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I Tried 13 Supermarket Coffees — And These 5 Are Worth Stocking Up

The store-bought grounds that keep us grinding through the day.

4 Sept 2024
5 min read
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*This article includes mentions of merchants or brands who are partners of DoorDash, and DoorDash may receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase from these merchants or brands.

While it may not be the fanciest method, buying ground coffee from the grocery store and brewing it in a drip coffee maker is the norm for most coffee-drinking Americans (including me). And thankfully, today’s coffee aisle has a lot more to offer than those ubiquitous red and blue tubs, so finding beans that prioritize both convenience and flavor isn’t the tall order it used to be.

To find out which joes were above average, I brewed and tasted a variety of pre-ground coffees that are available for delivery through DoorDash from grocery stores nationwide. Spoiler alert: You don’t have to settle for a less delicious cup just because you’re buying grounds from the store.

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The Tasters

I recruited my wife and fellow daily coffee drinker to join me on this jittery journey and had her taste each brand of ground coffee blind as to not be influenced by the logo on the bag. Though neither of us would call ourselves coffee connoisseurs, we do have standards. Our combined decades of drinking everything, from airplane coffee to pour-over cups from specialty roasters, has given us the ability to distinguish a good cup from a bad one.

The Methodology

There’s a lot of variety in the coffee aisle, so I narrowed the playing field by choosing only ground medium roast coffees (the preferred roast of most Americans) made with 100% Arabica beans. Because pre-ground coffees from the grocery store are designed for a drip coffee maker, I brewed all of the contenders in a drip machine using six ounces of filtered water for every two tablespoons of grounds.

To prevent over-caffeination, we spent a week sipping and scoring 13 different varieties of medium roast ground coffees, consuming each one black and with milk. We evaluated each coffee for flavor, body, sweetness, bitterness, acidity, and aftertaste. These are the ones that are good to the last drop.

The Results

Caribou Coffee's Caribou Blend

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This well-rounded roast from Minnesota’s Caribou Coffee is our new morning go-to. Made with beans from Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, and Sumatra that are Rainforest Alliance Certified and small-batch roasted, this balanced blend features a vibrant acidity, medium body, and silky-smooth mouthfeel. The mellow sweetness and notes of caramel and toasty graham crackers made it easy to drink and easy to love. 

Newman’s Own Organic Special Blend

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Using organic beans from Central America and Indonesia, this medium roast from Newman’s Own produces a solid cup of coffee. Upon first sip, our taste buds were flooded with sweet milk chocolaty notes followed up with just a hint of bitterness. The acidity is mild and crisp, and it has a clean aftertaste we really enjoyed. Plus, Newman’s Own donates all profits to charity, so you can feel extra warm and fuzzy while enjoying this brew.

Peet’s Big Bang

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For coffee drinkers who enjoy a cup that’s not too dark and not too light, Peet’s Big Bang medium roast hits the spot. Made with Rainforest Alliance Certified beans from Ethiopia and Latin America, this approachable blend features a medium-light body, bright acidity, and no trace of bitterness. The flavor profile is uncomplicated — which isn’t a bad thing — but we thought it could potentially be overpowered in a cup with a lot of cream and sugar. 

Green Mountain's Nantucket Blend

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This medium-full bodied coffee from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is bold, but not overpowering, and has a subtle berry-like acidity. There’s a dark chocolaty bitterness upfront, which is balanced out by the sweeter brown sugar and dried fruit notes that come through on the finish. Overall, this blend makes for a cup that’s perfectly delicious and drinkable black, and also holds up its flavor with add-ins like cream and sugar.

Stumptown’s Hair Bender

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Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Stumptown Coffee Roasters sources beans from renowned coffee-growing regions around the world to produce this highly satisfying blend. Hair Bender had the most complex flavor profile of all the coffees we tried, featuring notes of sweet citrus and chocolate. It has a lively acidity; the sweetness and bitterness harmonize beautifully together. Side note: This blend is a little pricey compared to the others but worth the splurge.

