Short Answer: Medium coffee roast tends to be the best for drip machines. Lavazza Super Crema, Kicking Horse Coffee, and Real Good Coffee are my top picks as the best coffees for drip coffee makers.
Drip coffee is a type of coffee that’s made in a drip coffee maker by letting steaming water drip slowly through the grounded coffee contained in a filter. What is a drip coffee maker, then one might ask?
A drip coffee maker is another name for the automatic coffee machine that’s present in almost every American household. Their convenience, relatively inexpensive price tags, and consistent brew make drip coffee makers the most popular coffee machine worldwide.
These machines have become every household’s necessity because they prepare our morning cup of joe with the push of a button. Just because most of us are happy with the repetitive cycle of drip coffee machines doesn’t mean we shouldn’t test them with different coffee beans.
In this article, I’ve put together a list of all the best coffees that I think are ideal for drip coffee makers. So keep reading to learn everything about them.
Why Do People Like Drip Coffee?
Assumably, the most prominent reason why people like drip coffee is that it’s quite simple and easy to make.
A drip coffee machine can make a cup of drip-brewed coffee incredibly fast and with quite a little effort on the part of the drinker.
It also tends to be a familiar drink. When you make or order a cup of drip coffee, you know exactly what you will be getting in your cup of coffee.
Which Coffee Grind Is The Best for Drip Coffee?
Medium grinds are the best coffee grind for drip coffee.
In the world of coffee, there is a very precise chart of types of coffee grinds, which are a measurement of how coarsely (or finely) ground the coffee beans are.
The extra coarse grinds are the least finely ground beans and tend to be about as gritty and big as peppercorns. Standard-coarse grinds can be compared with the size of sea salt, while medium grinds are like regular sand, medium/coarse grinds are like coarse sand, and medium/fine look like table salt.
Finally, the remaining ones are fine and extra-fine grinds, which can be as fine as anything from very fine table salt to flour.
The best grind for drip coffee is in one of the medium grinds.
What You Will Need To Make Drip Coffee?
You’ll need:
- Auto-Drip coffee maker
- Water
- Paper Filter
- 1.5 Tablespoons of your favorite Coffee for each cup of water (You can adjust it to fit your taste preference. The “Golden Ratio” suggests one to two tablespoons of coffee for every 6 ounces of water.)
The time required: 10 minutes.
How to Brew Good Drip Coffee
Here are the steps that you’ll need to follow to brew a good drip coffee.
- Begin with a good medium-grind coffee. Buy high quality coffee. Use a medium grind. The closer you will grind your beans to the time of brewing, the fresher your coffee will taste.
- Filter your water. The water you use can have a great effect on the taste of your coffee, therefore, use filtered fresh water.
- Be patient. Avoid setting up your coffee too early. Though it’s tempting to prep the grounds and water the night before, the taste of the brew will always be better if you hold out until morning.
- Turn down the heat. Turn off the heat when you are done brewing. The longer your coffee remains on the burner, the more it will loose its taste.
- Clean your machine! It’s important to clean your machine at least once a month. Brew a full pot of cleaning mixture: two parts water to one part vinegar. Finish it up by brewing a full pot of hot water.
Best Coffee Beans for Drip Coffee Maker
Here are the best coffees for drip makers
1. Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee Blend
Lavazza is an Italian brand that boasts its expertise of over a century of roasting, blending, and brewing coffee beans. The Lavazza Super Crema coffee blend is proof that delivering a rich and robust flavor doesn’t always have to come at a high price.
Highlights
- Roast Profile: Medium roast
- Form: Whole bean
- Flavor: Has a flowery and fruity flavor and aroma
- Type: 60/40 Arabica and Robusta blend coffee beans
- Packaging: 2.2-pound silver foil bag
Pros
- The thick crema is what sets this medium roast coffee apart. It’s the perfect choice for lattes and cappuccinos, as well as the usual drip coffee.
- Budget-friendly
- The coffee grounds can be used in espresso machines and drip coffee makers.
Cons
- If you want a really powerful cup, Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee might not hit the spot for you.
2. Kicking Horse Coffee
Kicking Horse Coffee is originated from the rocky mountain highlands of Canada, it offers a decaf variety with a deep, full-bodied flavor.
These dark roast arabica beans are an ideal match with drip coffee makers to provide you with a top-notch cup of coffee.
Highlights
- Roast Profile: Dark roast
- Form: Whole coffee bean
- Flavor: Has deep chocolate with hazelnut and brown sugar
- Caffeine level: Decaffeinated
- Type: 100% certified organic Arabica
- Packaging: 2.2 pounds
Pros
- Using fair trade practices and being organic is surely a WIN for this brand!
- It is ideal for people who want a smooth taste with a hint of nuts and brown sugar.
- The recommended brew methods include espresso machine, drip coffee machines, pour over, french press, and cold brew.
Cons
- Some people might find these coffee beans to be a bit dry because it lacks the light oil sheen commonly found in other beans.
- The beans can go stale as the packaging is not resealable.
3. Real Good Coffee Co. Donut Shop Medium Roast Coffee Beans
The flavor of Real Good Coffee will give you a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of donut shops with its unique sweetly burnt roasted aroma.
You will love using these coffee beans from the coffee capital Seattle with your drip coffee maker.
Highlights
- Roast level: Medium Roast
- Form: Whole bean
- Flavor: Hazelnut and brown sugar with a hint of fruitiness
- Type: 100% Arabica beans
- Packaging: 2 pounds
Pros
- Starts out rich and strong and ends with a smooth finish
- The resealable bag prolongs the freshness by keepibg the coffee beans airtight.
Cons
- The coffee beans get stuck in the grinder because of some greasy beans. Though it is not a big problem, since it happens with other brands too.
- No roast date mentioned on the bag. People who value freshness would prefer to know this information.
| Drip Coffee Machines | Price |
| Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee Blend | from $35.99 |
| Kicking Horse Coffee | from $11.99 |
| Real Good Coffee Co. Donut Shop Medium Roast Coffee Beans | from $29.22 |
Is Drip Coffee The Same As Filtered Coffee?
The pour-over process of drip coffee is similar to filtered coffee.
Both are part of the same process. You drip hot water over coffee grounds through a machine or manually extract the flavors in a pour-over method.
The filter keeps back to the ground during the pour-over process and lets the coffee slide swiftly.
Drip coffee can be prepared using these types of processes:
- Automatic drip – coffee made with an automatic coffee machine (which drips through a filter)
- Pourover – poured manual through a filter.
- Clever dripper – filtered coffee that is brewed by immersing the grinds in water, in a device that does not let the water drip, then a valve is released for the water to pour and then drip through.
- Chemex, Aeropress, and many others
To Sum It All Up
Overall, brewing coffee in a drip machine is not at all a difficult task but instead, the most convenient and easiest one. However, using a good quality coffee can make a huge difference in the taste of your final drink.
In my opinion, the best coffees that you can use with your drip maker are Lavazza Super Crema, Kicking Horse Coffee, and Real Good Coffee. They will surely uplift your drip coffee experience.
You can pick your favorite roast as there are no set rules. However, drip makers work best with medium grinds.
Apart from that, keep experimenting to know what suits your taste and how you can improve your coffee drinking experience.
If you are still unsure about how drip coffee machines work, watch the video below:
Now feel free to brew yourself a steaming hot cup of coffee and enjoy!