There are many brands of coffee on the market, ideal for various preparation systems: pods, coffee pods, beans, ground coffee, for traditional espresso machines, and Neapolitan coffee pots. But which is the best coffee overall?
Illy, Lavazza, and Caffè Stumptown are among the best coffee brands in the world, but there are also lesser-known brands with remarkable aromatic characteristics.
Italy is universally considered the home of espresso and, despite not boasting coffee plantations, ranks among the best producers. The fact that espresso has a true cult following in the peninsula has given rise to hundreds of roasters specializing in the transformation of the beans.
At Pontevecchio, we have worked long and hard to offer our customers the perfect coffee machine to maintain and enhance all the organoleptic properties of the ground coffee. The water temperature, pressure, lever mechanism, and extraction times have been designed to fully respect every step of the preparation process.
The best coffee, in fact, is the expression of a collaborative effort that depends on the chosen blend, the preparation system, the ingredients, and the skill of the person making it.
Once you’ve chosen one of the Pontevecchio lever coffee machine models, all that’s left to do is select a high-quality coffee that has the characteristics you’re looking for: robust, with fruity notes, more or less acidic, full-bodied, rich in caffeine, or, conversely, decaffeinated.
In this article, we’ve rounded up all the best coffee brands to get the most out of your Pontevecchio lever coffee machine.
Let’s get started!
Why it’s not easy to make the best coffee
Finding the best beans, the right blend of different coffee varieties, and the optimal roasting level are all essential components to fully enjoy the flavor of espresso.
But these alone aren’t enough to create a perfect cup. The extract is the result of a long process influenced by many small factors: the brand of coffee, the water used, the experience of the brewer, and, last but not least, the coffee machine used.
Each of these factors can profoundly impact the final result.
After choosing the right quality of coffee, make sure to store the beans away from heat and atmospheric agents. Using a coffee grinder immediately to obtain the powder is one of the best ways to preserve its aromatic characteristics for a long time.
But only an espresso machine allows you to extract the best aromatic notes from the selected blend.
To enjoy coffee as good as at the bar, you need a professional coffee machine capable of respecting the organoleptic properties of the beans, thanks to the perfect combination of all the parameters.
The Pontevecchio lever coffee machine is a product born from over fifty years of experience, during which we have refined the extraction technique and focused on choosing the most durable and high-performance materials.
Every step of the preparation process is meticulously planned, ensuring that the extract tells its own story and satisfies the drinker’s taste.
After selecting all the best tools and ingredients, the responsibility falls entirely to the barista. He or she must measure the optimal amount of ground coffee, master the lever, and expertly fill the cup.
|
Factor |
Role in coffee preparation |
|
Coffee beans |
They contribute to the taste of the espresso |
|
Mixture of coffee varieties |
It affects the final result |
|
Roasting level |
It affects the taste of the espresso |
|
Coffee brand |
It affects the final result |
|
Water used |
It affects the final result |
|
Experience of those who prepare it |
It affects the final result |
|
Used coffee machine |
It affects the final result |
To make the best coffee ever, you need the best coffee machine
Espresso is the quintessential Italian coffee, and it was in Italy that the world’s best coffee machines were designed.
Born in the late 19th century, espresso underwent many changes before becoming the product we drink today. One of the most significant developments was the invention of the lever system, which introduced coffee extraction by pressing the beans. Thanks to this technique, the drink achieved its compact and creamy consistency, becoming a perfect concentration of aromas.
Pontevecchio lever coffee machines are the synthesis and refinement of models introduced during the last century, combining a completely mechanical operation with some electrical features.
Why is the best coffee machine a lever?
The lever system is activated like any other espresso machine: the water is heated inside the boiler, then passes through pipes inside the machine to reach the filter holder containing the ground coffee.
This is where the lever mechanism becomes unique. When the water reaches the right temperature, the lever must be depressed, applying the necessary pressure to control the brewing time. This creates a vacuum inside the tank, allowing the coffee to be extracted. The mechanism is designed so that the liquid does not backflow, contaminate the water in the tank, or damage the piping system.
The poetry of this mechanism is fully evident in the coffee extracted: a creamy, dense espresso that enhances all the organoleptic properties of the blend.
Our professional and home lever machines are entirely handcrafted, made with quality materials. They are designed to withstand wear and tear over time without the need for costly and ongoing maintenance.