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PHOTO CREDIT:
Photography: Paul Quitoriano
Art Direction: Sarah Ceniceros Gomez

Whether you’re brewing at home or grabbing an afternoon pick-me-up, choosing the right ground coffee makes all the difference. After you’ve picked your top blends, you can check them all out together without roaming the store aisles. Ready to turn your favorite grocery-store coffees into at-home staples? Get yours via DoorDash Grocery Delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ordering Coffee on DoorDash

Finding your favorite coffee brands or roast levels on DoorDash is simple thanks to powerful in-app search and clear product labeling. Just type in the brand you love—like a go-to medium roast or a specialty dark roast—and DoorDash will surface options from multiple nearby grocery and convenience stores. You can also open a store’s Coffee category to browse by roast level, flavor notes, bag size, or grind type. Whether you’re topping off your week’s supply or doing a full stock-up, it’s an easy way to get your perfect roast delivered fast.

Yes — while DoorDash doesn’t use a dedicated “roast level” filter, it’s still easy to find light, medium, or dark roasts. Most coffee listings clearly label the roast on the product image or description, and the search bar is your best shortcut: just type “light roast,” “medium roast,” or “dark roast” to instantly surface options across nearby stores. You can also browse within a store’s Coffee category, where roast levels naturally group together as you scroll.

To compare prices and bag sizes for different ground-coffee brands on DoorDash, simply use the app’s search or browse view — you’ll see each listing’s bag weight, price, and brand side-by-side under the same category. That lets you quickly scan which offers the best value per ounce or bag size. If you want extra savings, check store-level promotions and compare across multiple grocers in your area. It’s an easy way to balance roast, budget, and quantity before you check out.

Yes — if you forget coffee add-ons like filters, creamers, or sweeteners during checkout, DoorDash makes it easy to add them afterward as long as your order hasn’t been shopped yet. Just open your active order and look for the Add Items option, which lets you quickly toss in anything you missed. It’s perfect for last-minute top-offs, whether you’re restocking your whole coffee setup or just grabbing essentials for tomorrow morning’s brew. And with fast grocery delivery, you’ll have everything you need without making an extra trip.

You can find top grocery-store coffee brands on DoorDash by heading to the Grocery section and searching for “coffee” or browsing a store’s Coffee category, where popular national and local brands appear side by side. Because DoorDash partners with major grocers and convenience retailers, you’ll see a wide mix of favorites—from everyday blends to premium roasts—all in one place. It’s an easy way to restock your morning essentials without the aisle hunt, and you can explore what’s available near you through DoorDash Grocery.

Yes — DoorDash makes it easy to spot new or trending coffee blends while you browse. Many grocery and convenience stores highlight popular picks, seasonal releases, and limited-edition roasts right at the top of their Coffee category, so fresh finds naturally stand out. You can also search keywords like “new,” “seasonal,” or specific flavor notes to surface what’s buzzing nearby.

Finding organic, fair-trade, or single-origin coffees on DoorDash is easy with a few quick search tricks. Just type keywords like “organic coffee,” “fair trade,” or “single origin” into the search bar, and the app will surface options from multiple nearby grocery and specialty stores. Product labels and descriptions clearly call out these attributes, so you can confirm details before adding anything to your cart. You can also browse a store’s Coffee category, where these premium options often appear together. It’s a simple way to shop your values while stocking up on your favorite roast.

Yes — you can easily schedule your coffee delivery for the morning so you never risk running out before that first cup. During checkout, just select Schedule Ahead and choose the delivery window that works best for your routine. It’s a simple way to keep your coffee supply steady, whether you’re doing a full stock-up or topping off your favorite blend. And with delivery in as little as 30 minutes when you need it sooner, DoorDash makes sure your morning brew is always within reach.

If your preferred coffee brand or roast is out of stock, substitutions on DoorDash are designed to be smooth and fully in your control. Your shopper will suggest alternatives—usually similar roast levels, flavors, or brands—and you’ll get a notification so you can approve, decline, or request something different. You can also chat directly with your shopper if you have a specific backup in mind.

If your coffee order arrives damaged, missing, or different from what you selected, DoorDash’s Quality Guarantee makes it easy to fix. Just open your order in the app, tap Help, and choose the issue—whether it’s a dented can, a broken seal, or the wrong roast. You can request a refund or credit, and issues are resolved as quickly as possible. DoorDash wants your grocery delivery to feel as reliable as shopping yourself, so reporting the problem is the fastest way to make it right and get your next coffee run back on track.