Floral coffee
Jasmine, rose and blossom. The most delicate thing a coffee can be asked to hold and the first thing a dark roast destroys, so these are light roasts nearly without exception.
17 products
The best floral coffee, ranked
ranked by the average score of each roaster's coffeesOpen a row for details1
Fresh Roasted CoffeeKenya AA$35.27/kg8.7How it scored
Freshness & Roast Date Transparency10.0Sourcing Transparency & Ethicsweakest link5.4altitude and varietals not publishedcarries 16 of the 45.8 points scoredValue Per Kilo10.0Packaging & Freshness Retention8.0packaging not scored2
LavazzaTablì Espresso Tabs$1.00/pod7.4How it scored
What Is In The Capsule7.0Cost Per Cup, and Per Kiloweakest link5.0carries 22 of the 87.8 points scoredRecycling & Disposal10.0capsule material onlySystem, Range & Availability9.0Sourcing & Certification8.43
Cooper's CaskSingle Origin Box Set 48oz$62.43/kg7.2How it scored
Variety & How Well It Introduces the Range9.0Value Against Buying the Bags Separately6.0Presentation & Gift Readiness10.0Freshness & Roast Date Transparencyweakest link0.0ships after roast not publishedcarries 14 of the 71.2 points scoredPrice per kg$62.43Score7.2Box priceFrom $84.95Read the Cooper's Cask Single Origin Box Set 48oz review →4
LavazzaTablì Espresso Lungo Tabs$1.10/pod6.8How it scored
What Is In The Capsule7.0Cost Per Cup, and Per Kiloweakest link3.6carries 22 of the 87.8 points scoredRecycling & Disposal10.0capsule material onlySystem, Range & Availability9.0Sourcing & Certification6.65
NespressoOriginal Tokyo Vivalto Lungo$0.95/pod6.8How it scored
What Is In The Capsule7.5Cost Per Cup, and Per Kiloweakest link4.5carries 22 of the 87.8 points scoredRecycling & Disposal8.0home compostable and kerbside recyclable not publishedSystem, Range & Availability7.2Sourcing & Certification8.1Read the Nespresso Original Tokyo Vivalto Lungo review →Price per pod$0.95Score6.86
Cooper's CaskSingle Origin Box Set$88.07/kg6.5How it scored
Variety & How Well It Introduces the Range9.0Value Against Buying the Bags Separately4.0Presentation & Gift Readiness10.0Freshness & Roast Date Transparencyweakest link0.0ships after roast not publishedcarries 14 of the 71.2 points scored7
Cooper's CaskEspresso Box Set$58.72/kg6.1How it scored
Variety & How Well It Introduces the Range7.0Value Against Buying the Bags Separately5.0Presentation & Gift Readiness10.0Freshness & Roast Date Transparencyweakest link0.0ships after roast not publishedcarries 14 of the 71.2 points scored8
Coffee BeansSpirit Origin Montecillos Catuai Washed$56.47/kg5.8How it scored
Freshness & Roast Date Transparencyweakest link5.0carries 20 of the 45.8 points scoredSourcing Transparency & Ethics6.8altitude and varietals not scoredValue Per Kilo5.0Packaging & Freshness Retention8.0packaging not scoredPrice per kg$56.47Score5.8Box priceFrom $26Read the Spirit Origin Montecillos Catuai Washed review →9
Koa CoffeeKa'u Private Reserve Medium Roast$176.37/kg5.6How it scored
Freshness & Roast Date Transparency7.9Sourcing Transparency & Ethics6.8altitude and varietals not publishedValue Per Kiloweakest link1.9carries 14 of the 45.8 points scoredPackaging & Freshness Retention6.0packaging not publishedPrice per kg$176.37Score5.6Box priceFrom $80Read the Koa Coffee Ka'u Private Reserve Medium Roast review →10
Cooper's CaskWine Barrel Aged Box Set$102.74/kg5.5How it scored
Variety & How Well It Introduces the Range7.0Value Against Buying the Bags Separately3.0Presentation & Gift Readiness10.0Freshness & Roast Date Transparencyweakest link0.0ships after roast not publishedcarries 14 of the 71.2 points scoredPrice per kg$102.74Score5.5Box priceFrom $34.95Read the Cooper's Cask Wine Barrel Aged Box Set review →11
Coffee RoastersSpirit Origin Coffee5.412
Black RifleFall Flavored Coffee Bundle$53.20/kg5.2How it scored
Variety & How Well It Introduces the Range5.5Value Against Buying the Bags Separately7.0Presentation & Gift Readiness5.0Freshness & Roast Date Transparencyweakest link0.0ships after roast not publishedcarries 14 of the 71.2 points scoredPrice per kg$53.20Score5.2Box priceFrom $51.27Read the Black Rifle Fall Flavored Coffee Bundle review →13
Coffee BeansSpirit Origin Honduran Espresso Blend$72.55/kg5.2How it scored
Freshness & Roast Date Transparency5.0Sourcing Transparency & Ethics6.1varietals not published; altitude not scoredValue Per Kiloweakest link3.7carries 14 of the 45.8 points scoredPackaging & Freshness Retention8.0packaging not scored14
