Updated: August 25, 2023 by Alex Carpenter
In this review, I will focus on café latte and the best coffee beans for a latte that you can find in stores right now!
I have to admit – the first time I went to a real coffee shop, I felt more than overwhelmed as I tried to figure out the difference between a latte, cappuccino, macchiato, Americano, and so on. It took me a while to try all of them out and see what was special about them, but once I did, I appreciated how adding milk or water to a shot of espresso brings out certain flavor notes and textures to the coffee.
I do have a special fondness for café latte because that foamed milk adds a nutty sweetness to the espresso, not to mention that wonderful mouthfeel.
If you want to try making your own café latte, it’s all about the quality of the espresso. Do get premium espresso beans. Needless to say, you have to have the tools to make espresso from your beans, plus something to steam your milk.
So let’s get to it. Stick with me as I review the best coffee beans for lattes!
TOP PICK
There is no better café latte than the one made with Peet’s Coffee Organic French Dark Roast. This dark organic roast is going to give you a rich taste and strong aroma – once you mix it with some steamed milk, it will be even better!
Table of Contents
Here Are the Best Coffee Beans for Lattes
Before I tell you all about these great coffee beans that you can use to make a latte, I would like to just briefly state some of their key features as well as their product ratings from Amazon. Here they are:
It is finally time for you to see why I selected these eight whole coffee beans for everyone looking to make the perfect café latte. All beans mentioned in this review should be mixed with steamed milk to prepare a cup of latte coffee.
As someone who drinks lattes way too often, I can honestly say that there is nothing better than a good espresso shot to make the coffee taste as good as possible. So without further ado, let’s see what these eight different brands have to offer and which beans fit your taste buds best!
1. Peet’s Coffee Organic French Dark Roast Whole Coffee Beans — Best Overall
Peet’s Coffee is a company that offers a variety of coffee beans with different roasts, origins, and taste notes. When it comes to this specific organic French roast, the coffee beans you should expect to get are of Latin American origin and meticulously grown.
Key Features
- Deeply roasted coffee beans
- Hand roasted in small batches
- USDA Organic certified
If you want your beans to be as fresh as possible, I suggest you get them as whole beans and grind them whenever you need them. Once you mix them with the steamed milk, you will get a nice latte that will have a bittersweet and smoky taste.
Pros
- Available in whole and ground beans
- Always fresh roasted
Cons
- Have to check the date so as not to get old beans
These whole beans from Peet’s Coffee are the perfect choice for latte coffees. They also come at a very affordable price, so I recommend checking them out!
2. Lavazza Super Crema Espresso Roast Whole Coffee Beans
What better way is there to prepare a good espresso shot than to use the best Italian espresso beans from Lavazza? This company has several great roasts that can be used for latte coffees, but this Super Crema espresso roast is the best choice.
Key Features
- Roasted in Italy
- Best when prepared on an espresso machine
- Brown sugar and hazelnut notes
The beans that you will find in this package are both natural Arabica and Robusta – the combination is perfect and gives an amazing, well-balanced taste.
Pros
- Beans have a strong aroma
- Coffee has thick, compact cream
Cons
- Packaging cannot be re-sealed
As a brand with quite a long tradition, Lavazza has spent years perfecting its blends, and this espresso roast is here to confirm that. If you want a good latte, you can certainly get it with these beans!
3. Don Pablo Colombian Supremo Whole Coffee Beans
This medium-dark roast from Don Pablo is great for everyone looking for a strong-tasting coffee with low acidity and a caramel aftertaste. The roast is made entirely from Arabica beans from Colombia.
Key Features
- Low-acidity coffee beans
- Vegan-friendly coffee beans
- Keto diet-friendly
The beans are more medium than full bodied, and the richness of the taste is also medium. The beans are GMO-free, gluten-free, and nut-free!
Pros
- Also available in ground beans
- Suitable for several brewing methods
Cons
- Quality of the beans can vary
I recommend that you try these beans if you like coffee that has a natural sugary taste and a pleasant aftertaste. If you find that these beans are not right for you, the company will happily refund the order.
4. Coffee Bean Direct Italian Espresso Roast Whole Coffee Beans
If you are into strong Italian espresso, you will love these beans! You can purchase a bag of 1lb, 2.5lb, or 5lb depending on how many beans you want. You can also purchase whole or ground beans from this roast.
Key Features
- Dark roasted beans with full body
- Medium acidity beans
- Beans from Latin American and Indian origin
Coffee Bean as a company has a long tradition and more than ten years of experience with roasting beans. They hand-pack their bags, at the same time making sure that every customer gets quality beans.
Pros
- Beans have a honey aroma
- Great packaging that keeps beans fresh
Cons
- Beans might be a bit too dark roasted
When you mix these cocoa and honey-flavored beans with the steamed milk, you will get a cup of sweet latte coffee that you will not be able to put down!
5. Coffee Bros. Espresso Roast Whole Coffee Beans – Best Budget
This espresso roast from Coffee Bros. features beans that have strawberry, vanilla, and sugar cane taste notes. When you think of it, all that sweetness and sugar will make for a mean latte!
