Coffee Bags – The Ultimate Shopping Guide For Convenience
Coffee lovers have followed in the footsteps of tea enthusiasts with the use of coffee bags. By coffee bags, we’re referring to coffee steep bags like tea bags, not the bags used to hold your coffee beans.
Is brewing a cup of delicious coffee now as easy as adding hot water? Can you skip all the expensive fancy equipment? Let’s find out in this ultimate shopping guide to the best coffee bags.
At A Glance:
- TOP PICK: Folgers Medium Roast
- BUDGET PICK: Taylors Of Harrogate
- BEST DECAF: Folgers Decaf
The 6 Best Coffee Steep Bags In 2023
Brewing coffee with fresh coffee beans is reliably delicious, but it can be tedious. For this reason, coffee bags and other single-serve brewing methods are growing in popularity, according to industry experts (1).
Consumer demand shifted from brewing a pot of coffee to preparing it by the cup in a more convenient manner.
If you want to hop on this trend, Home Grounds has picked the best steeped coffee bags for this ultimate shopping guide. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know to choose the best single-serve coffee bags for you.
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Folgers Medium Roast |
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Taylors Of Harrogate |
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Purity Coffee |
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Wildland Coffee |
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Steeped Coffee |
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Folgers Decaf |
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1. Folgers Medium Roast – Best Overall
Roast Type: Medium
- Tasting Notes: Classic
- Caffeine Content: Caffeinated
The Folgers Coffee Singles Classic Roast swoops in to earn the top spot on this list of the best coffee bags. These medium roast single-serve coffee bags are made from coffee beans grown in the mountains, with high elevation ensuring premium quality.
Although these Kosher-friendly instant coffee bags are a bit pricey, the resulting cup of coffee is worth it. Folgers has perfected the coffee-making process, with expertise dating back to 1850.
They rely on a special double-drying process to bring out the most delicious tasting notes from their ground coffee beans.
These coffee bags take that expertise and amp up the convenience factor. Simply take a coffee bag from its pouch and place it into a cup, followed by 6-8 ounces of boiling water. Leave it for a minute, and enjoy!
2. Taylors Of Harrogate – Budget Pick
Roast Type: Medium
- Tasting Notes: Rich Italian
- Caffeine Content: Caffeinated
Taylors Of Harrogate offers ground coffee bags with rich flavors reminiscent of Italian-style coffee. They are the most budget-friendly pick on the list, but you wouldn’t know it from their elegant packaging and bold flavor. Each box includes 10 caffeinated medium roast coffee bags, individually wrapped so they’re easy to take on the go.
These ground coffee bags work the same as tea bags. All you need to do is put the humble coffee bag in a cup, add hot water, and wait two minutes for it to brew. No hassle, no mess. Stir, squeeze, sip, smile.
3. Purity Coffee – Healthiest Choice
Roast Type: Medium
- Tasting Notes: Nutty, Dark Chocolatey, & Juicy Apple
- Caffeine Content: Caffeinated
Go with the flow with Flow single-serve medium roast coffee bags from Purity Coffee. Each box comes with bags of 100% organic specialty-grade Arabica coffee beans. These caffeinated coffee bags are rich in antioxidants and roasted specifically with your health in mind.
Purity Coffee isn’t just the healthiest option for you; it’s also environmentally friendly. The coffee is USDA Organic Certified, Smithsonian Bird-Friendly, and Rainforest Alliance Certified. Treat your body and your taste buds as you sip on a hot brew with tasting notes of nuts, dark chocolate, and juicy apple.
4. Wildland Coffee – Best Dark Roast
Roast Type: Dark
- Tasting Notes: Dark Chocolate & Caramel
- Caffeine Content: Caffeinated
Steeping coffee bags is kind of a wild concept. So what better way to try some of the best dark-roasted coffee bags than from Wildland Coffee? These bags have the distinction of being nitro-flushed; they retain freshness for a full year!
Worried about a watery brew from coffee bags? Think again. Wildland Coffee spares no taste and is comparable to French Press coffee.
This specialty coffee is ethically sourced from Brazil and packaged in compostable bags. Each box comes with ten extra dark coffee bags full of chocolate and caramel flavors. Wildland coffee is the best go-to coffee for the outdoor adventurer within you, perfect for sipping around a morning campfire.
