Koffee Kult dark roast whole bean coffee offers a truly unique coffee experience. Our small-batch roasting process ensures consistently delicious flavor in every bag. These special beans are freshly roasted and shipped within hours, guaranteeing the freshest cup of coffee.

This bold coffee has cupping notes of caramel, cinnamon, and a heavy body while maintaining a smooth taste. Made from organic beans sourced from Colombia, Guatemala, and Sumatra, you can taste the difference with every sip. Professional buyers seeking a gourmet coffee will appreciate Koffee Kult dark roast whole bean coffee for its unique flavor and quality.

What we like:

• Rich, organic coffee beans from around the world
• Full of flavor without bitterness
• Take pride in serving your friends and family the highest quality coffee beans.

• Despite some damaged beans, this product delivers excellent flavor and value.

7. Caribou Coffee

Experience the robust flavors of Caribou Coffee's Caribou Blend Medium Roast Ground Coffee! This 20-ounce bag of flavorful beans is Rainforest Alliance Certified and carefully hand-packed in Minneapolis to ensure top-notch quality.

With a harmoniously balanced blend of sweet, spicy, and berry notes, this aromatic coffee can be brewed using drip or pour-over methods. Professionals, enhance your morning routine and make every coffee break count with this exclusive blend. Enjoy Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend and start your day perfectly.

What we like:

• Receive freshly small-batch roasted coffee
• Choose from a variety of flavorful blends

• Peet's and Caribou coffee offered at some Einstein's Bagel locations are slightly better than average, but not as good as the coffee previously served.

In conclusion, when it comes to crafting the perfect latte at home, selecting the right coffee beans is crucial. Whether you prefer a bold and intense flavor or a smoother and creamier taste, there are options available to suit every palate. From the rich and full-bodied beans ideal for milk-based espressos like Flat White and Cappuccino, to the perfectly balanced ones for cold brew and alternative brewing methods, the choices are endless. So why not embark on a coffee journey and explore the diverse array of flavors that can elevate your latte experience right in the comfort of your own home? Cheers to a delightful cup of latte made with the best coffee beans!