Coffee brands to get the best blend
To sip the best coffee in the world, many experts agree on brewing with specific brands: Lavazza, Illy, and Caffè Stumptown are universally recognized as the best coffee blends on the market.
But depending on your taste, you can experiment with different blends, sipping an espresso enriched with chicory root (the famous Café Du Monde), or savoring a fruity beverage selected from primeval forests (Caffè Intelligentsia).
We’ll leave the choice up to you, providing a list of the best coffee brands organized by preparation method.
But first, we’ll provide some additional information on the factors to consider before purchasing any type of coffee.
How to choose a coffee brand
While some brands are better than others by standard standards, it’s not necessary to follow common sense. It’s best to start with the aroma that makes you feel most satisfied.
Do you enjoy a full-bodied, savory drink, or do you prefer fruity and floral aromas?
Do you think espresso is synonymous with energy and vitality? Or does your body not tolerate a high caffeine content?
It’s generally best to focus on brands with a fairly low acidity level, characterized by a naturally pleasant flavor. Some crops, particularly those grown in mountainous regions, produce a more acidic and intense product.
If you want to select a specific aroma, however, you need to have a little more knowledge about coffee species. Coffea Arabica beans produce a delicate, sweetish beverage, perfect for those who treat their coffee experience to a pampering experience. Coffea Canephora beans, better known as Robusta, on the other hand, produce a stronger, more bitter product.
The production method is another factor that affects flavor: the natural method is more delicate, while the washed method is more acidic.
True connoisseurs can distinguish coffee brands not only by their aromatic notes but also by their body. Our palate can perceive the physical properties of coffee, distinguishing between full-bodied, medium-bodied, and rounded coffees.
On the packaging, in addition to the type of plant and region of origin, it’s important to look at the production and packaging date. Coffee powder, even more than beans, is a product that loses its organoleptic properties very quickly. In addition to time, atmospheric agents and contact with air initiate the oxidation process, inevitably ruining the powder. Therefore, it’s always best to opt for fresh product stored in hermetically sealed metal containers.
|
Element |
Features described in the text |
|
Coffea Arabica |
Delicate and sweetish drink |
|
Coffea Canephora (Robusta) |
Stronger and more bitter product |
|
Natural method |
More delicate result |
|
Washed method |
More acidic result |
|
Full coffee |
Greater perceived body |
|
Medium coffee |
Intermediate body |
|
Round coffee |
Softer body |
Which are the best coffee brands?
The world’s most consumed beverage is also one of the most popular choices when purchasing. Coffee plantations are scattered across the Americas, Africa, and Asia, satisfying all market demand.
Once dried, the beans are shipped to roasters, where they are processed and distributed. Without this step, green coffee beans would be inedible and would lack the characteristic aromatic profile of coffee.
Coffea Arabica, with its low caffeine content, is the most widely cultivated plant in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Plantations grow at high altitudes, between 900 and 2,000 meters.
A robust product, richer in caffeine, comes from Coffea Robusta plants, typical of Africa, Brazil, and Asia. Coffea Robusta crops grow on hillsides, where the climate is warmer and more pleasant.
Fun fact: the country where the best coffee is drunk in the world is Italy, boasting over 800 roasters but only one coffee producer.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, the reality is that coffee quality is determined by the roasting process, which determines the aroma and enhances the sensory properties of the beans.
Now let’s discover the best coffee brands in the world, divided by preparation method and caffeine content.
|
Variety |
Characteristics |
|
Coffea Arabica |
Low caffeine content, grown between 900 and 2000 meters |
|
Coffea Robusta |
Richer in caffeine, grown in hilly areas with a warm climate |
Best brands of decaffeinated coffee
If you’re looking for a coffee with the same aromatic characteristics as regular coffee but with a reduced caffeine content, you can opt for decaffeinated coffee.
This type of coffee is perfectly identical to traditional coffee but undergoes the decaffeination process while the bean is still green. All subsequent steps, however, are almost identical to those of regular coffee.
To remove the caffeine, the beans undergo six steps: swelling, caffeine extraction, solvent recovery, drying, packaging, and analysis.
The resulting product is of the highest quality, and by choosing the best decaffeinated coffee brands, you can enjoy an extract that’s indistinguishable from traditional espresso.
Let’s see which ones:
- Chock full o’Nuts;
- Hag;
- Illy;
- Kimbo;
- Lavazza;
- Vergnano.
