Not every coffee drinker can afford the higher-priced specialty coffee available from coffee-specific retailers.
At a Glance: Best Budget Coffee Brands
But don’t worry – there are still some high-quality coffee selections available from your local big-box retailer that do the job of providing you with your daily coffee fix without being unappealing!
Quick Summary: Best Budget Coffee Brands
 | Our Top Choice Cafe Bustelo Espresso Dark Roast |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | Chock Full O’ Nuts Original |
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 | Cafe La Llave Espresso |
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 | Verena Street - Mississippi Grogg |
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 | Great Value Donut Shop |
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 | Great Value Arabica Colombian Medium-Dark Roast |
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 | Seattle’s Best Coffee House Blend |
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 | New England Breakfast Blend Medium Roast |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | AmazonFresh Donut Cafe |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | Barissimo Fair Trade House Blend |
| Check on Amazon → |
Cheap Coffee Price Per Cup
Although buying expensive coffee here or there is a treat, it isn’t always practical for the average person on a tight budget.
That’s okay, though! You still have some high-quality coffees available from your grocery store that give you your morning fix without breaking the bank, and most of them are EBT-eligible.
Before we get into why we love these cheap coffees so much, let’s see how much we will be paying per cup for each coffee. Each coffee was calculated using a 16:1 coffee-to-water ratio with a total yield of eight six-ounce cups.
We priced these out at grocery stores in 2022, so your current price may vary – but this will give you a rough idea of how much cheap coffee costs.
| Coffee | Price (Before Tax) | Size of Bag | Price Per 6oz Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Bustelo | $3.76 | 10oz | $0.14 |
| Chock Full o' Nuts | $9.99 | 26oz | $0.14 |
| Cafe La Lavae Espresso | $4.69 | 10oz | $0.18 |
| Verena Street - Mississippi Grogg | $8.99 | 12oz | $0.28 |
| Great Value - Donut Shop | $9.92 | 30.5oz | $0.12 |
| Great Value - Arabic Colombian | $9.92 | 24.2oz | $0.15 |
| Seattle's Best Coffee House Blend | $5.27 | 12oz | $0.17 |
| New England Breakfast Blend | $5.89 | 12oz | $0.18 |
| AmazonFresh - Donut Cafe | $13.13 | 32oz | $0.15 |
| Barissimo Fair Trade Medium Roast | $5.39 | 12oz | $0.17 |
10 Best Budget-Friendly Coffees
Cafe Bustelo Espresso Dark Roast
Cafe Bustelo is one of the most affordable coffee brands today. The brand has been around since the 1920s, and in that time they’ve gathered a very devoted following.
This coffee manages to pack quite a punch of flavor and a robust body, making it a perfect coffee to pair with a Moka pot, and is one of my favorites when I want a nice Cafe Cubano on the cheap.
Chock Full O’ Nuts Original
Sometimes you’re looking for a coffee that will stick to your insides and keep you warm long after you’ve finished the cup. Well, Chock Full O’ Nuts has you covered.
While this coffee doesn’t contain any chicory root, you still get the same ‘stickiness’ to the coffee, which is great for warming you up.
While we’re just looking at the Original on our list, Chock Full O’ Nuts also has a decaf option, which is perfect if you’re someone who might be caffeine sensitive. So why not pick some up and give it a try?
Cafe La Llave Espresso
If you aren’t able to find Cafe Bustelo, don’t worry – we have something similar for you. Cafe La Llave is another excellent option if you’re looking for a dark roast.
While this might be a bit harder to find, it’s worth picking some up to give it a try if you’re able to locate it. Although this is an espresso blend, we did find that you still get a great cup of coffee out of a drip coffee maker as well.
Regardless of how you brew it, you’ll still be getting a robust flavor.
Verena Street – Mississippi Grogg
Verena Street’s Mississippi Grogg might seem like an outlier, being the only flavored coffee on this list, but this coffee has earned its place here.
Mississippi Grogg manages to add caramel, butterscotch, and hazelnut flavoring to its coffee without making it taste fake or over the top, which is no easy feat.
This coffee is a great option if you’re looking for something that is on the sweeter side without having to add cream or sugar to the mix.
Just remember this is only available in whole-bean. So, if you’re going to use your own grinder, make sure you clean it out before you grind another coffee, or you will pick up some of the leftover flavors.
Great Value Donut Shop
If you find yourself at Walmart on the hunt for a new coffee to try, why not grab a can of the Great Value Donut Shop? This coffee is excellent for someone looking to save some money by brewing up some coffee at home.