5. Steeped Coffee – Best Light Roast
Roast Type: Light
- Tasting Notes: Sunrise Blend [Winey, Cocoa, & Lemon-Lime]
- Caffeine Content: Caffeinated
The best cold brew coffee bags are this delightful light roast from Steeped Coffee! Steeped Coffee’s caffeinated Sunrise Blend offers eight individually wrapped bags per box, each bursting with cocoa, lemon-lime, and winey notes. Brewing this ground coffee is sure to brighten your morning, and it’s especially refreshing on a muggy summer day.
This 100% specialty coffee is made in small batches with fresh ground coffee from ethically sourced Colombian single-origin coffee beans. Steeped Coffee is even certified B Corp. This is a proper coffee shop quality breakfast blend, with a clean body and no bitter taste.
6. Folgers Decaf – Best Decaf
Roast Type: Medium
- Tasting Notes: Classic
- Caffeine Content: Decaffeinated
Folgers is back to round out this list with the best decaf coffee bags. These medium-roasted coffee bags are virtually identical to their caffeinated medium roast – minus the caffeine. The flavor is classic coffee, think toasted nuts and bittersweet chocolate.
Folgers Decaf Coffee Bags are a great choice for anyone sensitive to caffeine or just looking for a warm evening drink. A dash of creamer turns one into a special treat.
How To Choose The Best Coffee Bags
Using an instant coffee bag to prep your brew is easy, swift, and clean. You can have your coffee and drink it too with these bags, no matter your budget or resources (2).
Coffee bags and single-serve pour overs can be brewed just by adding hot water, eliminating the need for a grinder or brewing equipment.
Thinking of trying out one or more of these six best coffee bags? Here are the most important factors to consider before you buy.
What Roast Type Do You Prefer?
There are three options when it comes to choosing your roast type amongst the best coffee bags: light, medium, or dark roast. If you want brighter fruity and floral flavors, stick with the lighter side. If you’re looking for more of a bold coffee taste, come to the dark side. Darker roasts also pair better with milk or creamers. It’s all a matter of personal preference.
Which Tasting Notes Do You Enjoy?
There are all manner of delicious tasting notes to choose from. That’s what makes coffee so exciting! Bolder offerings include rich chocolate, toasted nuts, and earthy cocoa. Lighter choices offer the flavors of wine, sweet caramel, and citrus fruit. There’s a coffee flavor out there sure to appease your palette.
Do You Crave Caffeine Or Avoid It Entirely?
All of these instant coffee bags are caffeinated, with the exception of the decaf from Folgers. Between caffeinated and decaffeinated, the right choice for you depends on your health requirements and individual needs. The FDA recommends a daily caffeine intake of no more than 400 mg for a healthy adult (3).
One tip: if you only drink decaf rarely, keeping a few decaf coffee bags on hand is convenient. You won’t need to grind decaf beans or settle for that stale bag of pre-ground decaf lounging in the back of your cupboard.
What if coffee bags aren’t for you? Don’t despair, as there are other hassle-free methods of coffee brewing to suit your needs. There is some very good instant coffee available now, or you can sample the best coffee capsules.
The Verdict
Making coffee has never been easier thanks to individual coffee bags. The flavor and aroma of freshly brewed coffee are possible just by adding hot water. No grinding, dosing, or dialing in. No expensive brewing equipment. The best coffee bags bring delicious coffee to everyone, and everywhere.
Folgers Classic Roast tops our list of the best coffee bags. The medium roast coffee is so good, it made the list twice – once with caffeine, once decaf.
FAQs
You should squeeze your coffee bag before removing it from the steeping water. That way you get the most flavor directly into your brew. Squeeze your coffee bag with a teaspoon against your mug and stir thoroughly.
Coffee is better from a can if you drink coffee rarely and want something with a longer shelf life. Coffee grounds in a bag are a better choice if you drink coffee often and prioritize convenience. Either way, a delicious cup of quality coffee awaits you.
A coffee bag stays fresh for up to a few months, depending on its packaging. If coffee bags are nitro-flushed, they will stay fresh for up to a full year. Ensure your coffee is stored in a cool, dark place in an air-tight container to maximize its lifespan.
References
- Fanarioti, V. (2023, January 5). Specialty coffee must remember that convenience is everything. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2023/01/how-important-is-convenience-to-the-coffee-industry/
- Castellano, N. (2021, October 19). What are single-serve coffee bags? Retrieved January 3, 2023, from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2021/10/what-are-single-serve-coffee-bags/
- Petre, A. (2020, June 3). What Is Caffeine, and Is It Good or Bad for Health? Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-caffeine
