Best coffee beans in Australia: Top picks 2025

Coffee culture runs deep in Australia, where a good brew is considered both an art form and a daily essential. From early morning flat whites to long black catch-ups, Australians expect café-quality drinks everywhere they live. Before the first pour or pull, the journey to a perfect coffee begins with choosing the right beans. Knowing which coffee beans offer the best value, freshness, and quality will enable you to decide between a supermarket mix and a single-origin roast from a boutique roaster. Explore our curated list of the best coffee beans in Australia has to offer and transform your daily cup into a café-worthy experience.

Why Australians take their coffee seriously?

When it comes to coffee, Australia stands among the world’s best for quality, creativity and passion. Burning espresso and weak flat whites are unacceptable in our country. Instead, we have become passionate about fine beans, exact brewing techniques, and responsibly produced blends.

Australians are more discerning than ever before, seeking taste, origin transparency, freshness in roast dates, and sustainable practices in every cup due to their love of coffee.

What makes a great coffee bean?

Not all beans are created equal. Whether you prefer deep and chocolatey or bright and fruity notes, these are the key factors that define great coffee beans:

1. Roast freshness

For optimal flavour, coffee beans shine between 2 to 4 weeks after roasting. Look for the roast date to guarantee your beans are still at their peak:

2. Roast level

• Light roast: Bright, floral, and acidic.
• Medium roast: Balanced, nutty, and slightly sweet.
• Dark roast: Bold, earthy, and rich.

3. Origin

Single-origin beans contribute unique regional qualities, while blends aim for consistency and balance.

4. Bean type

Arabica offers a smoother, more complex flavour. Robusta packs more caffeine and a stronger, bitter kick.

5. Ethics & sustainability

Australian coffee drinkers are showing a growing preference for ethically sourced beans, including organic, fair trade, and direct trade options.

Best supermarket coffee beans in Australia

These supermarket basics offer good quality at reasonable prices, making them ideal if convenience is vital, but you don’t want to compromise on taste: 

1. Aldi Lazzio Medium/Dark Roast

Roasted in Melbourne by Black Bag Roasters, this blend has developed a cult following within Australia’s coffee drinking community. It’s smooth, rich and routinely recognised at the Golden Bean Australia awards.

• Best for: Espresso lovers and flat white fans
• Price: Approx. $17/kg

2. Coles Urban Coffee Culture Strong Roast

This strong roast blend offers much more than its weight, with two rich cocoa tastes and a toasty aroma. It has a national reputation and comes in compostable packaging.

• Best for: Cappuccino drinkers and strong coffee lovers.
• Price: Approx. $17/kg

3. Lavazza Refined Milano

A gently roasted blend of 100% Arabica beans, offering soft hints of honey and subtle dried fruit undertones. With good cause, this Italian brand is somewhat well-known in Australian homes.

• Best for: Long blacks and pour-over brewing.
• Price: Approx. $26/kg

Best specialty roasters in Australia

If you desire freshly roasted beans, ethical sourcing, and taste precision, these Australian roasters are redefining greatness.

4. Grinders Crema Blend (Melbourne)

For years, Grinders, 100% Arabica and Rainforest Alliance certified, has consistently offered a fruit-forward combination fresh from Australian cafés.

• Best for: Milk-based drinks and flexible espresso brewing.

5. St. Ali (Melbourne)

Known for small-batch roasting and direct farmer relationships, St. Ali delivers complex single-origin flavours.

• Best for: V60S, Chemex, or espresso machines at home.

6. Proud Mary (Melbourne & Brisbane)

Focuses on traceable micro-lots, offering flavour notes from pineapple to nougat.

• Best for: Connoisseurs seeking depth and character

7. Allpress Espresso (Sydney & Melbourne)

Many Australian cafés rely on Allpress for strong, clear tastes produced by hot air roasting.

• Best for: Strong, long black or espresso with milk.

Best beans by brewing method

Different beans shine with different brewing styles. Here’s how to match your beans to your gear:

1. Espresso machine

• Aldi Lazzio Medium/Dark Roast – Rich, smooth, and quite reasonably priced.
• Grinders Crema Blend – Perfect for daily espresso, Graders Crema Blend.
• Allpress Espresso Blend – Full-bodied with a clean finish

2. French press

• Vittoria Mountain Grown – A grounded aroma matched by a powerful, structured taste.
• Proud Mary blends – Combining simple and sophisticated tastes, is perfect for a slow, steeped brew.

3. Pour-over (V60 or Chemex)

• St. Ali single-origin – Brilliant acidity from great micro-lots.
• Lavazza Refined Milano – A smooth, uplifting profile layered with whispers of honey and mellow fruit tones.

4. AeroPress

• Market Lane Coffee – Bright and balanced, ideal for short shots or slower pours.
• Will & Co Eight-o-Eight – Nutty, chocolatey; perfect for smooth, punchy cups.

5. Moka pot

• Lavazza Barista Intenso – Lavazza Barista Intenso delivers a bold, full-bodied flavour that echoes the rich tradition of classic moka pot coffee.
• Grinders Classic – Cocoa and spice-laced heavy roast.

Storing your beans at home

• Use airtight containers: Moisture and oxygen quickly degrade the bean’s natural taste.
• Keep away from light and heat: Store in a cool, dark cabinet instead of the refrigerator.
• Grind fresh: Ground exactly what you need to preserve oils and aromatics.

Where to buy coffee beans in Australia

• In-store: For easy access and great prices, check out major retailers like Aldi, Coles, and Woolworths.
• Online roasters: Australia’s leading roasters, including St. Ali, Inglewood, Five Senses and Seven Seeds, ship their award-winning beans from Melbourne to Perth to avid coffee drinkers all over the country.
• Cafés: Remember to ask your local café if they sell their roasted blend for use at home. You never know what you’ll find.

Conclusion

Discovering the best coffee beans in Australia is about more than just flavour; it’s about craftsmanship, sustainability, and how you like to brew. Whether you’re attracted to the value of supermarket blends or the complexity of small-batch single origins, you can find something for you in the country’s coffee culture. With a strong history of quality and innovation, it has been easier to enjoy café-quality coffee. Choose fresh beans, explore new origins, and keep experimenting—your perfect cup is only a bean away.