This medium roast coffee gives you a nicely balanced coffee with hints of caramel and nutmeg and a smell that will transport you to your favorite donut shop.
Great Value Arabica Colombian Medium-Dark Roast
Does the Great Value Donut Shop not spark your interest? Don’t worry – we have another outstanding choice for you in the Arabic Colombian Medium-Dark roast! This Arabica coffee brings you a softer flavor than your normal darker roasts.
This feels weird to say, but Walmart has stepped up its coffee game, and the Arabica Colombian and Donut Shop are two great examples.
Seattle’s Best Coffee House Blend
Seattle’s Best Coffee is a solid choice if you want to try a new coffee on a budget. This company has taken 45 years of experience and condensed it into a great selection of coffee and the house blend is just one.
This medium-roasted house blend delivers exceptional flavor without costing you an arm and a leg. So, grab a bag, skip that morning run to Starbucks, and enjoy!
New England Breakfast Blend Medium Roast
You might not be familiar with the New England Coffee brand, but they have been serving up delicious and affordable coffees since 1916. They keep that tradition of quality first alive with their Breakfast blend.
If you a fan of medium-roasted coffee, this is the one for you. The Breakfast blend brings an exquisitely balanced and smooth coffee that is less acidic, making it easier on sensitive stomachs.
All in all, this is a great coffee and something you should keep an eye out for!
AmazonFresh Donut Cafe
We have another outlier with AmazonFresh Donut Cafe. This is the only coffee on our list that you’ll have to order online.
Whether that’s positive is dependent on you, but if you can pick up a bag, you’ll get a great coffee delivered right to your front door. This is also going to be the largest bag of coffee on this list, coming in at 32oz.
It’s worth a try if you don’t mind having to order it separately, but hey, at least it’s EBT-eligible!
Barissimo Fair Trade House Blend
When it comes to store-branded coffees, Aldi has been killing it for a while now. Take one sip of these coffees, and it’s easy to tell how they made it on our list. Like most of our recommendations, you can’t go wrong with a house blend.
Like most of these coffees, you’ll get a balanced cup of coffee and the Barissimo House blend is no different. Where the Barissimo does differ is in the quality of the cup.
FAQ
What’s in cheap coffee?
Coffee, of course! The main difference between the budget ground coffee you might find on this list or in your local grocery store is the amount of time and labor invested into the product.
The cheaper the coffee, the chances are the overall production of that product was much faster and less concerned with meeting a certain quality standard.
The cheaper coffees focus on meeting a bare minimum standard in a short time, but they’re still the delicious coffee beans that we all crave.
How to make cheap coffee taste better?
Taste is a very subjective matter, and some people might not even need anything in their coffee to enjoy its flavor. However, if your coffee isn’t quite making your tastebuds sing, then you can consider some of the following tricks to make it taste better.
We all consider post-additives like sugar, creamer, honey, milk, etc., as the primary way to add additional flavor to a cup of joe. Did you know that your coffee’s flavor profile begins the second you start filling your coffee machine?
You should try to use filtered water instead of straight tap water. Also, consider the coffee machine you are using.
When was the last time you cleaned it or is it trapping old flavors that might be tainting the taste of your coffee? A clean machine will ensure that you are getting the full flavor of your coffee!
As well, you can change your coffee measurements to determine the best amount to fit your tastes. More coffee equals a more robust flavor, but that might emphasize less pleasurable flavors in the particular coffee bean you have. Finding that sweet spot will make a significant difference for you and your coffee.
Wrap Up
If you love coffee, but don’t have much wiggle room in your budget, consider trying these top-selling budget coffee bean options. You can try whole-bean or pre-ground coffee, but for the best experience, it’s better to go with the whole-bean version.
If you don’t have access to a grinder, the pre-ground version is also a good choice. You get the convenience of simply putting it in the coffee maker or brewing device and enjoying it whenever you want.
If you like a deep, dark flavor, consider the espresso grind coffee roast. This type gives a bold punch of flavor with a smoky finish.
Although it’s ideal for espresso, coffee lovers can also enjoy it as a regular cup of coffee. There are several budget varieties available in national retailers that get the stamp of approval from coffee enthusiasts!
If you’re into dark roast coffee, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the quality options on the market today. There’s something for everyone, and the flavors and versions are vast today. Do some experimentation from the previously mentioned options to find out which suits your taste buds.
As far as medium roast coffees go, most coffee manufacturers have at least one version, but many have more than one. Try to sample some coffees mentioned in the article to get an idea of what’s out there. You’ll likely find more than one that tastes good and fits your budget.
Happy Caffeinating!
