Choosing the right coffee beans doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you favour espresso, pour-over, plunger, or cold brew, this guide helps you pick beans that match your brewing style, taste preferences, and lifestyle.

In this article, you'll discover:

• How we test and rate beans (freshness, flavor, value)

• Bean recommendations by brew method

• A Freshness & Roast-Date Cheat Sheet (PDF)

• A Brew-Match tool to pick beans based on your taste + brew style

• Storage and grind advice to get the best out of every bag

How We Tested & Ranked the Beans

To build recommendations you can trust, here's how we evaluated each bean:

• Freshness / roast date: We prioritised beans roasted within a recent window.

• Flavor profile: We tasted each bean for acidity, body, complexity, sweetness, and aftertaste.

• Brew performance: We tested beans across multiple brew methods (espresso, plunger, pour-over, etc.).

• Value: We considered the cost per bag relative to flavour quality and yield.

• Ethical sourcing: We evaluated information on origin, traceability, and whether the roast partner discloses origin details.

Brew-Method by Brew-Method: Top Bean Picks for 2026

Here are our recommended Coffee Hero beans, by the way you brew:

1. Espresso

If you're dialing in for espresso, these beans stand out:

• Coffee Hero Medium Roast Whole Beans
  A well-balanced medium roast with chocolate and nutty notes, perfect for espresso machines.

• Coffee Hero Kenya Gachuiro Whole Beans
  Bright, fruity acidity with a crisp finish, ideal for single-origin espresso lovers who like a punchy, refined shot.

Grind & Dose:
Use about 18–20 g for a double shot. Typical espresso dosing.
Extraction ratio: Aim for ~1:2 (i.e., 36–40 g out from 18–20 g in), depending on your machine.

2. Pour-Over / V60 / Chemex

For pour-over, clarity and brightness matter. Here are some beans that shine:

• Coffee Hero Medium Roast - again, great for sweet, rounded pour-over cups.

• Coffee Hero Kenya Gachuiro - gives a brighter, fruity clarity that works beautifully in filter brewers.

• Coffee Hero Premium Organic Single Origin
  Certified organic, mild-to-medium roast, notes of plum and chocolate, excellent in a V60 or Chemex for a clean, complex cup.

Brew Ratio:
A good starting point is 1:16 (coffee to water) for pour-over.
If using SCAA guidelines: for a 400 ml cup, use ~22 g of coffee.

3. Plunger / French Press

When you want a full-bodied, rich cup from coarse grounds:

• Coffee Hero Medium Roast - its balanced body and sweetness make it a reliable plunger bean.

• Coffee Hero Kenya Gachuiro - this adds some vibrant acidity and clarity, creating a complex, layered press coffee.

Ratio Suggestion:
Use around 60 g per litre for French Press.
If you're making a 300 ml plunger of coffee, that’s about 18 g of coffee.

4. Cold Brew

For cold brew concentrate or ready-to-drink:

• Coffee Hero Medium Roast - smooth, gentle roast that steeps well without turning overly bitter.

• Coffee Hero Premium Organic - its subtle fruit and chocolate character works beautifully when steeped long and diluted.

Ratio for Cold Brew:
To make concentrate, try a 1:4 coffee:water ratio (e.g., 100 g of coffee to 400 ml water).
For ready-to-drink strength, you can dilute to around 1:8.

The Freshness & Roast-Date Cheat Sheet (Downloadable PDF)

What’s inside:

• A printable timeline showing “optimal roast window” (how soon to consume).

• How to read roast dates on coffee bags.

• Storage best practices (airtight containers, away from light, etc.).

• Quick dos and don’ts (e.g., avoid fridge/freezer).

Why it matters:
Roast date is far more important than “best by” date. Over time, coffee loses aromatic compounds rapidly. 
We recommend aiming to drink your beans within 2–4 weeks post-roast for peak flavour.

Freshness & Roast-Date Cheat Sheet (PDF) Download the PDF

Brew-Match Tool: Find Your Perfect Beans

Use this simple Brew-Match tool (interactive table) to find beans based on your taste preferences + brewing method:

Price vs Quality: Cost-per-Cup Explained

Understanding how much you're paying for each cup helps you make smarter coffee purchases. Here’s a breakdown using Coffee Hero beans:

Example calculation (16 g per cup):

• Coffee Hero Medium Roast (250 g):
  Cups = 250 ÷ 16 = ~15.6 cups
  (Assume price = $21.99) → $21.99 ÷ 15.6 ≈ $1.41 per cup

• Coffee Hero Kenya Gachuiro (250 g):
  Cups = ~15.6, price $28.99 → ~$1.86 per cup

How to Store Coffee Beans at Home

Storing beans properly is just as important as picking the right ones. Here’s how:

1. Use an airtight/coffeevac, opaque container. Light, air, moisture and heat are the enemies of freshness. 

2. Avoid refrigeration or freezing. These can introduce moisture, which damages beans.

3. Buy in quantities you’ll use in a few weeks. Whole beans are best used within 2–4 weeks for optimal flavour.

4. Grind just before you brew. Grinding exposes more surface area to oxygen, so it’s best to grind only what you need.

How to Grind (And What Grinder to Use)

• For espresso, you need a fine, consistent grind. Use a burr grinder.

• For pour-over & plunger, a medium/coarse grind works best.

• For cold brew, very coarse grind yields smooth results.

Having the right grinder helps you unlock the full flavour potential. Consider pairing your bean choices with a precision burr grinder for best results.

CHECK OUT OUR: Freshly Roasted Specialty Coffee Beans Delivered Australia Wide

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: What is “degassing” and why do I care?
A: Degassing is the release of CO₂ after roasting. Fresh beans release a lot of CO₂, which can interfere with extraction if used too soon. This is why coffee is often at its “sweet spot” between ~7–21 days post-roast.

Q: How long can I keep beans before they go stale?
A: Stored properly, whole beans can maintain good flavour for ~2–4 weeks. After that, flavour complexity starts to fade. 
Even unopened, flavour degrades graduallyc- some roasters say up to 6-9 months if sealed, but best quality is much earlier. 

Q: Can I store coffee in the freezer?
A: Not recommended. Temperature changes and moisture can damage flavour. Instead, store at room temperature in a cool, dark, sealed container.

Q: Should I buy ground coffee instead?
A: Whole beans retain flavour for longer. Ground coffee begins losing aromatic compounds rapidly once exposed to air, so whole beans + grinding just before brew is ideal.  buy only the best coffee beans 

Q: How do I choose between beans if I brew multiple ways (e.g., espresso + pour-over)?
A: Use the Brew-Match tool (above) to pick a bean that performs well in both methods, or maintain a rotating subscription with 2–3 roast styles or origins.

Choosing the right coffee beans doesn’t mean picking the most expensive, it's about aligning freshness, flavour, and brew method. Use this guide, the Brew-Match tool, and the Freshness Cheat Sheet to refine your coffee buying approach.

Try this: Grab a 250 g bag of your matched roast and order a 3 × 50 g sample pack to test three different flavour profiles. Try our Freshly roasted coffee beans.

Once you've found your favourite, you can subscribe (if you offer subscriptions) or order fresh-roasted beans regularly so you always stay in that “sweet spot” of freshness.

Happy brewing ☕️

JOIN NOW  >> HUNDREDS OF HAPPY COFFFE HERO SUBSCRIPBERS

As soon as we roast our beans they are packed and shipped to you immediately. When it arrives at your doorstep, it’ll be the freshest coffee you’ve ever tasted. Order online for delivery.