Key Features
- Arabica beans from various origins
- Grown on higher elevation
- Expertly roasted
The beans that this company uses are grown on high elevation which usually means that they are of higher quality. When you place your order, they roast the beans in small batches and send them right to you while they are still fresh!
Pros
- Beans have a strong, lovely aroma
- Customer services are always happy to help with the selection
Cons
- Beans can sometimes be a bit bitter
I love the fruity and sweet taste that these beans can give to your latte, but if you are not into sweet tastes as much, you can always go for one of the other roasts that this company offers!
6. Koffee Kult Dark Roast Whole Coffee Beans
Koffee Kult is a great little company that produces beans that have a bold taste, strong aroma, and full body. Once you try out this dark roast, you will immediately feel the cinnamon and cocoa aroma that works great with steamed milk!
Key Features
- Beans are not oily
- Beans have balanced acidity
- Quality beans from Columbia, Guatemala, and Sumatra
You will always get fresh organic beans from this company – the beans are locally roasted and shipped immediately afterward.
Pros
- Fairtrade
- Packaging is resealable
Cons
- Beans might be a bit too acidic for some people
I would advise you to give these beans a try because they can give latte coffees a great taste. If you like them, you can even place a standing order with the company and get your coffee beans without having to re-order them all the time!
7. Verena Street Shot Tower Espresso Whole Coffee Beans
This espresso roast from Verena Street is perfect for people who are looking for beans that have a sharp character minus all the bitterness. Craft roasted in small batches, you are bound to get fresh beans from this company whenever you order some.
Key Features
- Kosher certified
- Sustainably sourced
- Arabica beans only
There are quite a lot of roasts to choose from, but I recommend the shot tower if you are looking to make great latte coffees. You are bound to love everything about it, from the smooth body to the bold and rich taste.
Pros
- Rainforest Alliance certified
- Low acidity beans
Cons
- Inconsistent taste has been reported
I love a company that makes its products responsibly and pays the workers properly for their job. Verena Street does exactly this, so they have my full support!
8. Volcanica Coffee Company Tanzania Peaberry Whole Coffee Beans
Last but not least, I will talk about the Peaberry roast from Volcanica Coffee – coming directly from the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, these beans have an intense flavor that is perfect for all types of coffee.
Key Features
- Consistent bean quality
- Beans are always fresh roasted
- Responsibly sourced coffee
You should expect the beans to have a strong flavor with chocolate and fruity taste notes. Even though the roast is not dark, these beans still contribute to your café latte having a great taste.
Pros
- Carefully selected Arabica beans only
- Locally roasted and quickly shipped
Cons
- Some people might find the aroma unpleasant
If you are tempted to try coffee that comes directly from the mountains, then this is the perfect choice for you. Not only are these beans great for lattes, but you can also make great macchiato and cappuccino with them!
What Is a Latte?
In case you are still struggling to understand what café latte is, I would say that it is a combination of espresso and steamed milk. It is different from macchiato and cappuccino because it is usually served in larger cups and with a lot more milk. However, the basis for all of these coffees is an espresso shot and steamed milk.
How many shots are in a coffee bean latte?
Traditionally, a café latte should have one or two shots of espresso. This depends mainly on your preference though – if you want the coffee to be stronger, you should always go for that extra shot, but if you enjoy coffee with a milder taste, you should go for only one shot of espresso.
Depending on the coffee shop you go to, the amount of coffee you get can vary and there might be a slight variation in the taste. The taste will depend on the coffee beans that the shop uses. You can also find ready-made latte mixes that contain ground espresso beans and powder milk, but they will not capture the true taste of a freshly made café latte.
How to Pick the Best Coffee Beans for a Latte
So you might be wondering how to choose good beans for latte coffee? Yes, all these eight companies I mentioned above produce high-quality beans suitable for various types of coffee. But what is it exactly that makes some beans better than the rest?
Good espresso makes good latte. If you are looking for beans that you will use to make latte coffee, you want them to be full-bodied and with a bold flavor. The reason for this is because adding milk will dilute the espresso, so it needs to have a strong enough flavor to begin with to overpower the milk!
Another thing that you should look for is that you get whole beans instead of ground ones because the latter tend to get stale quickly. I recommend that you get whole beans and grind only as much as you need just before you make the espresso.
Last but not least, make sure to always check the date on the beans before you purchase them. Coffee does not go bad, but it does get stale, so you will want to purchase beans that are fresh for your coffee to taste better.
So let’s summarize: full-bodied whole beans of medium to dark roast, with bold flavor and recent roasting date – this is exactly what you need for your café latte to taste better than ever!
Get Your Latte Fix Now
That is all you need to know about latte coffees and the ingredients you need to make them. If you are looking for a strong but enjoyable taste, you should look into the Peet’s Coffee Organic French Dark Roast Whole Coffee Beans. For those on a tighter budget, I recommend the Coffee Bros. Espresso Roast Whole Coffee Beans which taste just as good but come at a more affordable price.
Let me know if you have tried making a latte with any of these beans and how your coffee tasted. I would love to hear all about it!