Best coffee brands for the Moka pot
The ritual of making morning coffee at home is an integral part of Italian tradition. The classic coffee maker is one of the most common kitchen appliances in the world, occupying a place of honor in almost every Italian home.
The sound of the coffee maker simmering on the stove and the aroma of coffee wafting through the home have a special meaning for coffee lovers. Typically, it’s the first cup of coffee of the day, when the entire contents of the machine are consumed while organizing the next meal.
The best coffee brands for the Moka Pot:
- Gevalia;
- Illy;
- Kahawa 1893;
- Kimbo;
- Kirkland;
- Lavazza;
- Passalacqua;
- Pellini;
- Starbucks;
- Segafredo Zanetti;
- Vergnano;
Best coffee brands for Neapolitans
Known in Campania as the Cuccumella, the Neapolitan coffee maker works by gravity. Unlike the traditional Moka pot, where water rises, in this case the boiling water sinks and passes through the grounds before reaching the reservoir. It takes at least ten minutes to obtain the perfect drink, the ideal amount of time to serve a piping hot coffee with the right consistency.
Considering the unique extraction method, the best Neapolitan coffee should be ground coarser and characterized by strong, robust aromas.
Neapolitan coffee brands generally offer well-balanced blends of Arabica and Robusta beans and process the beans in a unique way: they are roasted at higher temperatures and cooked for longer.
Here are the brands to choose for a strong, robust extract, just as the best Neapolitan tradition demands:
- Aloia;
- Borbone;
- Equal Exchange;
- Kahawa 1893;
- Kenon;
- Kimbo;
- Moreno;
- Passalacqua;
- Toraldo.
|
Characteristics of Neapolitan coffee |
Description |
|
Grinding |
More coarse |
|
Flavors |
Determined and robust |
|
Mixture |
Arabica quality and Robusta quality |
|
Roasting |
At higher temperatures |
|
Processing of the grains |
Grains cooked longer |
Best brands of ground coffee
Ground coffee is the type normally used in espresso machines. To obtain a good extract and optimize the performance of the coffee machine, the ground coffee must be ground more finely than that used for a Moka pot.
Coffee, especially fine-ground coffee, should be stored away from light, heat, and air to preserve its aromatic characteristics. Ground coffee should be used immediately to prevent it from losing its potency over time: a couple of weeks are enough to alter the flavor and lose the organoleptic properties of the beans.
Various blends of ground coffee are available on the market, suitable for both home and professional coffee machines:
- Allegro Coffee;
- Borbone;
- Cafè Bustelo;
- Caffe Canyon;
- Death Wish Coffee;
- Equal Exchange;
- Illy;
- Intelligentsia;
- Kimbo;
- Lavazza;
- New England Coffee;
- Note d’Espresso;
- Peet’s Coffee;
- Pellini;
- Starbucks;
- Vergnano.
Best coffee bean brands
Pods are a very convenient brewing system, clean and easy to use, allowing you to precisely adjust the amount of coffee used. Pod coffee machines are highly functional both at home and in shared spaces, such as offices and shops.
The best coffee pod brands meet standard specifications and offer E.S.E. pods that are compatible with any type of pod coffee machine.
They are generally made from compostable materials (such as rice paper) and have a low environmental impact.
The flavor of espresso made with pods is identical to that obtained with ground coffee. The only difference is that you can’t vary the amount of coffee to suit your taste, but to overcome this problem, you can opt for more or less intense blends.
Best coffee brands for bars
A barista’s espresso must meet very specific criteria in terms of creaminess, body, flavor, and aroma. For this reason, it’s essential to always choose the best coffee brands for bars, such as:
- Danesi;
- Kimbo;
- Lavazza;
- Moreno;
- Pascucci;
- Pellini;
- Starbucks;
- Vergnano.
Each of these, in fact, is the result of careful selection, expertly combining consistent, robust notes with fruity, more delicate aromas.
We know that preparing espresso is a true art, born from the fusion of a series of components: coffee blend, water, the barista’s experience, and the coffee machine.
To obtain an excellent espresso, therefore, our advice is to avoid any step and choose the best ingredients.
In this article, we’ve provided a comprehensive list of the best coffee brands, and now we’ll let you in on a secret: the only way to truly appreciate a coffee blend is to use a quality coffee machine.
Pontevecchio lever coffee machines are designed to enhance every blend and preserve the aroma and flavor of the ground coffee. Explore our models and choose the one that’s right for you, confident that each solution will offer you a heavenly tasting experience.
