The Best Coffee From Costco In 2024: What To Buy Now
Heads up: This content is reader-supported, meaning we may earn a small commission if you click on some of our links.
Searching for the best coffee at Costco can be daunting, with countless beans, grounds, K-cups, and other choices. To help you narrow your search, we’ve tested a variety of coffees from the warehouse store.
When you shop at Costco, you’re almost guaranteed the best price on any product. However, these savings come at a cost.
Membership fees aside, shopping at Costco usually means buying in bulk. This is ideal for large households or items that don’t expire quickly.
But when you think of where to buy the best coffee, you may not immediately think of Costco. Purchasing coffee beans in bulk can be a bit daunting. Choosing a few-pound bag of coffee beans is a commitment, especially when you’re not sure you’ll love the roast you selected.
That’s where we come in. We’ve tested countless coffee roasts from the big-box retailer and narrowed the list to only the best coffee from Costco.
Table of Contents
Best Coffee From Costco: Our Top Picks
PICK | COFFEE NAME | WHAT WE LIKE | BUY IT |
 | MAYORGA CAFE CUBANO |
| |
 | JOSE'S MAYAN BLEND |
| |
 | JOSE'S FRENCH ROAST |
| |
 | KIRKLAND WHOLE BEAN BLEND |
| |
 | MAYORGA COSTA RICA LAS LAJAS |
|
How We Selected The Best Coffee At Costco
Coffee is a personal choice; no two people will agree on which coffee bean or roast is superior. One coffee drinker may prefer the bold, full-bodied characteristics of a medium or dark roast, while the fruitier notes of a light roast appeal to another.
But while we disagree on which is the absolute best coffee roast, we can agree on which coffee beans offer the best quality and flavor nuances within a specific category.
For this coffee review, we set out with a team of fellow coffee lovers to brew, taste, and debate the best coffee from Costco. As a group with seriously varied coffee personalities, it was no easy task.
We tested the Costco coffee beans under identical conditions and brewed each using three different methods (drip coffee maker, pour over, and French press) to ensure consistency in testing. All beans were purchased as whole-bean coffee and ground using a burr coffee grinder before each brew.
A Note On Costco Ground Coffee
If you’re a person who prefers to buy pre-ground coffee, you may want to consider changing your ways. There are several reasons to consider switching to whole-bean coffee instead of buying the pre-ground stuff.
First, according to Javapresse, ground coffee begins to lose its natural flavor just 20-30 minutes after grinding. Minutes!!
Combined with the fact that it was likely roasted months beforehand, it means a seriously harsh and bitter brew. (peak freshness is within 1-2 weeks after roasting)
Secondly, if you purchase pre-ground coffee or grind all of your coffee at one time at the store, you’re stuck with one grind size for the whole bag of beans.
What does this mean? Each coffee brewing method requires a specific grind size to optimize the flavor and quality of the coffee brewed.
For example, a French press uses a coarse grind, while an espresso machine uses a fine grind. Why limit yourself to only one coffee brewing method?
Organic Coffee vs. Regular Coffee
You may notice that all of our picks for the best coffee at Costco are organic varieties. But are organic coffee beans better? In a word, yes.
Coffee is one of the most heavily chemically-treated crops in the world. There are over 200 pesticides used in the coffee industry today.
This means that conventional coffee can be potentially dangerous to the farmers who handle the coffee cherries and to us as consumers.
These chemicals also harm the environment (and those who live near areas where conventional coffee is farmed), which we take very seriously around here.
So, while conventional coffee still offers some health benefits despite the chemicals used to farm it, we prefer to avoid it when possible. Plus, organic coffee is said to have higher levels of antioxidants. Bonus!
How To Store Costco Coffee Beans
Unless you’re buying whole-bean coffee for a bustling office, a retail environment, or a big family of avid coffee consumers, it’ll likely take a little while to get through that two-pound bag of Costco coffee beans.
But how should you store coffee beans?
It’s pretty simple, actually. If your beans came in a foil bag with a one-way air filter (it lets air out but not in), like most of the best Costco coffee, leave them there. Seal the bag with a couple of clips and store it in a cool, dark place away from any heat sources.
The coffee will last you up to two weeks by doing so. If your Costco coffee comes in a paper bag, transfer it to an opaque, airtight container and then store it in a cool, dark place.
If you went crazy at Costco and really stocked up, resist the temptation to refrigerate your coffee beans. Refrigeration actually ages the coffee faster when condensation pushes the oils to the surface of the beans.
The freezer is your best option if you really need to store your Costco coffee for longer than a few weeks. We recommend dividing the coffee beans into small, airtight containers to avoid freezer burn. The catch?
You’ll need to thaw the beans before grinding and brewing. What was once a convenient morning beverage is not quite so anymore. So, now that you know what you should look for when buying Costco coffee beans, let’s get to our top picks for the best coffee at Costco.
Best Costco Coffee: Full Reviews
Overall Winner – Mayorga Organic Cafe Cubano
Don’t let the dark roast label deter you from trying this coffee. While the Mayorga Organic Café Cubano is a dark roast, it is complex, sweet, and incredibly smooth.
