Ground Coffee

Arabica? Robusta? Black? Italian Roast? Sifting through different organic ground coffees can sometimes feel like a bit of a minefield. That’s why we’re here to guide you on some of the very best organic UK ground coffees for your French press, cafetière or espresso machine. With varying origins, strengths, and intensities, not to mention a surprisingly vast plethora of flavours, this short guide will help you find the best organic ground coffee for your tastes and needs.

Top tips for making the very best organic ground coffee at home

There really are no rules when it comes to making the perfect mug of coffee using organic ground coffee, but here are two top tips that we think are important to bear in mind: 

1. Store your organic ground coffee properly: Keep your organic ground coffee in a sealed, air-tight container in the fridge for optimum freshness.

2. Regulate temperature: Preparing coffee with water that is too hot can often cause it to taste bitter. To ensure that your coffee has the best possible flavour, use water with a temperature of around 93°C.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it better to avoid instant coffee?

There really is no comparison between organic ground coffee and instant. Though miles more convenient, once you make the transition from instant to organic ground coffee, there is no way that you’ll ever go back!

Experts have demonstrated that applying high heat directly to the coffee bean - the process used to create powdered instant coffee - can actually burn the bean, creating that bitter taste we know all too well.

How do some coffee roasts differ? 

Deciding on the best organic ground coffee is very much dependent on your desired tastes and preferences.

If you’re a fan of that intense and dark coffee flavour, we would recommend that you go for an Italian Dark Roast. These organic ground coffee blends generally combine both Arabica and Robusta coffee beans to give you a rich and full-bodied coffee that is perfect for espresso.

Typically slightly weaker than an Italian Dark Roast, Colombian organic ground coffees are still just as delicious. Colombian Excelso Roast is generally ground from a smaller bean but is still able to retain a heavy flavour with a slightly tangy taste.

Papua New Guinea Roasts are deliciously smooth and rich. Thanks to a careful process of wet washing, the submersion in water allows some of the coffee compounds to leech, giving your coffee a lighter-bodied taste.

Medium roasted organic ground coffees tend to have a more balanced acidic taste than darker roasts but still guarantee you a full-bodied and rich coffee blend. If you have a bit of an aversion to super-strong blends, then we would recommend Equal Exchange’s Any-Time Medium Roast & Ground Coffee

What is better - a French press or filter coffee machine?

The trials and tribulations of the world of coffee are as much about selecting your brewing method as they are about selecting your organic ground coffee blend. 

Discovering your desired method really is a question of personal preference and what tools you have at your disposal. Here are some of the main pros and cons of using a French press and a filter coffee machine:

French Press: A French press is guaranteed to make a rich and full-bodied cup of coffee but there is a risk that coffee sediment will find its way into your mug. 

Filter Coffee Machine: These are great because they yield a full pot that is great for sharing and can even keep the coffee warm! A disadvantage would be that there is a definite lack of aroma. 

How much caffeine is too much caffeine?

Though we all love the energy boost that caffeinated coffee gives us to start the day, here at PlantX we believe that coffee can be appreciated for flavour alone. Luckily, we stock a wide range of UK organic ground coffee to suit every preference. 

Health experts recommend that it is safe for the average adult to consume 400 milligrams of caffeine per day (that’s the equivalent of about 4 cups of coffee). That said, there has been a demonstrated link between caffeine and increased heart rate and feelings of anxiety. 

If you still want the joy from a morning cup of organic ground coffee but without the caffeine, why not try Clipper's Instant Arabica or Equal Exchange’s Decaf Roast & Ground Coffee?

Why is it best to opt for organic ground coffee?

Switching to organic ground coffee is one way that you can help to support equal and fair trade around the globe as well as look out for the environment. 

On top of this, organic ground coffee contains zero chemicals or pesticides, so you’ll always know exactly what you’re putting into your body.