Cooper's CaskEthiopia Bold Light Roast$35.25/kg4.1How it scored
Freshness & Roast Date Transparencyweakest link2.1carries 20 of the 45.8 points scoredSourcing Transparency & Ethics4.3altitude and varietals not publishedValue Per Kilo4.9Packaging & Freshness Retention8.0packaging not publishedPrice per kg$35.25Score4.1Box priceFrom $18.95Read the Cooper's Cask Ethiopia Bold Light Roast review →15
IntelligentsiaHonduras La Tortuga Anacafe 14$126.26/kg3.9How it scored
Freshness & Roast Date Transparency4.3Sourcing Transparency & Ethics5.0altitude not published; varietals not scoredValue Per Kiloweakest link1.7carries 14 of the 45.8 points scoredPackaging & Freshness Retention6.0packaging not publishedPrice per kg$126.26Score3.9Box priceFrom $25Read the Intelligentsia Honduras La Tortuga Anacafe 14 review →16
Cooper's CaskChardonnay Barrel Aged$61.71/kg3.5How it scored
Freshness & Roast Date Transparencyweakest link2.1carries 20 of the 45.8 points scoredSourcing Transparency & Ethics4.3altitude and varietals not publishedValue Per Kilo2.8Packaging & Freshness Retention8.0packaging not publishedPrice per kg$61.71Score3.5Box priceFrom $29.95Read the Cooper's Cask Chardonnay Barrel Aged review →17
Black RifleBourbon Roast$57.70/kg3.0How it scored
Freshness & Roast Date Transparencyweakest link2.1carries 20 of the 45.8 points scoredSourcing Transparency & Ethics2.5altitude and varietals not publishedValue Per Kilo2.5Packaging & Freshness Retention8.0packaging not published
About floral coffee
Floral is the most fragile note in coffee and the hardest to keep from the farm to the cup. Jasmine, rose, blossom, bergamot and honeysuckle: aromatics so light that a slightly long roast, a slightly hot brew or a slightly old bag will remove them completely.
What it takes to get floral coffee from farm to cup
The lot has to be good enough to have florals at all, the roast has to be stopped early enough to keep them, the bag has to be fresh, and the brew has to be gentle. Miss any one and you are drinking a pleasant light roast with nothing distinctive in it. This is why floral coffees are the most expensive and the most disappointing when they are handled badly.
Ethiopia and Geisha: where floral coffee comes from
Most floral coffee is Ethiopian, and specifically washed lots from Yirgacheffe and the surrounding areas, where the combination of variety, altitude and processing produces jasmine and bergamot reliably enough to have become the region's signature. Geisha, grown in Panama and elsewhere, is the other famous floral coffee and is priced accordingly. Our guide to Ethiopian coffee goes into the regions.
Floral coffee is always a light roast
There is no such thing as a floral dark roast. These are light roasts without exception, and a roaster who takes a floral lot further is destroying the reason to buy it. Aromatics are the first thing heat removes and they do not come back.
How to brew floral coffee gently
Filter, paper, and water a little off the boil. Brewing pour over coffee is the natural method, and a kettle you can set the temperature on stops being a luxury here. Florals are also more obvious as the cup cools, so the first sip at scalding temperature tells you least about what you bought.
Buy floral coffee fresh, in small bags
More than any other note, this one has a shelf life. A floral coffee three months off roast is a light roast with the interesting part gone. Buy from roasters who print a roast date rather than a best-before. Coffees that print a roast date are listed on their own page.
Frequently asked questions about floral coffee
Why does my floral coffee not taste floral?
Usually freshness or temperature. Aromatics fade within weeks of roasting, so an old bag loses them entirely; and water at a full boil scalds what is left. Florals are also clearest as the cup cools, so judge it after a few minutes rather than at the first sip.
Can a dark roast be floral?
No. Aromatics are the first thing heat removes and they do not return. Floral coffees are light roasts without exception, and a roaster taking a floral lot darker is destroying the reason to buy it.
What coffee is most likely to taste floral?
Washed Ethiopian lots, particularly from Yirgacheffe and nearby, where variety, altitude and processing combine to produce jasmine and bergamot reliably. Geisha, grown in Panama and elsewhere, is the other well-known floral coffee and is priced accordingly.