This roast performed well in every brewing method, making it the perfect choice for most homebrewers and some of Costco’s best coffee.
We especially like this blend for iced coffee because of its rich, complex flavor, but it made a pretty epic cold brew. We highly recommend making espresso with these coffee beans if you have an espresso machine or Moka Pot.
Best Value – Jose’s Organic Mayan Coffee Blend
Jose’s Organic Mayan Coffee Blend has a new look! Don’t let the new bag design fool you; this coffee is an outstanding value and should not be overlooked. This medium-dark roast is subtle, with chocolatey undertones and an almost floral aroma reminiscent of a light roast.
Costco coffee prices are notoriously fair, but at $8.99 for a 2.5-lb bag of certified organic coffee beans, it’s a steal. This is undoubtedly the best coffee from Costco for the money.
This roast performed well in all of our tests, but we like this Costco coffee best brewed using the pour over or French press methods. We found some subtle nuances and flavors muted when brewed using a traditional drip coffee maker.
Best Dark Roast – Jose’s Organic French Roast
Jose’s Organic French Roast is for you if you’re a fan of dark roasts. This roast is a near-perfect example of what dark roasts aim to be.
This French roast is rich, full-bodied, and layered with notes of caramel and dark chocolate. It has a smooth, lingering finish without the harsh or bitter taste many associate with French roasts (us included).
We loved this roast when brewed in our French press (appropriately so) and found it also made a pretty fabulous espresso.
Best Medium Roast – Kirkland Organic Whole Bean Blend
Despite its modestly vague name and packaging, we love the Kirkland Organic Whole Bean Blend. Don’t let it fool you. But is Kirkland coffee good?
(Costco insider secret: any product slapped with the Kirkland branding is typically a lower-priced “generic” version of a high-value item. It’s a quality product at a great price, and this Kirkland coffee is no exception.)
This Kirkland coffee is a high-quality blend of specialty-grade organic South and Central American coffee beans grown at higher altitudes and matured slowly. This growing technique, combined with the small-batch roasting process, results in an exceptionally balanced complex and refined flavor.
This is a versatile medium roast that is sure to please most palates. This roast performed exceptionally well in all brewing methods. We snag this bag of Kirkland coffee anytime we come across it at Costco because it’s a solid value and highly versatile for everyday brewing.
Best Light Roast – Mayorga Organic Costa Rica Las Lajas
The Mayorga Organic Costa Rica is a single-origin coffee bean from the Las Lajas farm in Costa Rica. While this particular bean isn’t always available, we would be remiss to omit it from our picks for the best coffee from Costco.
If you see this Costco coffee online or in-store, we suggest you buy it immediately because it comes and goes (like so many of our favorite Costco items, but we digress)
The Las Lajas farm is one of the few certified organic coffee farms in Costa Rica and is family-owned and operated with a commitment to the environment. This farmer-direct coffee is exceptionally smooth with fruity, almost tropical notes. It is a beautiful light roast, perfect for various brewing methods.
We particularly enjoyed this roast as a pour over and found the sweetness unique and exciting. We would also recommend trying it as a cold brew.
Tip: if you can’t find the Las Lajas, try this variety from Mayorga instead. It’s another exceptional Costco coffee rarely seen in stores but is typically available on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which coffee beans from Costco are best suited for making espresso?
If you’re looking to make espresso at home, you’ll want to look for beans that are dark-roasted, oily, and have a strong flavor. The Kirkland Signature Espresso Blend and the Lavazza Espresso Italiano Whole Bean Coffee are great options for making espresso.
What is the best coffee option at Costco for cold brew?
When it comes to cold brew, you’ll want to look for beans with a low acidity. The Kirkland Signature Colombian Supremo Whole Bean Coffee and the Starbucks Cold Brew Blend are both great options for making cold brew.
What are some highly recommended coffee brands available at Costco?
Costco offers various coffee brands, including Kirkland Signature, Starbucks, Peet’s Coffee, and Mayorga Organics. Each brand offers unique blends and flavors, so it’s worth trying a few to see which ones you like best.
What are some reviews of Mayorga coffee available at Costco?
Mayorga Organics is a popular coffee brand available at Costco. Reviews praise the brand’s smooth taste and organic, fair-trade beans. The Mayorga Cafe Cubano Dark Roast Whole Bean Coffee is a fan favorite.
How do Costco’s Kirkland brand coffee prices compare to other brands?
Kirkland Signature offers affordable coffee options compared to other brands available at Costco. While prices may vary depending on location, Kirkland Signature coffee is often priced lower than other brands while maintaining consistently high quality.
Who produces Kirkland brand coffee for Costco?
Costco’s Kirkland Signature coffee is produced by various coffee roasters, including Starbucks and other well-known brands. However, the exact producer may vary depending on the specific blend and location. Rest assured that buying any Kirkland brand product means getting a high-quality product produced by a reputable brand but sold at a much lower price.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heather Calatrello
Heather is the head coffee roaster and founder of ShedLight Coffee Roasters in San Diego, CA. Her solar-powered coffee roastery was recently the subject of a BlueDot Living dispatch, and she has repeatedly been featured in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parade, and more.
